DASH FOR THE POLE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 52, 25 November 1907, Page 8

DASH FOR THE POLE

: ARRIVAL OF THE NIMROD. I■ ■ ■'■. : ' .••.'. 6CIENTIFIC EXPLORATION IN THE ANTARCTIC. INTERESTING INTERVIEW. (BY TEIiEGEAPE—PEESS ASSpCIATWM.) Chrlstchurch, Nqvember. 24. The Antarctic oxp|oratipn ship Niinrod arrived at Lyttelton early yesterday erening. ■ The shipj : which on the voyagio out was com- • manded by Captain Ruport England, arrived in splendid order, although with a foul bottomi;\as the result of her four months' ■ passage. Sho left London on July 31,. and called at Cpwes/wiere the King and ' went on board on a visit of inspection. ,His Majesty, as has been already announced, conferred' the Victorian .Order on vLieutjinant 'Shackleton, .and the '.Queen .presented- the ship with a flag to be planted on the'south ...pole, if the explorers arp lucky ondugh to find it. After, leaving Cowqs, tho ..Nimrod '\ called at Torquay, whprp'Lieutenant^ ; ,Sh'ackleI'tori, .whp is cpming out by the mail, boat, 'entertained the officers and men at a faren pell dinncK . ' ' ~..■''' . , \ y The first pert of call on the way out was St. s | Vincent, where the vessel stayed six hours •i to take in coal. Sho, next put in if Caper '«tbwn, whero she .arrived on. Sep|pmber 4, !<* traversing most of tho distance under 1 steam, two days at Capetown, the Nimrod ♦left for New Zealand. She ran her easting *(;down about.the fortieth latitude. Heavy; j: , weather was; encountered, and big seas '•.smashed'in the forward bulwarks, but apart *H from this the vessel sustained no damage; The,officers describe her as a splehdii seatj'fcbat. ' : . '■•"'..',. '■, When approaching New Zealand, the \vessel avoided Pouveaux -Strait,..passing fbetween tho Snares and Stewart Island oil rMondtiy'last. .When she,was off the' Ninety encpuntored adverso winds. t'She signalled Akaroa Heads at 8 o'clock ijthia morning when' about , "twelve miles off, ■! bnt apparently failed: to get into touch with' "the land. ' "' .., -..'.' \ The ship's company includes tho following : V-€aptain Rupert' England, in commiinl, ff'fpnnerly of the Antarctic steamer .Mijrmriji; John K. Davies, chief officer of' the, ":jtraining ship Port Jackson;. Mr. .A; P,. j l -M'lntosh, late of; the P. and 0. service, v ßccohd-officer; Mr. Chuthon,'formerly boat- , swain'of the Morning,'third officer;' Mr. Dunlop, chief engineer ;'Mn Craft,, second c'n- . gineer;' Dr. Mitcholl, medical officer; ■ Mr. ;Murray, biologist; 'Mr.';.' M'Kay,' .assistant I biologist. ■■'■''.■ -' : .'.-"' ■■■■~■

V ■ ■ ■ :■:■.- ■'.;■ ■ ' : ■■'■• yv " ,THE NIMROD'S STEAMING. ■» Though capable only of- steaming seven knots per hour, the Nimrpd put up a fairly good record on her passage to Lyttelton;' On at least 40 out of tho 108 days taken' In. 'coyer the distance , she steamed and sailed 150 knots and over per day. On two days (October 23 arid November 19) she put. up her record, covering 193 knots on bach 'day. Only on comparatively few days did she, fail to do 100 knots in the 24 hours. ' '■* ■ , CAPTAIN- ENGLANDIS NARRATIVE. : Captain England was a busy, übiquitous skipper on Saturday qvening, and one was loth to''draw l upon hie generous fund.of; '. patience; and forbearance to thp intent of compelling him to stand arid deliver the iiar- -. rative of the Ninirod's leisurely journey half round the globe. Accordingly, he was respited until yesterday morning, when he was discovered scurrying across, the quarter-deck of his hotel in the city. Apologising profusely for having failed to observe rigid sea-going punctuality in the keeping. of his appoint-' ... mentSj.ho said, ! "As a matter of fact; I clidri't sleep overwell in these grand quarters,.but I suppose I shall get used to them.", From the captain's narrative, \t appeared that . the Nimrod'loft Torquay on August 7, covert ing'/the; 2300' miles'-to St. Vincent at an •average speed of 5.6 knots, and arriving on the' 24th, after a passage of 27 days. ' -.'"■ • ' "We only stayed there long enough to coal t and. get a little fresh , provisions. 'It is a hopeless sort.of place, and so wo did not get much. Wo arrived at Capetown on October I '3, covering the 5400 mile's at an average speed of s.B.knots.'- ■Wβ coale,d andlobtained ftesh provisions there, and sailed for Lyttel- ■ ton on October, SV. We should have called at Sydney had',tiirie permitted,' but it. would not.'VWe'.cbvered the 7319 miles '.'to ■Lytte'lton ■at an .average speed of 6.2-knots per hour. Tho Nimrod. has a tremendous'motion, but sho is-n good sea boat.;' Of course," she; was not in proper trim' coming '"out, but will'bo "when she loaves, for tho Antarctic- •..-...•.■

