Antarctic Exploration.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11625, 14 September 1899, Page 3

Antarctic Exploration.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS EXPEDITION.

[By Sir Geo. Newnes, Bart ] |peb press association.— copyright.] cape adair sighted. Ou the ICh February Capo Adair was sighted. A terrible gale was blowing and the ship was compelled to laj-'.o that night under two hal£ topssi's, ia a storm of blinding aleet, and with the decks nnd riggiog covered thick with ica. Next day, the gale subsiding, they steamed into Robertson Bay, and for the first time in history, at 10 o'clock ia the morning, au anchor was let fall in 10 fathoms of water.

IS AN USKVOWN LASD.

In half an houriha staff were all on shore. On the beach were penguins, gulls, storm petrels, giant petrels, and many huge Reals of an unknown species. Two of the adventurers — Evans and Bernacchi—started off to climb the summit of Cape Ascent, over 1000 feet. It proved - terrible, and they did not reach the top till midnight ; but they must have felt full compensation ia the thought that they were the first to set foot upon the Bummit of Victoria Land. The next few days were employed in lsnding ttores and erecting huts. This was a task of no Bmall difficulty and hardship. The vessel was at anchor in the bay, some 200 yards from the shore, and the workers we-e obliged to discharge cargo in small boats, which were' then pulled to land and the boxes carried through the surf by bearew, waist deep in icy water ; but all kepijwell and " game," and in due course stores, scientific apparatus, sledges, and seventyfive sledge dogs were landed safe and sound. Bui; now a new disaster was be* fore them. On the 23rd of Februa-y A GREAT BUZZARD

came on ; it was a terrible experience. The wind rose suddenly and blew thou Bands pf tons of snow upon the little camp. The gale blew with cyclonic force, and it wa3 piercing cold— eighteen degrees below zero. Four members of the staff— the doctor, a foreigner, Albeck and Bernacchi - were on Bhore and could not reach the ship. TERBIBLE EXPSRIBKCE3.

The only - shelter was a tent, which they were obliged to bury with stones and last' it with ropes to prevent ifc blowing away. All thit terrible night they were toiling in the blizzard to save the cargo, from being washed away. Bernacchi got frost bitten in the ears, which turned quite black, aud were only sivad with difficulty. The hair of the party f roza into so'id lumps, and the ica upon their beards took hours to melt, whiio their clothes clashed with ica like coats of mail.

Waves frozt> solid as tfeey dashsd upon the shore, and water fcoza in the birrels thoujh they lay beside a roaring fire in the te.it A more awfnl experience it -would be difficult to imagine Next afternoon they managed to get on board, when they found their companions had also hai a terrible experience. Stone 3 from the mountain had been blown on board ; the cable bad parted daring the nigho and the ship was driving ashore. They endeavoured to cut the main mast, but could not do so, and thay were forced to steam out of the bay, and c yen then nothing could have saved the ship had Bhe not proved herself remarkably seaworthy. On the 25:h it blew another storm, but not quite so stormy; but ths vessel again lose an anchor and driving ashore bumped on the rock 3 four times with terrific .forje. By Bteaming ifull spsed ahead they eontrivedfto gat her off; but a boat was smashed to atoms and they had to steam for shelter to the other side of the bay and to moor the ship with rope 3to the edge of a glacier there. They found good shelter, arid on the afternoon 'of the 27th Feb vary three members of the staff — Colbeck, Hanson and Fougher — were permitted to go aihore for the purpose of. CLISIBISG THE GREAT GLACIER.

Taking alpinstocka, ropes, provisions, Cognac, &c, they started at 330 and returned at midnight. They made some valuable discoveries, although they were not able to reach the top ; attaining, however,- an altitude of 2300 feet as indicated by the aneroid. VALUABLE DIaCOVERI£3— A QUiBTZ ODTCaOP. At 1600 feet they discovered an abundance of mos* of three different kinds, exactly the same as reindeer m 033 in the North ; and, more important tlyin all, □ear the bottom of the mountain they lighted on a large quartz outcrop, which looked as if it contained gold. It was milky, with blue streaks and very heavy and hard, and the walls were of soft sl»ty matter. These discoveries gave them a' strong hope that their subsequent exploration will meet with a great and valuable reward. Such is a briaf account of the experiences upon the Southern Cross np to tha 27 0h of February. T2K INTREPID SOULS.

What has happened since then, none bat the brave band "of ten determined man can know till January next. .They are still pp in ica, and do ship could, till then, approach near to the wonderful continent upon which they have voluntarily cho3er to live for a year, daring / which time they will explore those unknown regions to the fullest extent of their powers. Oar wiuter is of coarse thtir snmnaerf aud (ban the ice will break up and melt, and. the Southern Cross, which has returned to warmer latitudes during the interval, will steam to Cape Adair once more. As they approach, we can imagine the iniereat and anxiety of those on board to know whether they are to find the band still mustering their full strength of ten souls, nnd the hopes they will entertain that ths objects of the grand undertaking will have been attained. I am Eure iheso good wishes and kindly thoughts will b > shared by thou-ands of us at Home who admira the exercise of endurance, conrage, and determination.