EACE AGAINST TIME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 17 February 1930, Page 9

EACE AGAINST TIME

ELEANOR BOLLING SPEEDING

SOUTH

(Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Eleanor Boiling, which left Dunediu last • Tuesday evening, is racing against time in au effort to reach the Antarctic ice barrier, and pick up the Byrd Expedition before it is too late to make a return passage through the pack ice. Mr. Eaymond Mercoal, who is visiting Auckland, described yester-day-his experiences as supply officer on the vessel on former voyages. He said that he 'Went ashore upon the ship's return to Dunedin for coal, after the finding of the pack ice impenetrable, and now was engaged upon business connected with the expedition.

Describing the Eleanor Boiling's attempt, in company-with the City of New York, to' find a way through the ice at the end of January, Mr. Mercoal stated that this year the fringe of the pack was 1250 miles south of Dunedin, or 100 miles further, north than last year. The ships had to thread their way through tho ice for 600 miles before regaining the clear water adjacent to thejJarrier, which was 2450 miles from Dunedin.

Soon after entering %he pack the Eleanor Boiling encountered ice .blocks 45ft in height. For five hours she was able to thread her way through $ie thinner ice. Then she became jammed. It was impossible to go forward, and only with great difficulty was the steamer eventually freed astern without damaging her propeller, but she was damaged about the hull, which set up leaks, and the pumps had to be kept going until she reached Dunedin. HIGH PRESSURE. The return voyage was made under wireless orders from Bear-Admiral Byrd, because the delay meant that the vessel might run short of coal, and none could be obtained from the 0. A. Larsen or the other whaling ships. While thb Eleanor Boiling was on her way back to Dunedin, two storma broke up the pack ice, and assisted thf City of New York in making her way to Byrd's base. The Eleanor Boiling waa being given 12 days in which to cover the 2450 miles between Dunedin and the Barrier. Mr. Mercoal said that, as she had seldom done 200 miles per day, she would have to be pushed severely to fulfil that expectation. A day cf great activity would occur when she reached the Barrier, because it was hopedfthat the expedition and its gear woufa be embarked in a day, so that the two vessels might immediately proceed north, x / The ice pack is usually closed at the end of February. On account of the lateness of its opening, it might remain negotiable by vessels until the middle of -March. The C. A. Larsen and her chasers would be standing by to give any help possible if either of Byrd's vessels was caught in the ice on the voyage north. ThoCity of New York, a saiJ'ng vessc' with auxiliary power, could load only a limited quantity of the expedition's gear. Most of it, including the aeroplanes and the radio equipment, would have to wait on the ice until the Eleanor Boiling arrived. No doubt everything would be moved from Little America to the edge of the Barrier in anticipation of her coming. Just before returning to Dunedin for coal, the Eleanor Boiling sighted for the second time Scout Island. Doubt had been thrown on its existence by the whalers. It was situated in latitude 76deg south, longitude 179deg east, and was 1500 ft long, 500 ft wide, and 125 ft high. It was both beautiful and curious in appearance. One of the two bi^, rocks which formed it had the' appearance of a man's face. CHANGE OP PLANS. If the expedition returns to Dunedin, the party will probably leave for New York as soon as possible. Admiral Byrd intends to return to the United States by a mail steamer, and later to join the Eleanor Boiling at Panama. It had been proposed to leave ten men at the base, and send the expedition back next summer, but the expedition was 'running short of money, though it had three yjara' stores in Dunedin. The men wero tired, and needed a rest in a more congenial climate. The scientists were anxious to get back to the United States and pufclisli the data already collected.