BYRD’S FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1929, Page 5

BYRD’S FLIGHT

•‘By Russell Owen, copyrighted 1928 by New York Times Company and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All lights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to ‘New York Times.’ ” UNLOADING OPERATIONS. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telogra pli.—(,’opy right..; (Received this day at 9.25. a.m.) MAY OF WHALE"-. Jan. 28. Commander Byrd’s first long flight was full of accomplishment and ali mou nLa i n rangis and other tilings hitherto unseen have been add-al to the map of this mysterious land. He also managed to peep over an inaccessible icfield. which hides the vast area east of King Edward sector and catch a glimpse of the fascinating hinterland. Our two ships are now lying as snugly as if in an enclosed basin. Tho great advantage of being a!ong r side the ice dock here is that it not only gives a place where ships can be unloaded safely ami quickly, Inn also decreases the distance to the base to five miles, whereas the old and dangerous route was eight miles. A straight line to the base would be only four miles but- the trail is being made well inland to avoid crevasses near the coast. The.work of unloading the ilol.ii.g has begun, as both ships have be, n secured to the ice. It is possible to unload the Bolling directly insA'sd of putting a part of her load on File City of New York, which bad been planned had the necessity arisen. The crews of both ships have In en divided into twelve hour shifts and the work goes on merrily. Dog teams are hauling from seven or eignt hundred pounds to sixteen hundred pounds per trip, depending on the number in the team, and the whole organisation js working like a machine. It 's probably the most remarkable sight in this respect ever seen in the Antarctic. An anchor lias been sunk in tile snow up on the Barrier, at the Lead of an jinoJino and a block and tackle fall rigged to it and taken back to tlie Bolling's forward winch. In this manner unloading is a much easier task than had been anticipated.