AURORA'S LONG DRIFT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2739, 6 April 1916, Page 6

AURORA'S LONG DRIFT

i'--:." . t —— . PERILOUS JOURNEY BLIZZARDS OF TERRIFIC t VIOLENCE * ' HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES '■•■'■ -•-■ '■ ■' = ' "-*• 1?X- . ' jßy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright > .. Dunedin, April-5. | l'ho return of the Aurora to civilisation, though without any information of the whereabouts of Sir Ernest Shackle-, [ ton and! his party or any record of bheir [.courageous works,.nevertheless.,gives.furSrtei- 'evidence. of the, resource, courage, arid i endurance" of the men of our race. LieuJ tenant Stenhouse 'had a stirring narrative jto itell... It was the old story, of many ■fivearjr. months' suspense while crushed in ; tho icepack, helplessly-drifting and full j.'of anxious doubt when released as to the nbility of the ship in. a damaged state to feather'the^high seas and tempests she iwould'. probablyencounter ere reaching the nearest land. .It-is a tribute' to the and courfige of Lieutenant Sten-', Jiouse—on-nhom the responsibility -of the. ;cdmmand.. was ; accidentally, thrown—that' tho' Aurora was safely navigated from, tho icepack to New- Zealand' in her disabled Condition, especially with .'a-'malie-, shift jury, rudder in these latitudes, where. ra;..:ship's.:. quick ..answer. to ' the -.helm is j;Ko 'frequently, necessary, to- safety. ' -It ;-was, then, .with intense satisfaction; and' [.gratitude that : the tug Dunedin hailed the explorers ;nt 3.30 on the morning of l April' 2. 11-0 'milesfsoutb- of OtagO: Heads. [ A high sea'waß- .running,."but a: tow Tope I,wa6- successfully.- fixed,-and the vessel ar,rived as already, recorded. . ; -:■ l Lieiitonaiit- Stenhouso and 1 - his ■ f crew; in »the ico the rough weathei F^nce' ; .:encounterM;iiMt.'were oheered-'-by ■renewed with: .theirir.fellpw-iften; ia.hd;.a ; : plentiful aujiply ."of fresh ..provisions '6int':'by'. iincluding'«a : .-'good. old j English .for all ridgev-mealpbooon;•eggs, ■' jam;''-e]{c'.,"; gen-' 'erqusly'sentvby; Dunedin citizens';''; Theso isupplies' jrare,''heartily. relished;:,the-,4S<i->tbeen ':tEiles of/tlift7news; ; [.papers -for. twelve;months;-were,,;also'!plac-' J'ed; -and [devoured; ' ' • ' | ' ' -Departure -from Hobart.

••jUmterianti Stenhouse "briefly: 1 5 referred !to - the- if rom ;Hobart on I)eccmiterji§ii.. 25^sledg:T«rob&*^titiirM<>i)SriiifitU' two members of -who," had; "been': -looking Rafter'"the • the' vessel pro- ' Iceeded south .to 'Macquarie Island,, keeping ;a sharp • look-out ■ for the. Government steamer "Endeavour, '■ which had left' HoIxirt and ;'wija : then'_lon'g . overdue. . She,' : Jio'werer,' saw nothing of her..'. Macquarie -Islands-was reached .on ;DecemWr'; 30. Af-, tor-landing,- sheep,- poultry, / and stores for. the -people' at. ; the wireless - station; ' the Aurora/.continued. her 'veyage 'on" the'3lst, and had ;a fine run- down.-; The ; first ice--3berg'jwaß,'Bigbtcdvin lat. T , 62:40 south, long. •169.58 cast. .:The;.,first lino of narrow stream ice was piasedthroiigh in .lat, 64.L7i'.south, 171.49 east.' Thence r onward bergs, and- growlers were; passed 'continuously. Mount 'Sabine, the: grim .sentinel of the . South, was. sighted .'early, in' January, and tho 7th found the Boss Sea. fairly clear .of ice: ' -The Aurora, arrived at Cape Crozier on January !)—sixteen' days, a record passage. • . ' - v Landing Difficulties. : ;-The wintering ■ partyi. consistingof Stenhouse, 'Cope, -..'Spencer,-and Smith, went ashore accompanied by others to. endeav-' our to effect a landing of stores io.facilitate'/ the winter ijoiirney from the winter quarters. 