BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1929, Page 3

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

BYRD’S EXPLORATIONS

NEW YORK, December 2S

(By Russell Owen—Copyrighted 1923 by the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to New York Times.) Commander Byrd states: Our visit to Discovery Harbour appeared worth while from a geographical standpoint. AVe reached the great ice barrier about 177.40 longtitude, 70 miles west of the entrance of Discoveiy Harbour. As we approached the barrier we could see two places where the barrier sloped down to the water’s edge, 30 or <lO to 160 feet in altitude. Though this is mid-summer down hero, we found Discovery Harbour filled with what we call bay ice for three-quarters of its length. We have 'found that this beautiful icelocked harbour is not accurately charted, it may be that there has been some change in its contour since the last explorer reported it. fjjjtrom, Balchin, Petersen and I proceeded on skiis eastward of the head harbour, to select a landing field. As there is no hope later.to chart Discovery Harbour with one of our automatic mapping cameras, we have found that instead of running east and west as shown by charts, there, is . a general curve from tlie eastward towards the south, so that at the end of the Harbour, where the lines of the ice barrier meet, its direction runs nearer to the north and south than it does east and west. At a point about three-quarters of the •distance between the ship and the end of the Harbour, the barrier sloped gently down to the bay ice. so that we were able to climb into the barrier, which we ascended a hundred and fifty feet, and still we bad not reached the top. At tliis point Strom, Balchin and Brathen proceeded to investigate some show peaks we had seen lying to the south-east, near the curve of the Harbour. These turned out to be several of those peaks with valleys between, and we decided'that, though they are snow covered, land lies under them, and that this-is.part of some land that keeps intact this extraordinary liarboth ilfasliioned in the ice barrier. There were several such places toward the end of the' Harbour, both sides of whicli sloped down to the water. At the end of the harbour the two barrier walls don’t meet, because of a small channel extending to the southeast. Dr Richovd, the Norwegian whaler, told me that be has foil on c* ■ this crack, and that it curved around to the sea. Ibis shows that .pait o* the harrier to the northward, which (forms part of Discovery Harbour, i« an island. As there is a stong easterly current running along here, and under the barrier, it indicates that this> ice island is resting somewhere on land. This. I believe, is of some interest to geographers, as there is a great deal of discussion whether or not the ice harrier or parts of the barrier rest on land. AVe have been taking soundings regularly, and the lowest depth of water we have so fat*- gotten at or near the Harbour is 246 fathoms: Later, after mapping Discovery Harbour from the air, and taking more soundings, we hope to be able to shoe, conclusively that a considerable pai * of the barrier about the Harbour rests on land. AVe have found other errors •in the chart. The depth findei wliicl we took so much trouble and expense to put on the ship, has proved well worth while, as we can get accurate soundings without stopping the ship, by getting from the bottom of the ocean the time 'of the return of the echo of sound. AVe have reached tin barrier some days earlier than any other explorers, and are getting interesting data on pack ice and bay ice that one finds at' this time of the year. AVe passed two ice packs in the Ross Sea, in addition to the one we had such a difficult time in getting through, but we were fortunately able to get around them to the westward, without being put much off our course.

UNLOADING OPERATIONS. (Copyright from Byrd Expedition, Ross Sea, December 28.)

Olir future home for the year lies just ahead, shrouded in a haze tha: conceals the end of the Bay. M e have just tied up to Bay ice, which extends out many miles from Framheim, Amundsen’s old station place, nen* which the expedition expects to have winter quarters. Byrd, with Balchen. Petersen, Bramte and two dog teams, driven by Walden and Vaughan, Hie going inland in two or three hours to try and find a site for a base, and ii possible try to locate Framheim.

Wo reached here early this morning, and found it was impossible to get more than a short distance into the Bay, which is usually not clear of ice until about a fortnight fro mnow; bu the weather is good, and there is a strong tide or current breaking off parts of the ice. continually, and it may be possible to take considerable material ashore even before the ic< goes altogether. Dogs and sleds, will large amounts of stores, may he moved sometime before we are able to get up the barrier, which is very low • ' this point. Dog drivers are busily packing sleds with food for a week, awell as tents, sleeping hags, and radio outfit, so that if the ship is forced to put out by a storm, they will laable to get along comfortably until w< return. Sledges are on the ice alongside the ship, with men busily engaged getting their gear together on them, so work ashore may he said (o have actually started. Everyone is elated at being here, and also at the calm weather which has been predicted for the Bay of Whales, but of which we had been sceptical. There is an unusual haze over the ice, aud it is im-

possible to see more than a low miles Heyond that mysterious curtain of blue and white lies tremendous to it t ry which is about as Forbidding to-day in this grey light as could be imagined. It is a cheerless place, grim enough ti. discourage the most ardent real estate auctioneer. .|}yrd expects to stay away for a da\ ■>r |wo, and our activities for the next two weeks will depend largely upon what he learns of the ice conditions on his long trip inland. The Commander appointed Larry Gould, geologist, second in command down here, as Brnphy. the regular second in command, is in Nt*w Zealand. Gould i.. popular on the ship, and 'for the last week has been ready to supervise unloading. which will he a difficult and nossibly a dangerous task if done on bay ice.