COLD PLAYS QUEER TRICKS IN ANTARCTICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18804, 5 July 1929, Page 1

COLD PLAYS QUEER TRICKS IN ANTARCTICA.

BY RUSSELL OWEN. Copyrighted, 1928, by the “ New York Times" Company and "St Louis Post-Dispatch." All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. (Received July 5, 9.50 a.m.) BAY OF WHALES, July 3. The thermometer was 64 degrees below zero last night before it began to rise and it was very cold—so cold that standing outside the entrance of the house tunnel without a hat to muffle 1 one’s ears, the sound of one’s breathing was plainly audible, if one stood sideways to the wind so that the breath ; would blow past the leeward ear There was distinguishable a faint “swishing 1 ’ sound like snow blowing along the surface in a strong wind. There was a momentary interval between the expulsion of the breath and th. sound, which intensified the effeci There was no reason for believing that the sound was caused by the breath itself leaving the lips and one after another of those in the house went to experiment and verify this amusing phenomenon, but nobody lingered. Although it is possible to stand out side without extra clothing for a few moments, the cold quickly eats through and nips nose, ears and fingers, and drives one to a hasty retreat. There is a striking contrast between the tern perature inside and that outside. It was about 62 degrees above zero in the house, while it was 63 below out Joors. That one can undergo such a violent change of temperature, even for a few moments, without extra protec tion, seems remarkable. The cold causes some interesting things to happen. Y ester day it wa. , found that a can of kerosene left out ! in the snow tunnel near the entrance had frozen solid. It was brought into the hut. In New Yoi.k kerosene is used to prevent automobile radiators from freezing.—Australian Press Association.