'No- landing;- however.was-ef-fected owing to tho advancement of the '.along the high Cape Crozier cliffs. [iThe, party,.returned to ihe ship. In the. [meantime., the vessel, had been, driven, on Whence barrier-.soft. high, .and-lost/her, jijvftqom., She'proceeded towards the enLtfanoe' to .M'Murdo: Sound, 'thirty, miles [*west,.'and'-was there- held up. by' the, pack, [ice 'until January 16, when a landing was [effected at Cape Evans across one mile of the Fast . Bay ice. Commander Mackintosh also landed, ' and Joyce; ~ Stevens,' Spencer,'; and ; Smith'. proceeded to', Scott's Hut.-. They returned after , making a .survey uf tho ' hut; and the shin - proceeded south and -west to-Inaccessible Island in an endeavour to" reach Kut Point, from which ;the depot-laying parties intended to start. - -Hut Point is 14 miles south-of .Cape- Evans". While the Aurora wa£ endeavouring to. get' into close communication with the shore she struck the bottom end remained fast throughout the day. Attempts to Iheave her off, with a kedge anchor failed to 1 move her, but: she. came-' off, vin -.-the evening and proceedinto. tho. . the day following stores.",-were; landed at Cape Evans—624- gallons of "' benzine, t 203 galions of kerosene';- ten tons of coal in bags.' , "Sank Through the Snow. Crust, :.On the'lßth consisting of Stenhouse, Joyce, Hayward, Stevens, and Gaze"; proceeded over the sea-ice to; Hut Joint to make an inventory of the stores ithere. . Three- miles; front the' ship,' Steii(h'ouse and, Joyce, .who, wcre leading, 1 -saiik" .through the snow crust over a wide crack ■nip; to: their' waists. --Tlieir skis prevented - total immersion and further calamity. The march was proceeded,. with (south for two hours,, and-.a; camp' -was made-near i Hut Point. -A; wide tidal crack was ne-' igotiated by a sledge bridge. 1 . Gaze fell iin,,.but was promptly-rescued from-a dan[gerous .predicament. 1 The hut was ren dried and was found to' be snowed lip. Entrance was -made through d' window.; The (party was held up by.o.-.blizzard for three r'tlays, and returned to the ship oh the (81st. - .....[. '

?' On. tho 24th the .first depot party—conSjilting of Joyce, Gaze, , and Jack,' with [jiiine dogs—left the';, ship;, .with stores for. |the Minna Bluff -' Depot. " On, January 25 {Commander Mackintosh',;with Wild, Speni:cer,; Smith, and 'nine -.'dogs,- left for .Mount ilHooper.Depot, -.SKTmiles of the Bluff, [or ,175 miles from Hut 1 Point. On JahuI'aiy 31 the third: party left e;the. ship, comprisihgi.Cb'pe,; Stevens, RichSards, Hooke, ■Ninni i 8 v nnd; Hayward, with jfa motor tractor; 'towfng:; two 'sledges;-end ione .sledge man-hauled: :; ■

j„' Trouble'! From, the- Start, ■ [i" The; party from i'tlie start, . iDunng > arose. Ime Pparty. made;tf and jdhen had'.'troiible'witH^the. motor.: They pail ! it otf; thersafe'Uce"'rieaK.-Hu't - 'Point, rwliere it' was " left,"awaiting The ; party then returned to the 'ship. During !-tl» evening. the,.dcpdt3 still in eight, j'jwo members'otjtlio'ship's company were [feent 'itoTeiiihiiie'.'tlio depot ■•. but . were. tebeiig^ftdangef i.of/djifting-_on~ni-;ic6lffirg.''jTJie;.f6llowing met i;the, party.\retnrnine/i; : AU;.arrived 'at the iship. Commander Mackintosh vhad left a riiote'at the .lint,, stating that it, was diffijcult going'on ,the 'barrier, ', and advising .that he.Jnad. returned fromjifche harrier foil account of the!-bad'weather on tlie sea i'ice. : Mackintosh . then ■ proceeded south regain, leaving 'instructions regarding a riafe course across; the se.a ice. Cope's •party reported ; that Joyce's party wos In difficulty off Cape Armitage on the rotten Sseii ice, one member of that party having. returned to Discovery Hut to give information of the danger. y On the evening of February 3 the ship Jras pushed into the . breaking pack. She up tflie depots and the third party. f.On, February 5, the sea ice being then Isafe, a third party again left the ship for 'Minna Bluff, via Hut Point. _ The ship ! hun" on the' edge, of the sea ice four -miles north' of Hut Point, awaiting slg-' ijials assuring the safety of . the , party 'there. No signals were seen. Oh February 7 the ship proceeded