DIARY OF LONELY POLAR VIGIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 9

DIARY OF LONELY POLAR VIGIL

REAR-ADMIRAL BYRD’S STORY STRANGE EXPERIENCE IN COMPETE ISOLATION By Radio —Special to Press Association— From the Byrd Antarctic Expedition LITTLE AMERICA, October 26. Rear-Admiral R. Byrd, in a special account for the Australian Press Association, of his experiences while ii? solitary isolation at the advance base, says: “Coming back, even to Little America, is like returning to a different world. No intelligent man could live isolated in that shack through the Polar winter night, enduring some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded, and not discover something new about himself, about people and things. There were several weeks in which I was kept busy and happy. The phonograph and books occupied me during the more leisurely hours in the afternoon. Besides meteorological and auroral records, I kept a diary.

Gradual Poisoning. “Out there I was utterly beyond the urgencies and transient cares of everyday life. There were no telephones, traffic noises, creditors, importuning friends, formal dinners, stock market reports, economic crises, defeatists, bores and stiff collars. It was great. Then during the last weeks, my trouble began unknown to me. I whs gradually being poisoned by the fumes from the kerosene stove. My eyes commenced to smart. Puzzling aches and pains developed in my body. All But Helpless. “About the same time I was also seriously poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes from the small gas generator for powering the radio set. The poison settled into my body. I was nil but helpless. The first two weeks of June were really hell. I did not think I had a chance at first. It was bewildering, then dismaying. I counted my time in minutes. Finally, I think I accepted it calmly. There was nothing else to do. Then, to my great surprise, a slow improvement set in towards the end of June. With more strength. I was able to take greater care of my diet, but again in July, during the period of the greatest cold, my health began failing until Dr. Poulter and the relief party arrived. I have been through a wonderful experience, by which I have been enriched.”