88 DAYS ON ICE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 94, 15 January 1935, Page 9

88 DAYS ON ICE

Geological Party Back at Little America PLANT FOSSILS FOUND (Received January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Little America. January 13. The geological party, under the command of Quinn and Blackburn, returned to camp after 88 days in the field, completing the journey of 1226 nautical miles which carried them within ISO miles of the South Pole. Tills deepest-sledging penetration into the Antarctic since the polar journeys of Scott and Amundsen were more important from the geological than the exploration standpoint. Rear-Admiral Byrd, after a short conference with Blackburn, reported that they found extensive deposits of coal and fossilised plants, leaves ami sections of prehistoric tree trunks, some a foot to 18 inches in diameter. The journey was one of hardships throughout. At the start Ihe temperature dropped 40 to 50 degrees below zero, and later averaged from five to 10 degrees below, but sharp cutting winds made it seem much colder. Ou several occasions the party almost met disaster. Dogs went over cliffs and were held dangling in fhe air until pulled back. On the return trip sails were rigged on the sledges and winds used to good advantage, the return being made at an average speed of over 28 miles daily. A message from the Bear of Oakland states that she is steaming southward through an area in which heavy ice packs are usually found, but the crew was surprised to find open sea. The ice has apparently been broken up by gales and drifted into the Ross Sea. Her noon position on Saturday was 69 degrees 24 minutes south latitude, 179 degrees 48 minutes west longitude. Her average speed was 6.4 knots.