to Cape Evans •to make soundings for a winter anchor-' lage. A. fresh northerly gale blowing and 'driving small ice into the bay rendered, I'boat work,-roth the shortage of hands, 'impracticable. .. f- At the Mercy of Wind and Ice.'' I 'Tt was'decided not to lay moorings, at i Cape Evans, but to endeavour,, as direct-' '•Vcl to winter the ship > on the Glacier i'Tonoue. Strict instructions were given, < to Lieutenant Stenhouso by the comman- ' d°r that he was on no account to at tempt to winter at Hut Point. The ship i-'ww held up. but on February 18 proceed-: krf to -tho south Side Of the Tongue to proDuring , the time she was

held there were continual blizzards, and. the ship 'fl.e mercy of wind and ice. After water Ji'ad been procured, llio southerly, wind increased, the ice nressed the "ship' against the Tongue, and the ves6el:had' to leave for tho open Sound arr.in. The shortage of coal and the smallness of tho crow rendered investigations for harbour, and also the manoeuvring of the ship, extremely difficult. On the 24th the Aurora again made' fast to the Tongue in an, endeavour, !to work in towards Turk's Head rooks to find moorings. The wind shifted' to ; the ■ north, driving the loose pack heavily on tho Glacier Tongue. The vessel was thrown on the low side of the Glacier, and remained' there seven hours and, a half, receiving a sovcre buffeting. Lieuteiiaut Stenhouse gave up the attempt to. hang near tho Tongue owing to the danger from tho pack ice, and proceeded, to Cape Evans and dropped anchor .ojf.< Scott's Hut. During tho whole time sinco entering tho Sound there had been a succession .if-blizzards and much ice. The crew now proceeded to embed two, heavy-6pa-re anchors on the shore, with stern moorings. The shortage of coal, precluded any; further attempt to sqekvwinter quarters,' and the crew were then .';employed, in . preparing wireless masts for erection I .' On March 10 Ihe .anchor dragged,, and the ship got close in to Barne Glacier in a blizzard, narow!r escaping destruction. The Aurora drifted north-west thirty'miles, and, th? wind moderating during the night,, she steamed towards Hut Point, and anchored. at Piscovory Bay in the forenoon of March 11.' ■ Capsize of an Ice&org. ' Two months' full provisions for twelve men were put. on shore for the non-re-turned parties, and ' Spencer, Smith, Stevens, Hooke, Ninnis, Richards, uini Gaze, who had returned from the lluff locality were embarked. ■Alterations had been made in the Mackintosh, Joyce, and Wild proceeded to Mount Hooper and Cope, Hayward <ahd, Jack to the bluff. The ship returned to Cape Evans. The young ice was forming rapidly, andythe days were drawing in. , Anchor was / dropped off Cape Evans-at-6 o'clock on the morning of March 12. The blizzard' increased and the .ship anchors and was .again''swept dangerously close to Capes Bavue and Royds. The wind increased to storm. force,' and the ship was driven in the neighbourhood of Beaufort Island, forty miles from her anchorage. During the night, however, the weather moderated,, and on the 13th the Aurora again returned to her anchorage off Cape Evans. The Sound was covered with moving ice,' "and manoeuvring tho ship was extremely difficult. On. March 14 tho ship -was ;moored,", two' forward anchors being dropped ahead, and all available wires and mooring chains were run astern to an anchorage ashore;. On March. 23 Stevens, Spencer, Smith, Gaze, and Richards went to the quarters at the hut to carry on 'scientific work. During the whole of,,this, time until the final break--ing .away the' ice : ; was continually forming and setting out from the bay and returning as an overriding pack. ' The ship oould not shift her position. " During the heavy winds a berg hear the end of the Cane capsized, causing a tremendous sea, •Which- washed away, oil cases and some coal., The shin wad rontinnally . dragging her anchors under the influence of the ice. .. - ■' .... : , , , Food for. Shore Parties. • . Mors v than sufficient provisions were landed... at: .the'- hut for the use .of. the shore' party—sufficient for two- months, approximately. .. The , provisions left. by the Scott expedition at Cape Evans were ample' for all the shore -parties' needs, ana- no fears noed. be entertained for the .food,supplies.,of the party. Other stores -.ut : Hut Point are sufficient, with the new; depots,' for .