BYRD EXPEDITION

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 3 January 1929, Page 2

BYRD EXPEDITION

MESSAGE FROM ANTARCTIC

(Per Press Association —Copyright)

.(By Russell Owen—Copyrighted 1928 by New York Tinies Company and St. Louis “Post Dispatch.”) (All Rights for publication reserved throughout the World—Wireless to ••New York Times.”) NEW YORK, December 29. Russell Owen, aboard the barque City of New York, in the Bay ol Whales, under date December 29th, writes:

“Far in on the Ice Barrier near Framheim, the site of Captain Amundsen’s Camp, Commander Byrd tonight is looking for a place to establish our winter base, and also for the best approach to the Barrier for the freight sleds, which will take the Expedition’s supplies ashore. “The shore party camped last night somewhere near Framheim, although they could not find the hut which had been covered with snow, after hours of struggling over the pressure ridges

and cracks in bay ice, filled with water, and over heavy pressure ridges and crevasses on the Barrier. They left the ship at 8.30 last night, and camped, at an early hour this morning, slier a march of several hours. “This afternoon, Carl Petersen ; (radio operator) sent in a few details 1 of the trip, from most southerly radio stillion in the world, using a tiny portable sot, on which he could not only send perfectly, but on which he could himself pick up stations all over the world. His message was, as follows: “At Out Camp, December 29th: It is 2 o’clock, and die whole party is sound asleep after the strenuous march yesterday, over heavy pressure ridges on bay ice, and on the Barrier, the crossing of (he pressure ridges, and water filled crevasses, r.t times was very difficult. Walden and his team went in cue for half an hour, and Walden, assisted by Commander Byrd and myself, worked in the water over our knees, until the dogs got the sledge out, and we started on our way again. We got up on tile Barrier on the place where the Barrier sloped down to the bay ice. One .sledge at a time was hauled up, and we all pushed. Once on the Barrier we were roped together, and wo all took turns at leading. Commander Byrd was leading on a long stretch ahead alone with Christopher Braathen at the other end of the rope. After sledging an hour and a. half on the Barrier, in a southerly direction, vA‘ had a light lunch, somewhere round the site of Framheim. After lunch, we camped for the day in a wellsheltered place. From the opening in my tent. 1 can see Cape Man’s-hend, with his remarkable likeness to Captain Amundsen. “The dogs were splendid, and Wn'den and Vaughan starting the sledges, had to run nearly the whole of the twelve miles. Bern Balehen shot seal for supper, and we had seal steak—as good as dinner in New York or Dunedin. The ice shows no signs of moving out of the Bay immediately, and it promises to be a difficult and tedious job moving the supplies ashore, over such long distance, unless a break comes soon. Usually the Bay is clear oi ice by the middle of January, but there is no intention of remaining idle. Meanwhile wine Commander Byrd is allay, a little necessary work on rhe ship’s engine is being done. Scientists are getting their instruments and gear together, so they may be ready for work as soon as they land. Nearly everyone aboard is taking (urns trying to ski, and although there are some who are expert in the use of these implements of fast travel on the snow, most of us are rank amateurs, and there are numerous dents in the snow where men have tumbled. “Just at present we are interested in a large school of killer whales, which has been playing along the edge of tnc ice. over since we arrived, apparently in the hope of picking up a meal. So far we have disappointed them, and after the experience yesterday, everyone is inclined to leave them I severely alone. They are the meanest looking animals any of us have ever soon. Just before Commander Byrd started eff, nlmut half the ship’s mew were on the i.e alom;si,l.> the ship. I here were dogs running round barking, tents standing, which had been set rp to test them, men on skis, and two teams ot dogs hitched to their sleds, and every dog straining with

impatience. Willard and Van der \ eer, one of the moving picture photographers, uas getting ready to take a picture of the start .while his associate, Joseph Ruckar, with his camera, nas further out on the route in a small boat, in which Ralph Shropshire (assistant to the scientific staff) had been after a small fish which had been seen floating on water, had been pulled

up only a. moment before. On the edge of the ice there was a swish and a puff near the edge, and a huge black snout, in which there were two little pig-like eyes stuck out of the water, and looked over at us. One after another, at least ten of these wickedlooking killers rolled slowly and deliberately to the surface and blew, the farthest not more than twenty

yards away. Joe De Ganabl (mate) was standing with a camera, about ID feet from the edge when he saw a killer rise. He was so startled that he jumped a foot in the air, involuntarily took a picture and when he realised his good luck, began to yell in even greater excitement. Me had all read of killer whales, but did not think they would call on us at once. Apparently the barking of the dogs, and many persons standing near the edge of. the ice, which was fortunately thick, and the small boat, had attracted them. While we were all watching them, there was a roar from behind, and Van der Veer came lumbering up with iiis movie camera, slipping in the soft snow and using violent language. The whales blew around us for some time, rising and spouting with a soft puffing sound, then rolling slowly over until their fins appeared, and slid out of sight again. Their deliberate movement was then more suggestive ot what they would do to anyone who fell in. The one which find first stuck its head up, looked again and again, not more than two or three yards from the edge of the ice, as if wondering how he could get one of us or a dog. Needless to say, the small boat will not be used again. “From the midships boat on the ship one could see them sliding under the water about ten feet below the surface. In (lie evening they came back again, appearing some distance astern and moving towards ship. There were two of the crew near the water, and one after another the whales lifted up their beads, and stared at them. There is a rectangular patch of yellowish white on their bellies just behind the jaws, and each time they rose this thing bleamed at us like a butcher’s apron. Several men took a shot at them with the rilles, and Erickson (seaman) apparently killed one, for it oiled over and went down, leaving a trail of bubbles, but to-day they are back in greater numbers. At least twenty-five were counted in the open lead of water between the hay ice and the drifting pack. If they I. ■ p on bringing up reinforcements, this would be an unhealthy place on thin ice. Just now. it is about sft. or Gift, thick.