SNOW AND FOG

Southland Times, Issue 22207, 27 December 1933, Page 7

SNOW AND FOG

BYRD EXPEDITION HALTED.

PLANE READY FOR FLIGHT.

(From the Byrd Expedition)

Aboard the Jacob Ruppert, December 25.

Snow followed by fog, making a further attempt to move eastward to the 142nd meridian unsafe, caused a temporary halt at noon, the position, dead reckoning, being 66.20 south, 144 west. When the vessel was halted at 2.30 this afternoon a dozen enormous icebergs loomed up through the mist and at 10 o’clock to-night we were still hove to. The sea was calm and snow had commenced to fall. At 11 last night the wind stiffened in the north-east and the barometer began to fall. The Jacob Ruppert steered at slow speed through ghoulish icefloes, and by 1 o’clock this morning was well north of the ice-pack. She continued to steam eastward until halted by fog. The necessity for completing operations in this sector as soon as possible in order to carry out the extensive unloading programme at Little America has therefore induced Rear-Admiral Byrd to attempt to enter the pack at the 143rd meridian as soon as the weather permits. He will attempt a record “southing” at the 143rd meridian. Having already broken Captain Cook’s record on the 150th meridian, he is eager to surpass it further eastward, and this time, if possible, to make a sufficiently deep penetration to open up the mystery of the Pacific quadrant. The plan is to drive the ship south as far as the engines and the hull can overcome the resistance of the pack. If she is blocked and if open water and favourable weather are found, Rear-Admiral Byrd plans to renew the attack by air. The seaplane has been thoroughly checked and is ready for the flight. It will carry enough food to sustain five men for a month in the event of a forced landing.