WINTER QUARTERS

Evening Star, Issue 20140, 3 April 1929, Page 8

WINTER QUARTERS

THE BYRD EXPEDITION BUSY WITH SAW AHD SHOVEL CUTTING SUBWAYS IN THE ICE [By Russell Owen.] Copyright, 1928, by the New York ‘Times’ Company and , St. Louis ‘ Post Dispatch. 1 All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. Wireless to New York ‘ Times.’ BAY Oh WHALES, April 1. (Received April 3, at 9.30 a.m.)Down went the thermometer with a thump to 47 deg. below zero, but the suit is shining, and shovelling and digging proceeded just the same despite frosted toes and noses, to the tune of “Poor little snowpile, don’t yon cry; you’ll bo a big hole by and by ” (grunt and heave, saw and shovel). Eyebrows, whiskers, and edges of parka hoods are covered with rime, the breath mounting in big clouds in the still, biting air; toes are congealing, and mittens are so stiff with frozen perspirations that they are curved like iron gloves round the shovel handles. It is a. ease of shovel and heave,’then halt while the frostbitten cheek is rubbed hack to normal.

Just now we are Tniilcling a series ol tunnels that would be a model lor the subway system Sydney is talking about. When they arc finished, it will bo possible to walk to the houses and obtain supplies without going outside. There will ho a quarter mile of glistening channels of communication. While one group was working thus, the aviation party was putting the big Ford plane to bed for the winter. The men made a. huge hole, 10ft deep, and with the help of the entire gang, have pushed the huge fuselage in there with the centre section and wing motors mounted Then they erected a wall ol snow blocks around it. This building was the beginning of a new method of construction, which is now adopted by the subway constructors. With the aid of ice saws, such as are used to cut ice in ponds at home, they saw clown and across, then lift the chunks of hard snow. This snow is so firm that it can ho quarried like stone. Jt was the labour of two days getting this hole ready, and the mechanics and pilots did" most of it. The mechanics, who have kept the planes going without faltering on all these cold weather flights—Bubier, Both, and Dennis have the 'most disreputable parkas in camp—the penalty of working where there is hot oil. They lilted blocks until rbelr arms ached, and when they had finished the big ship was stowed away in its hangar of snow roofed over with a snow covered tarpaulin, and with room enough inside to permit them to work on the gas and oil lines and motors and other parts during the winter night. There isn't a, wind in the Antarctica, which can get hold of enough of that structure to budge it, it is so carefully designed. The next problem was the care for the clogs, so that they would be protected in low temperatures. The dog drivers are the mainstay of this work, although the aviation men help them because to get enough tunnels to bold eighty dogs is a tremendous task. Trendies similar to those used to connect the houses are being dug, radiating from the seal pile which is the food supply. When Ihc trench is finished holes arc cut in the side for dog crates, and then the whole tiling is covered over with snow blocks, making a perfect hotel coiridor. The clogs will bo chained just far enough apart so that they cannot fight, and will he turned loose under’ the eye of their driver for a certain time each day for exercise. RADIO EXPERT'S WIFE • SAILING FOR MAY ZEALAND. Press Associalion—By Telegraph—Copyright. VANCOUVER, April 2. (Received April 3, at 11 a.m.)

A bride who is to join her husband in Now Zealand, and alio is to enjoy a honeymoon almost a year alter her marriage, sails on Wednesday morning by the Aorangi. She is Mrs L. AV. Berkner, wife of (bo radio expert and aeroplane pilot with the .Byrd Antarctic Expedition, who was lent by the America Bureau of Standards, and was just transferred for duty in New Zealand. The eouplo were married last May, and the husband left shortly after with Commander Byrd. —■ Australian Tress Association.