PERILS IN BAY OF WHALES

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1934, Page 7

PERILS IN BAY OF WHALES

CRUMBLING OF ICE BARRIER JACOB RUPPERT PUTS OUT ITS BERTH DISINTEGRATED STORES CACHE IN DANGER By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright Rec. 7 p.m. New York, Jan. 26. High winds, a strong swell and complete disintegration of its berth alongside the Bay of Whales ice front again drove the Jacob Ruppert, Rear-Admiral Byrd’s supply ship, from its moorings on Thursday. At 1.30 on Friday afternoon the flagship had been fruitlessly cruising and drifting in the bay for 32 hours with 43 men marooned at Pressure Camp, the temporary supply base four and a-half miles south of the edge of the ice, and four more at Little America. They have already broken into the cached stores as there is no immediate prospect of relieving them. The Jacob Ruppert is unable to find a safe mooring since the whole front of the bay flooring, eight miles across, is crumbling. Admiral Byrd estimated that over a million square yards of ice had broken off since Thursday morning. If the wind increases Admiral Byrd will order Captain Gjertsen to put out for the open waters of the Ross Sea. The dangers of collision with ice endanger navigation within the bay. The problem of establishing a winter camp is reaching a critical point. The Jacob Ruppert must be unloaded by February 10, otherwise it faces the danger of new ice. In addition fuel is running short. Pilot June made a flight on Thursday seeking a better trail to Little America than that now used. His efforts were unsuccessful, but what he saw convinced Admiral Byrd that there is a grave danger to the whole flooring of the bay. On landing Admiral Byrd immediately ordered the cache of hay, food and gasoline stored 100 yards from the ship to be transferred to Pressure Camp. At midnight a stinging east wind came up and the swell jarred the Jacob Ruppert’s side against submerged ice. Admiral Byrd ordered the ship away from its berth. Then the ice began to crumble along the eight miles front. A severe squall hid the scene. When it cleared Admiral Byrd and Captain Gjertsen through their glasses were appalled to see that where a few hours before 100 yards of seemingly solid ice stood between the cache and the ship the edge of the ice was at the cache itself. A few men were observed loading sledges at the cache.

Unable to bring the ship close enough to determine whether anyone was hurt, Admiral Byrd wirelessed Captain. Taylor, commanding Pressure Camp. Captain Taylor dispatched a dog team to check the cache personnel and later reported that all hands were safe.