-four..months in all. There iaie.-large colonies of seals in-the vicinity of all., the huts,-consequently blubber fuel .is available,iii.profusion. . The provisions at Capo . Royds are sufficient for , twelve men. for,eighteen months. . Clothing and fuel is limited,' but . could .with resource- , fulness be made to last until relief comes next year. There', is no fear, of scurvy with seals, penguins, and gulls in plenty. Lieutenant Stenhouse asks that special assurances bo made to all the relatives of the : southern party as to'the sufficiency, of'tho-food. Conversation with-Lieutenant Stenhouse shows that hehas been greatly worried al>out apprehensions of relatives, ■ arid therefore sends this special messago. During the stay at Cape Evans, Mount Erebus, which was slightly active, was • constantly rumbling, which was at first "thought to .proceed from one of the gin-, ciers. It. .w,as followed by a short," quick . swell, .Lieutenant Stenh'ouse believes was the - result' of. a subterranean , disturbance.'- 1 ■■■< Shortage of Coal.

'' On lilarch 20 the ice being fairly firm round'. the ship, steam. was shut down, on tho main engines,' the fires were drawn, and the. boiler blown down, to economise the fuel, 'as there-were only 118 .tons of coal left at.this date out of.an original supply of 474 tons.' The little that was left, was required to supply heating for the-ship'.and- for steaming purposes on lier release from the ice, awaiting Shackletoil's arrival, and' final clearance from the ice: All sledging rations were put on- shore, but the following season's'winter clothing were kept aboard, as previously arranged. On March 26 very heavy over-riding ica 'driven, to the bay caused'the ship to drag her anchors and touch the ground aft. During the whole stay at Capo ;Evans constant vigilance was required in attending,to the moorings and to keep th« ship in-position in the uncertain ice whilst rigging the'oxbension masts for the wireless and using all the available daylight. Sometimes there were 49 degrees of frost. A small tem'porary aerial was fixed from the • mizzen; mast to. the hut in an endeavour to communicate with the Macquarties. Slight atmospherics were heard on the aerial during the first observations. On August' 14 it was decided, owing to the of the southern party— Mac):intosh, Joyce, Wild, Cope, Jack, and Hayward—to send a search party out over the sea-ice to Hutton Cliffs, the sea-ice being now safe to south of Ca.pe Evans. The,.party consisted of Ninnis, Hooke, and Gaze. Instructions were given by Stenhouse to--Ninnis."who was. f placed in. charge, to proceed.to' Hut Point with provisions for, three men for. one week, tour gallons of oil, sufficient for, three men for forty days, the surplus oil to lie put in. a depot at Hut Point. Signals as.arranged were, to be given if, on arrival at 1 lie hut. there were no traces of the parties. --If nothing was seen of the parties .the'.new'iparty,:was to return to the ship at. bnce,'; ; and, ;if practicable, to unliniter the. motor at Hut* Point, ana bring it back to Cape Evans.A sledge l-catty provisioned was hauled overland and made a depot at the, iwvfoot, in readiness for a relief dash,the sea-ice around Cape Bvahs •is •treacherous. The party lowered a rope ladder, from, the sledge depot to the sea-ice and laid out the depot flag till eo miles ibuth. in the direction of Hut Point with directions for a safe ascent of the ice-cliffs should the party return previous to tho search.

