BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1928, Page 8

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

LIFE ON SHIPBOARD,

PICTUIMiSQUJC- PEOPLE ON CITY OF NEW YORK.

NEW YORK. Dec. 23

A radio from Commander Byrd’s ship, the City of New York, says: “Our days go on bum-pingly, ramming the ija'-k and pushing huge ice cakes aside, now hacking, now strugging ahead, 'idle sturdy little ship makes her way siowly south. Always- there is the grumbling, crunching and- hissing of ice alongside, the shouts of orders from those conning us through, together with the harking and whining of the impatient dogs. Outside is a white field of snow-covered ire. smooth or rolling or .broken; and twisted into a thousand fragments that have been weld* d together nude* Hie tough winter cold. HETEROGENEOUS CREW.

“Life goes gaily, nevertheless. Busy

with their many tasks, or resting in their hunks between watches, the men hike and laugh at each other, hurl good-natured jibes from sheer lightheartedness. 'I here is much humour in his heterogeneous crew. Tims, scientists and stokers eating side by side tend to cement that .goadlellowship which finds refuge in hauler about mch other’s foibles. We would he very uncomfortable il we could not laugh. As it is, no more loyal or un•ellislt crew ever sailed the sea. r l hois evident in that <|iieer way in which a man will show (ousideration for another's toolings or do something to help him. IN THE FORECASTLE.

“Down in the tiny inrecastle, Howard'of the larger forecastle and messroom. in t!i(> midst el a severe storm, the first male is playing his big accordion to delight those around him. R is a small room, with four largo bunks along each side in two tiers. An electric bull) overhead shines yelHv through the smoke of many pipes. The blue ha/e against the ceiling, curling iyhiihl ill*' ponderous beams and e'bows. is thick like snow, and the fog outside makes dim the corners of the room. Then- is a litter ef packing cas-'s. bags and suit cases on the floor, which is paved with hits of paper and string, matches, and the other things which tired men drop and forget to oiek up. .Hanging from the partitions, ‘.lie ceiling, and hooks and strings are skis, hoots, lanterns, hags, and bits of clothing, heavy coats and oilskins. There is a smell of dampness and t<>Pjicc.o and a musty odour of boots, cjome pictures of those ■ left behind nr" tacked < u the inner walls <>( the hunks. ,1 10 xjniiiuir faces of women lookin'' down on one of the most masculine places on earth, a ship’s forecastle. .SOME OF THE PEOPLE.

“Old .Martin Bonne, the sailmnkor. across the way leans on his sewing machine, a smile creasing his le-ifhci -hecks on each side of bis beaked nose, bis eyr-s blinking « nntiiimmsly as if he were about to .fall asleep. Him AY aims,’ we call him.

“B-nu Balckeu, the aviator, sprawl

, ;1 ii pile of bags. contentedly listenin'.' to ;i 'tune, ivnd Tlalio Smith. rmothor pilnt. stretches liis long lons halfNvay ,cross llie room, caressing tlie bowl of liis pipe with "rimy hands. ‘’Unit is ,, 0 , K 1.’ says Balchen. with a cliaractoristic nod of liis head, as someone finishes playing somethin" reminiscent of his homeland, and his face slowh ielaxes in a half-smile. There is somethin" verv fme about this man. whoso life has boon spoilt wresting a living from the eternal ice of the north. IT is gentleness and courtesy are more marked because of his rugged strength. Tie plays a gay song, liis grey eyes smiling at us as he moves his head in time to the music, and our bodies unconsciously sway and our loot tan the floor. ‘•The whole forecastle sways sideways as llie ship runs up on a floe and slides off again, and a rumbling, Leering sound comes through the planks. Xo one pays any attention —we are used to it now. THE DINING PI,ACE. “Through the open door to tb larger forecastle, which runs almost i amidships, can he seen the conipanloiitway steps coming down from Liu. hatch. Smoke blows through and flows upwards, to be torn apart in eddu. • by the cold air rushing timvii. l long, mess table is in this large roo. iiVeryono, including Commander Hyrii, cats here, and around the sides ai bunks for fit tv nidi. ! lie light li'om the hatch and a few bulbs illuiuinalt the forward end, but the room fad away into • dense shadow, from which conics the sound of men arguing or laughing as they await their turn at the table. Dishes ('latter and there are cries of ‘more soup,’ and demands to know what in hlay.es lias become ol the butler.. Even during meals some men are sleeping, behind curtains ol muidoseript material, which cut oil some of the light. STEWARDS AND COOKS. ,- We. eat in three messes, and the long tiiDie is filled each time. Chart, s. the major iloiuo, brought order out of llie chaos which existed at first, win n everyone tried to cat at once, lie is resplendent in "Dundreary whiskers and carries a towel of indeterminate grov around his neck. Mis hands are the cleanest aboard, for which all are thankful, as ir is Charley who dins out the soup and passes the cake. Syd Greason ami Dick (’outer, the assistant stewards, help him, Syd rushing fond from the galley and Dick washing the dishes. The ship In relies against the ice cake, and Lofgren spills soup on someone’s hair and down his neck, and. while the sprinkled, one roars picturesque objections. Lofgren caln-lv mops up his victim with a dish towel. “13tumble up the steep steps, and