CRITICAL TIMES BYRD AT BAY OF WHALES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 9

CRITICAL TIMES

BYRD AT BAY OF WHALES

CRUMBLING BARRIER FACE PROBLEM OF [WINTER United Press Association—By Electric Telegrapn—CopyriSbt. NEW YOKE, January 27. High winds, a strong stroll, and a complete disintegration of its berth alongside the Bay of Whales ice front again drove the Jacob Euppcrt from her moorings on Thursday. At 1.30 on Friday afteriioon the flagship had been fruitlessly cruising and drifting in the bay for 32 hours, with 43, men marooned at Pressure Camp, the temporary supply base four and a half miles south of the edge of the ice, and four more at Little America. They already have broken into the caehtM stores, as there is no immediate prospect of relieving thorn, the Jacob Support being unable to find'a safe mooring. The whole front of the bay flooring, eight milos across, isy crumbling, and Admiral Byrd has estimated that over 1,000,000 square yards has broken off since Thursday morning. If the wind increases Admiral Byrd will order Captaia Gjertsen to ■put out for the opon waters of Ross Sea, as the risks of collision with ice endanger navigation within the bay. DANGER OF NEW ICE. The probloin of establishing the winter camp is reaching a critical point. The Jacob Kuppert must be unloaded by February 10,.otherwise she faces the danger of new ice forming and also of fuel running short. Harold Juno made a flight on Thursday seeking a better trail to Littlo America than that now used. His efforts were unsuccessful, but what he saw- cohvincod Admiral Byrd that there is grave danger to the whole flooring of the bay. On landing, he immediately ordered the cache of hay, food, and gasoline stored 100 yards from the ship to be transferred to Pressure damp. At midnight a stingi >. east wind came up, and the swell jarred the Jacob Kuppert's side against' the submerged ice. Admiral Byrd ordered the Jacob Euppert away, from her berth, and then the ice began crumbling along an eight-mile front. \ A severe squall hid the scene. When it cleared the leader and Captain Gjertsen, through their glasses, were appalled to see where a few hours before 100 yards of seemingly, solid ice stood betwefii the cache and the ship, now the edge of the ice was at tho cache itself. A few men were observed loading sledges at the cache. - Unable to bring the ship eloseS'nough to determine whether anyone was hurt, Admiral Byrd wirelessed Captain Taylor, j commanding Pressure Camp. Captain Taylor dispatched a dog .team to check up the cache personnel, and later reported that all hands were safe.