• . ■ , ■■ SCIENTIFIC WORK.' " : '' "We- stopped occasionally on \ tlje. passago! to obtain specimens,and carried out.deep sea dredging operations throughout. We secured a J large number of specimens, and- thesel.will bo 'sent Home for \classification ;to ascertain.-if anything new has been discovered. Magnetic purvey work was-also carried, out wherever "possible, but owing to the bad. weather rafter, Capetown ■ not-so much; of this kind ''of has: bean■ -performed during T;he latter part of the voyage as (luring the « earlier stages. Curront bo.ttles wjth ; .the ; usual .forms wore- throp'n.overboard;on an^-average of tiyo per week, andtheso, if recovered, :,wjll be roturnod-to tho .-Hydrographies] tmont of the British' Admiralty. .The results, v of: the'whole of pur scioiitific wprk will bp sent Home to Bsput.inshapo. Wo are to.cqnT tinuo the'observations on the way down to • the-ico to land tho partyj and on the-return voyage also. Having landed tho scientists, the Nimrod is to engage on a long seriesof ■ magnetic surveys along the great trade . routos of the., Indian Ocean from Australia •to the Mosambique Channel, and away up to 'Aden. It is. hoped also that it ..will. be. pos-sible-to conduct soundings m xne vicinity of 'Wilke's Land. • For such work tho ■ vessel . is splendidly equipped, as tho Admiralty has lent a number of special 'instruments, including a sounding machine capable of sounding to the. enormous depth of 6000 fathoms. Every 500 miles it is intended to swing the ship to ascertain the variation of the compass. . The Nimrod will winter in the Indian Ocean during: a period of live or six months. ' THE LANDING PARTY.

"The landing party," Captain England stated, ". wi'l include Mr. Shackleton as leader; Professor David (Sydney University), Dr. M'Kny, Sir Philip Brocklehurst, and Mr. Murray,' and totals twelve in all. All of these are specialists in some department or other. Mr Joyce, who was on the Discovery, is an all-round in.au, and is making the man-and-dog sledgo. harness while coming out in the Runic. Wo expect to take about two months in Innding the party, building' thb lint, etc., and making everything ship-sliapo, nnd should get hack to Lyttelton about April, 1903. We then set out for tbo Indian. Ocean and pick up the shore party in April, 1909. The camp will be 700 miles from..the Polo, and parties of three (leaving three at: the ba'sa) will radiate thonce to the south, oast, arid wcqt. . The expedition niust hot bo accepted purely as a flash for the. Pole.

•That, of course, is'one.flf thi)'objects, but the work is .also: to "coyer,: scientific''exploration of a comprehensive character. We nope tho conquest of" the Polo,,will jncluclo part of 'tho success, but not'all of it. . Mr. Shackelton is to Iqad the .South-going party. Wo havo special materials for clothing. The day of furs, except for the feet, is gone. This same class of. woollen clothing was used with distinct success.on; the Discovery and Morning. • • •.'.. ': ■ THE MOTOR CAR. "The motor car. is.a novelty: in Polar exploration work, hut Manchuiiun ponies were used by the Fiala expedition in Franz Josef land. Our; motor car-has fittings to suit the varying classes of tfavelliiiß. When soft snow is 'reached -the .front;" wheels will bo removed and replaced by,runners, which will beat 'down a /surface 'for''■the' 'driving-wheels to'run upon. In designing;tho car the experience .arid suggestions,'.of thosd' taking part in previous explorations have been inborporatod to provide" suitable devices' . Tho petrol supplies' Have' been specially tested for 'frebßin'g,- and spqoiat lubricating.oil'will be furnisheu. The car, -.which is.coining out on the .Runic, will; only bo .used for haiiliigo purposes, to tow-the sledges -.attached to the side of the car;-; 7 . V , :-.'. :'>.:' v .? ; .... TH ; E'DOGS; ; ': ■ ; "We are expecting twelve Esquimcaux. dogs to be sent up ,to - ;Mr.. .'Traill, from btqwart Island. ■■ Speaking of the dogs, it is a. mary.cllous provision, of nature to note bow achange frqffi; bnqhomjsphere'toanothor affects them. After crossing the. equator, and at a; time wlion- the dogs ."from the Northern homisphero would bo.putting pn.thoir winter coats, thoso. being \br6ughfr ; South seem to pause-.in. the and '.finally' return their, summer coats tiiiitil. tlie" Southern .winter hasjEjet.in. ;After\le.ivihg;Lyttoltpn we mako-no calls anywhere until" reaching. the ico.f,' '(The Nimrod," Captain England went °Pi "-was handed over to ,i(a'only , six weeks before, leaving. She , had ■ neither masts ■ nor spars, and.wa£ reeking;with!bil.'and blubber. You could, hardly conceive the change that was. wrought, in. that -short space of time. As for the dec.k-bouso,viyou : would wonder how any human being could exist in it. Tho hut that-we are'to; erect' will be heated with oil, but tho B cookiiig : will be done by means of a range burning -coal and wood. Wo;purppso. taking.dow.n a few live sheep, and killing them when it,,is-cold enough, and so, of course,'the carcases' will then keep indefinitely.' ■ .■.','•'■:'.:'l , -',."y.-.-' : -' THE PRpyiSIONS.