Blizzards Without End. Bad - weather.' prevenfed the dispatch of a, party , during the subsequent stay ..at Cape Evans, which should account for the non-return of Mackintosh and party from Hut Point.. Signals wei-e shown from Observation Hill at 9 o clock each practicable evening. AVith the decrease in temperature the i«> surroundin-' the ship became firmer. Consequently each subsfcquent blizzard, in driving ice from the Sound, put a terrific strain ulion the ship and her Omi ire pressures became heavier and alaming Still hopes were good for an ultimate freeze-in. On April 19, Stoker Grady fell down, the engine-room and fractured two ribs. On the 23rd the sun.disappeared.. Still blizzards and blizzards with. Sut end, and of increasing violence A -remarkable comet was over the north slopes of Mount Jiebiis, -the length of the tail being ten This comet's position was observed subsequently by Lieut. Stenhouse during the early part of the drift. On May 6 heavy ice formed round the ship, and the prospects for a final freeze-up were very favourable. A blizzard of terrific violence accompanied by ;drift, blew the ice fronrthe shore. Tho junctions of the ship held two square miles of ice against her moonn„s for several'hours, but at 9.30 p.m. the ship parted, from all her moorings at till" crack, snapped the bow anchors, and was swept in a rapidly hrealnnc m> pai-.k n tho nortliTWCshvard in JlMurdo ..ound. Prompt measures were used.to ensure tlie safety of the shin, and steam was immediately raised. Tho ice commenced to pack up around the ship to the height of the rails, the sea cocks wore frozen up, and there was great difficulty m running UH the boilers w;itb water, whicn

was eventually accomplished by tho uso of hot rods. Large Tabular Iceberg. On the Bth Capo Bird was sighted, and Cape Baure was, visible. Heavy pressure was taking the ship on the starboard side.. On May 8 sent aerials ajoft, the mast, having been fitted tho day the ship broke adril't. On May S) tho boilers and cngino were ready. The entry in Lieut. Stcnhouse's diary that day is as follows "Little prospect of getting back to Capo Evans or 'anywhere in the Sound, short of coal. Hope she drifts quickly to the north-east. Then I can endeavour to push through the pnclc, niako for New Zealand, coal, and return lo the barrier east of Cape Crozier. This could be done 'I think in tho earlj; spring of September." About this time there were very Ecvere blizzards, after which we liad normal weather for two months. On May 11 a. large tabular iceberg 'was sighted to north-, ten miles. This berg remained in sight throughout the drift. We eventually got the moorings, chains, and other things on board after much difficulty with the fast cementing ice. Then drift-ed.-surrounded by heavy ice to the northward at the rate of two miles daily. During this time great difficulty was found in getting fresh water. Steward and one hand were , away from tho ship" with scrapers taking the thin top. from. the. saltish'snow for cooking purposes. The conderiser whs. also used, but the shortage of fuel prevented its general use. On Hay 25 sledging preparations were made for emergencies. On May 2G much pressure was heard about the ship. Plans for the Future. ' The plans for the future taken from Lieut. Stenhouse's diary of that date arc as follow :"If the ship., is nipped in tho ice the ship's company of eighteen hands will take four/ sledges and one month's rations arid make for the nearest land. Six men and one sledge will endeavour to make .Cape Evans, via the western land of Butter Point and Hut Point. The remaining twelve will come along .with all pofsible speed, but no .forced marches; killing and depoting penguins | and 6eal6 for emergency retreats. If the 6hip 'remains. here and there is no further drift north, towards the end oi July the light making<isea ice will ,be fairly safe, and the party then, with one month's rations, will proceed to Cape Evans, jlf the'ice spts north'and takes the ship olear of land I will proceed to New Zealand, bunker, get'an extra officer and four volunteers, provisions, etc., and push, south' with - all speed to tho Barrier, put a party on to the Barrier about two miles