IN POLAR ICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1926, Page 4

IN POLAR ICE.

NEAV ZEALANDER’S EXPERIENCES.

AUCKLAND, March 20

Some of his more thrilling experiences when in Arctic seas and. ice with Commander Frank \\ expedition wore related by Air Gordon Burt, of Dunedin, who returned by the Wuini an a this week. New Zealanders have a special pride in this Arctic expedition, as Commander Worscly, who is a native of Christchurch, took the New Zealand flag with him and planted it near the 82nd parallell, or further North than tbo blue ensign with the Southern Cross had ever flown before. Air Burt was the other New Zealander in the venture. He is a member ol the firm of A. and T. Burt, and went as chief engineer on the Island, a brig-antine-rigged ship with KID horse-power semi-Diesel engine. The expedition was started originally as the Algarsson North Pole expedition, and it was intended to make a flight to the Pole However, proper arrangements could not be made, and the venture was turned into a scientific expedition and renamed. Commander W orsley was in charge and Mr Algarsson accompanied the members. Air Burt at the time that, he accepted the position of chief engineer was studying I ' for tlm degiee of engineering a Liverpool l niversitt. The'' ship Island left Liverpool in .Tune last year, and went to. Ireland where a wireless outfit was installed so that, Greenwich time signals could he received in the Polar regions. From Ireland the explorers travelled to Green Harbour, in Spitzborgen, and tbo ship was fitted out finally for Polar work. The last of the supplies was taken aboard at King’s Bay, the point, from which Amundsen started on bis flight. The expedition started north in July and struck the Polai pack a few davs out from King’s Bay. IN THE PACK ICE. “We fought nur way thromdi the Polar pack for some days and Mien gnt into a nest of icebergs." said Air Bold, in recounting his experiences. We continued our light for the next month or so. The ship’s rudder was damaged, but r managed to repair it. by cutting the ice away and making a kind of little harbour. We shot a number ol polar (bears, the first taken by Algarsson and myself being a twelve-looter. You must remember that we lived oil bear and seal meat to keep away the

.scurvy.” “At> one wo won* jninniod m the ice for eighteen or nineteen days in a solid pack, and it looked like the finish. hut wo cleared the pack evenlnnlK and Commander Worsloy made a. dash for Franz Josef Land with the intention of collecting more scientific data. Sumo days were spent there, and valuable work was (Tone liv "Mr At. A. 8. Thom, of Glasgow fTniversily, who was second officer and chemist on the ship, and Mr Charles. Bisset. a geologist of Aberdeen Fniversity. We had with us also Air Bee Alason as official rincmateographer. “We made our way further through heavy pack and got, to near the eightysecond parallel. On our arrival there Commander AVnrslev and 1 hoisted the New Zealand flag as far north as it had ever boon taken.” ADA'ENTI’RE AYTTH A BEAU. As the season was getting bile, members decided to turn back bolero that were caught in the winter ice. During tlit- homeward flight with the ship grinding its way along, the propeller was smashed in heavy ice. and tor a long time the Island was driven with one blade, until that also snapped. This was where sails proved their worth. They were hoisted and the journov continued. (In the way Lack a number ol hears were .slml and a cub captured, but it, eventually broke away. While catching il Mr Burl almost lost his life Ic. the mother. Two sinus were fired at. the latter from the ship and after the animal dropped l fie men rushed on lo tin. 1 ice to cupuue ihe voiiug one. The mother proved to lie far from dead, and dashed lorocionsly at Mr Burt, who emptied the magazine ol his rifle into her amt eventually killed her. but not. before lie find experienced a lew sensational moments. NARROW ESCAPE. “We heat it straight back lor Spitsbergen, tor the sea was freezing last." continued Mr Burt. “On the „av we drifted into a tremendous iceberg with huge overlapping edges. Suddenly thousands ol 'lens of ice Ip-oke away, falling within a lew feet ot the ship, and sending a great wave over her. It was a miracle that the ice did not fall on the ship. Mad this happened all would have been otei. In tin- west of Spitsbergen we struck terrible gales and nearly lost the ship. The tail-end of the gale found us practically shipwrecked, and we spent two days and nights on the rocks AN e used all our distress signals in the In ]>e of attracting attention in Green Harbour. but without avail. Alter the second day we managed to kedge the Island oil’, and in the middle of October we limped into Spitzbergen in a haltered condition. 'lcinpornry icI.nil's were ellected to the Island before she stalled for home.” COMMANDER AYORSi.EA’.

A glowing tribute to the manner in which Gomnianei- Worslcy concluded the expedition was paid by Mr Pur!. "We owe our lives and the ship to bis wonderful personality and skiliul i’:*' l " cation." lie staled. "As for the cable', reports that were sent out rega'-ding trouble between Mr Algarssot. and Commander Worslcy these were nothing more than a lot of nonsense. All mat lia|>|)C'iK.'<l was that wi* ( law - imunlcr Worslcy as our leader v. hell the ship was in the utmost (ilihcull >' north of Kpit/.bergcn. Me -mew he was the most capable man o> muo charge when our lives were in danger, and so did Mr Algarssott. who was only too pleased to see him at the load ol things.” .. , . 1 ■ i .Mr Burt, who travelled to from Spitsbergen in the Amelnnd, a Dutch Steamer which took him right through the marvellous Norwegian fiords, raid that Commander );<’isloy expected to come to New /.cmi.ml sliorly.