"Most of the provisions I: for the landing party have been .specially: prepared and brought but from Home', ■butHho. bulk .of tho ship's provisions will' be'-tiikeri'on board at Lytteltori'. ■ It- was-'a." treatj , '! can tell you', last night..to.■ tasteV-dclight.fui' i .,-:New.' Zealand butter and cheese oncb-agaiivi'/Crifortunaicly, on the Ninirod thero\ is nbV.a large-amount of accommodation, as,you"may well imagine from her size,- only. '227; : tons .register. Quito another, Captain Cooker. : .HowEife wo going to accommodate the extra people when they conic'? "Oh, well,'l -supposc^wo , shall push them :in .somewhere., , ''Certain ''.alterations will be mado'to cope .with' thja difficulty, but, iof course, no structural changes' of any .extent will.be attempted. :-. : The Tcssel'.was chosen for" her stability and general staunchness, arid in these respects is all that could possibly'bo desircd. ; '•' ; V-■■■.;. •.. ■

,;.: i.. THE.HUTi.■:;,:, - : - /■ • "We shall be taking down a ton and a half of carbide for the acetjrlprie gas plant, which is to light tho hut, arid in every way this ■apartment' will''be' very/: much better equipped than .the"Discovery's.- Tho hut is 33ft; long,- 19ft: wide,;'^d'Sft.'ahigh, ' with double ''walls of .yellow -pirip, the four-inch space, between, "being ■ filled "'with':-'granulated-cork. After the landing. ,, partyV-has settled down, tho three subdivisions w.ill push out in thbir rcsp'ectiyo dir&tioris, 'establishing depots; ■ •Mr'.'Shackliftbn's party will, establish food depots-evory. 100 miles, and the location of. thesfT will bo distinguished by black flags flying from bamboo "poles'Sbt in cairns, arid visible for about three miles. Aftqr having-got'all>his depots' established, it is anticipated that Mr/ Shackleton will set out on,his .big journey in October, 1908." . MR. SHACKLETON'S MOVEMENTS. In the course of cbhyersation, Mr. Reid, manager, of , the expedition,, ; stated that Mr. Shackleton, who is coriiing'by the s.s. India, is due to arrive'at .'Fremaritle on the 27th hist, at Adelaide on December .1, and comes overland to Melbourne;' lecturing on December 3 to a' large assemblage,"-Lord Jtwth-cote-beiiiK one of those present; In Sydney Mr. Sh&ckleton is to' deliver, another lecture, when Sir■ Harry Riiwson will , preside. He sails in the. Maheno .on.December .7, and is due to arrive lit Christchurch on December 12; .-' . ....' ...-:; ..:,■ .-,- ; "So far as I' know," Mrv;.Reid snid, "it rests entirely with, the -peoplp.. of Christcluirch whether Mr. rSliaokletoii -\yill lecture here' or not;.' He is,pxtrpmely. interested 'in /his work, .and has willing to afford, the. public a maximum of information. I received, a cable frpm.''Mrl Shackletoir nt Colombo, . approving, of' my 'arriiiigcnicnts thus far,; and subject to further., instructions 1.-'expeot/to-leave ■on.niy ■••return.,to England in; January noxt." ;■-;' •■' '.'•'? }[■'■■ "" •;hjealth'of the crew.' The ship's surgeon is Dr,/Mitchell, M.8., a geninl-yqung Canadian "who'tpok his degree at Toronto Ilnixersity!. ■:'. .'■ , ; "The health>'of.the«crew ; of"thii shipiis of first consideration," be "' : . smilingly.:, observed when questioned, by tlioirep'6rj:«r as-to the part'he was 'taking,in"the'expedition."But I : tak- any- other''work'that'.-comes .'along- in , ' cbnnectibn. .with;> the"''workLg; of-Ithe ship.!' Aa_,ta the difficultiesiwhichsaVsurgcbn of an cxpsditionary ship may'; encounter, Dr. .Mitclipll was notvery' cbmmujiicativb! The.prevention- of scurvy -prime';,importance, arid-secondly,. strange, thougU- it.'may be,- tho jolly;;tar- has to. melancholia!" Tho latter ailineiit'i'.