east of Crozier land, with all necessary stores and equipment. The ship, to stand off until able to reach Cape Evans. I and my party to depot all stores possible at the corner camp and (To on to Capo Evans. If the worst has . happened my party to lay out a depot atjßeardmore Glacier for Shackleton.' This will bp the programme if tho ship, is released from the' ice before September. After that I must endeavour to reach Cape Evans before going north to bunker. There is not enough coal to liang around the Sound for many days." Beautiful Weather. May 27, sighted _ Mount north; ninety. miles.' Odd Emperor pen-, guins passed close to the ship and added to the larder. During .this time there r.as beautiful weather with moonlight nights, during which we had football on the ice, though many is the time we had to. rush aboard on the 'alarm of presThe 6hij> then drifted onwards, and in latitude 76 set eastward at a greatly increased rate, .and passed :Franklin "Islands .twenty mile's north.', Then the slip'set north-eastward.:' During the whole of this itiine free' '-ice appeared to be eastward, which woul(d indicate 'open Ross Sea.' .■■ Heavy pressures heard continuously and- the ship received severe bumps from the-under-riding ice. On the King's Birthday we huiier up flags in the , ward room in honour of the King, and drank his. health, and to the day that Shackleton would 'board the ship. Since leaving Cape Evans, Hcjke called Cape Evans by wireless every night halfhourly from 9 p.m. to midnight in the ■ hopes that they- had rigi*»d up the wireless outfit. Sent/'all well" message each night.

On June 5 hopes of a speedy release were revivified by the sight of- a broad open, east and north, which showed open water in that .direction. Heavy underriding pressure was felt on June 6. Beautiful displays of aurora covered tho heavens. On Jnne 9; called Cape Evan6 by wireless, and Hooke and Nfnnis thoueht they had heard, and we feel happier. The comet wns seen on June 10 and was brilliant. The conditions had so improved by the' 15th that -T,ient\ Stenhouse entered in his diarv "Were it not for the uncertainty of the • welfare of those at the hut, life'.would be, very pleasant. AVhat we miss most is exercise, as it is not now safe to lenvo the shiD. owiro-' to' the breaking ice and the pressure." Weather reports continuously 6ent to the Macmiaries,-but no acknowledgment was received 1 .. Mld-winte'r Holiday. ' Mid-winter day, June 22—Observed this as a holiday, the ship's company gathering aft in the evening and, made jolly. All hands were happy, but - missed the others who were at Capo Evans. The diary entry reads: "I pray to God-' we may soon be clear of this prison and in a position to help them." June 2G— There was, a, four-inoh fall of snow and henceforward fresh water worries ceased. The weather became more violent during July,' and the pressure noises increas. ed... On Sunday, July 18, • the' ioe split around'.the ship with a violent shock, and opened a broad, lane. The ship was in a precarious position. Oil the 20tli, Emperor penpiins were seen, the nearest laud being ninety miles to the westward. On the 21st, lanes wero opened, the ship swung athwart heavy floes ten fept thick, which closed in ' again, nipping the ship bow and stern. .Tremendous forces were exerted and -the, steel-bound rudder, weighing six tons, was bent over to star, board aud twisted like a corkscrew. The ship sustained full pressure and rose amidships in concertina motion. Wa thought our end had ' come on 22nd at ■ 8 a.m., the ship sus. taining tenific pressure, and being half raised on to ice. Called all hands to station for the sledges, and made fiiial preparations for abandoning the ship. Allotted special duties to facilitate rapidity in clearing should tho ship be crusned. The diary entry says: "Am afraid the ship's back will be broken if the pressure continues. Have poured carbonic and sulphuric acid ,on the ice astern in the hopes of rotting the ice and relieving the pressure on the stern post. Ten p.m. ship crushed our way into tho new ice on the starboard side aud slewed aslant tho lane with the sternpost clear on hard ice. 12 p.m.: In safe nosition, lanes opening in every direction." A Fearful Nightmare. The ship was ninety miles southl by east of Coulman Island, and the diary says: "Thank God we have been spared through this fearful nightmare." On July 24 sent a message to King George as follows: "24th July.