LONG ISOLATION ENDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 103, 14 February 1950, Page 3

LONG ISOLATION ENDED

BRITISH SCIENTISTS RESCUED VICTORY AFTER GRIM BATTLE (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 13. Six British scientists, evacuating the lonely icebound camp which had been their home for two years, yesterday boarded the relief ship John Biscoe, which crashed through an icefield to reach them. * Still discussing -their first letters from home since their long wait began, they scrambled across the ice to a launch from John Biscoe excited at the prospect of their return to the outside world. Behind them were memories of sharing pleasantries and dangers with one another—-and of the two men unexpectedly coming into their hut in the middle of the night this week-end and telling them that relief had arrived.

That was how they learned that John Biscoe had finally reached Stonington. The relief of these six scientists and the closing down of their base was the climax of a grim battle by John Biscoe against ice and storm in completing the greatest rescue drama of the century. Five other scientists who had been on Stonington Island for three years- had already been liown off in the last two weeks.