-.iSji'Vof,' course, a'vory minor lnatter, b'utjt;is,riot uncop\mon when niqn have to 'endure the' long: and 'seemingly interminable: winter' "nights of the Arctic, arid Antarctic. 'Tp^dispel.melancholia no evil-tasting 'physic.,.ivill ! be prescribed. , "We- have a'';grampphono, and ; ,co.iicerts. will bo arranged,' and.... tile":Tnen| l .'-!qnc6uraged-, to ontortain theinsolves An ..ov'ery pqssijblc way. W.o-ihave, no piano , -aboard,, .'but "the gift ofonfi'j.".; Dr. be. very acceptable." ' ; 'As ' .toVwurvj,:.. .the ~..latest theory ■ ndvjtncod- by 'inedicni,. .'authorities 'was. that : it was due-'to- ptphiaijie.-poisoning. Previous ' expeditions .. npd..., , takeu.,/trome;ndous,. .quantities .of-.tinned. foods., and,,it was not surprising. that, spiirafjvi'hatl .'given ...trouble. "On thiSiOxpeilitiori,, we.ha Ye.'a special line of dried vegetables,,",.Dr,Mi.tc,h«ll explained. '■'They are comn)prily known . as{ dessieatcd vegetables. \Vhcn you add■ V'.ater J .yph almost get the...original vegetable/JJucji? .Dr.. Mitchpll. stated, that .lie -.wn^quitie' acclimatised to the cold induced by,: snpAyi a.inid ice. "I have been in it allmy life in. Oiitario," ho said,,"aiid I don't'■suppdse.l.it'.'vrill be much worse in tho -Antarctic. - ; ''.v-,'..-■■'

, .. r THE ZOOLOGIST;.',, Dr. Mackay, 'M.B:, is'at>taohed to tho expedition as zoologist,'and <is'.',a member of the landing party.;-"As zoologist he.has i special interest in 'the,..birds', ami mammals of the Antarctic regions. '.' There are several varieties in the far'south which aro not too well known, and have' not; Mieen' properly worked; out from a zoologiqal standpoint," he stated-in the-cpursb/of-an interview, " and wo shall endeavour'to got 3pe'pam(sns of seals and other denizens' of- that to take back with us.' .1. think,. m;c.will be .able, toget as-many specimens as th'p, ship' will carry. We anticipate plenty;, of intoresting devolop r ments in regard to'zoology,^ . Dr. Mackay will also have charge; of -\the' Mnnchuriaii ponies.. "Tho .thing' that spoiled Captain Scott'sdnsh for the Pole wr.s,-• ho said, the breakdown ■ of his, dogs,..s'o: : -we ; are trying what ponies can do'this time. I have no practical experience of- such;;expeditions, but I argue that if men can stand the oxtrcmo Antarctic cold those.Mahchurian 1 ponies will not be fpund wonting.'. THaVwintcr will lie spent. in preparation for three (jifforent... expeditions, one making; its objective the South Polo, and the two others working in difforont directions on'survey 1 work, one going case and the other west.- 'Jho'main body of tho expedition will, of courso, go for. the Polo. '. THE BIOLOqiI.ST" . ; Mr. J. Murray,. the .'biologist; of the expedition, bails "Fra.o Glosca," and in his unwillingness. t.q talk, about .himself, demonstrated the typical attributes,.of;,bis nation. "My dutios will' include 'the investigation ' and' oxamihation of marine lifo," he said.

'No, I have never tlono any 'Polar work before, and it will bo nil new to me. I cannot toll you whethor or not we slinll brtiak any now ground. . At this distance it all looks nice groping in tbo dark. Of course, we shall take the facts ascertained by previous expeditions as.our starting point an<| our basis, but it is impossible to say if we shall bo able to carry matters hiuch' further. Wo are talcing the ordinary appliances, but nothing special."