—His Majesty King George ' Eifthr-Sire,—The Aurora was drivou from her winter moorings at Cape Evans by a blizzard on May 6th and set north locked in pack ice. At present .ninety miles. south-east of Coulman Island, in Ross Sea. Rudder smashed, ship in a precarious -position. In the event of disaster the company is prepared to abandon and procecd to Cape Adare or the coast southward. As , the safety of., the. southern 'depot party is doubtful we pray Tour Majesty, if the Aurora fails to arrive in a New Zealand port on November 1, to permit a Teliefship to procaed with all haste to Cane Evans with a relief party to meet the transcontinental party.—Your Majesty's bumble, devoted subject, Stenhouse, master, Aurora." This message' was sent continuously to Macqnarie Island, but no acknowledgment was received. A Remarkable Sight. .

On Sunday, July 25, a most remarkable sight was witnessed. Early in the morning a large field of ice on the port quarter came charging along, and meetin? the floe on v;hich the ship was imprisoned, threw np with, terrific grinduijrs 15 to 20 feet high, ice eight feet thick. Lifted the rudder on to the ice, after cutting the rudder at the lower end of the trunk by means of a drill—a long and cold job. August G: The sun returned. The ship was forty-five miles east of Possession Island, and killed seal, n.welcome supply of fresh meat. As provisions were low, restricted lo two meals a (lay from then, and the main diet was penguins ami seal. August 10; Pawed close to Cape Adare. The ship set slowly north-west; sighted Sturge Island, Ballenys, north ninety miles difltant, Continue*) set north-west, past Cape Morth:

terrific blizzard. . On September 5 the uiizzen wireless mast carried away. Rigged another aerial and continued sending messages. Sighted land far distant. September 11: Continuing to set north-west. Early in October land was sighted southwest, which agrees with . Oates Land by observations. From October 15, as hopes of returning south lessened, sent auother wireless to tho King. No acknowledgment. Good Records Obtained. As the summer approached, passed, aud .waned, hopes of being any use to tho southern party vanished, hut good records of biological interest were obtained, also records of ice formations and soundings of a hundred and ninety fathoms. November 17: Muddy bottom., Land again sighted. End of November nortfh-west of Oates Land. A record Emperor penguin was captured on December 10. weighing ninety-five pounds, alfo towards the end of the summer an embryo seal was taken from its mother. Good records 'and specimens of all Antarctic life were obtained during the long drift , which should prove of great interest and value. At Christmas got extraordinary ice, tho thickness of lanes near the ship, in some 1 places twenty-five to thirty feet below the surface, caused by under-riding floes. Ice conditions continued to improve. Ship gradually worked northward. Lanes became more open and more numerous. Much ice movement observed close to the ship, and more icebergs came into sight. ° Free at Last. On February 12 ice broke up round the ship. Set sail and worked to northward. On March 10 had a narrow escape from being : crushed between, icebergs. March 14: After passing through heavy pack, cleared the ice in lat. 61.27 i south, long. 161.16 east. Wireless communication established Maroh 23 with Awarua station; Hobart also hearing, nine hundred. and ninety miles from Hobart. Great hospitality offered by New Zealand, the Otago Harbour Board sending a tug to assist the Aurora from east of Stewart Island. Arrived at Port Chalmers April 3 amidst great cheering by people oil tru/js and at .the wharf, and addresses of welcome were given by. the Mayors of Port Chalmers and Dunedin and the chairman and members, of the Harbour Board. The Premier of. New Zealand, Mr. W. F. Massey, sent a telegram heartily welcoming the party to New Zealand after a dangerous and perilous journey.