BYRD EXPEDITION READY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 521, 26 November 1928, Page 1

BYRD EXPEDITION READY

CITY OF NEW YORK ARRIVES MORE SCIENTISTS ABOARD Press Association DUNEDIN, To-day. After a fine weather passage of three pionths from New York, the Byrd Expedition supply ship City of New York has arrived at Port Chalmers, with Captain Melville in command. The crew is composed of sailors many of whom are on their maiden voyage. Captain Melville, who visited New Zealand on a number of occasions in sailing vessels, says he has never been aboard a better sea boat, and anticipates no serious difficulties in the trip through the ice to the Ross Sea, which w'ill take three weeks. Thirty-three men all told are aboard, many being scientists, including Messrs. H. Harrison, aerologist; “Crank” Davies, magnetic expert; G. H. Black, head tractor instructor; L. K. Grenlie, who was radio operator w*ith Byrd in the North Pole expedition; Dr. Francis Coman, formerly associated with one of the foremost research institutions in America; and two or three radio operators loaned by the United States Navy Department. Of the three mds who stowed away, Robert Lancer 's the lucky one. He is a negro orphan, and wants to be the first black fellow to get to the South Pole. The vessel has been docked for cleaning and inspection. A number of the seamen will serve in the shor party as tractor operators, dog drivers, ski experts, ind ice pilots.