SOUTHWARD-HO

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1929, Page 5

SOUTHWARD-HO

(By Russell (Even—Copyrighted 1929 by the New York Times Company, and •Si. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights lor publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to New York Times.) BAD WEATHER ENCOUNTERED. BYRD’S TROUBLES CONTINUE. BAY OF WHALES, Fob. 9. Wo are jogging about one side of the Bay and back again under jib staysails and spanker. Jt is snowing and foggy so that the high White cliffs are invisible, except when they loom suddenly out: of the sea to warn us away from their crumbling sides. This doleful interim 7>ogan on Thursday. Wo had been anchored securely under the shelter of the barrier, hut as the wind increased, the three lines which held us to the ice grew taut under the incessant buffetting. The rigging sang and the ship laid over under pressure. There was a thud against the side with the scraping of ice. Men poured ’out 'from the cabin and forecastle to discover the ice had given way under a slight swell, and our tugging, and the ice anchors were caught on the far side of the Hoes. The ship began to drift along the edge, and the ice started

packing round us.’ There was no time to save the anchors if the propellor was to lie kept clear of the thick ice, and Commander Byrd ordered the linos to be cut. Some of the crew wanted to get out on the heaving cakes to save the anchors, but Byrd ordered them back.

The wind picked up 'during the night and the City of New York heeled well over under a few sails. The sea also rose and some of us became seasick. All night long the ship rolled, -through this wilderness of white. The man at the wheel stood braced against it, ice crusting his helmet and beard.

A few miles of threatening grey cliff frowned suddenly ahead, and the ship went round with a rattle of stays,plunging in the short waves like a startled thing. The wind lasted all Friday and last night, but this morning had gone down to a gentle breeze. Visibility is no better,' however, and there seems little possibility of an immediato change. These days are valuable, but we cannot complain lor previously The weather has boon so favourable. Out at the base the men are also weatherbound. They had dug part ’of the excavation for the large house, but they found yesterday that the snowhad drifted it full again, and shovelling must be put off till the storm ends.