BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1929, Page 5

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

(By Russell Owen—Copyrighted 1925) by the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. WireKss to New Yoik Times.) CITY OF NEW YORK LEAVES FOR NEW ZEALAND. TERRIBLE WEATHER EX PERI ENCED. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received this dav at 9. a.m.) BAY OF WHALES, Feb. 20. The City of Now York has left ifor' New Zealand and if the Eleanor Bolling should he turned hack hv the ice our little group on the Barrier will he beyond reach except by radio until next December. It was with strangely mixed feelings that we stood on the edge of the hay ice yesterday and watched the tall white’ship move slowly away and disappear in the mists northward.

Commander Byrd made the decision to send the ship hack after sailing t'< the north-east to get soundings in unchartered waters and incidentally to lay bases on the barrier for his flight next year. He was driven hack by a severe storm and there were so many indications that the sea would soon if coze over that he merely tied the ship it)) long enough to get his last personal cfFects ashore, and then sent her on her long journey back through the storms of low latitude. The storm which checked his progress northward was the worst yet experienced here, the wind blowing fifty miles an hour lashing the waves to spray, which froze before it ilell hack into the sea or on the deck. The City .of New York struck bad weather as soon as she pushed past the ('apes. It swept down off the Barrier in chilling gusts which drove the temperature down to 25) below. The lookout could see barely a hundred yards ahead and with big cakes and small bergs floating about the condition was disconcerting. The wind became stronger as the ship went ifurlher north am* centrally froze the surface of the water into a sort of slush, through which it was difficult to force a way. The Commander determined t;> turn hack, hut when an attempt was made to tack it was found that the ice had frozen round the rudder so thickly .that it was jammed. WitTT ice cutters on long poles, men cut and chopped round the rudder post through a hole in the dock until the rudder could he freed, hut even then the turn had to be made very slowly. The men’s faces Wert frozen and their hands and feet were nipped as they worked. Dr Coman. on the look-out on the forecastle was caked in ice armour as the spray froze On his clothes.

In the midst of this turmoil things began to go wrong below. A steam valve in the boiler froze in the cold draught that came from below, hut fortunately one in the engine room stayed warm. Then the gasket blew out ana later a high pressure valve slipped. They were quickly repaired hut without tho engine the ship was almost helpless fop a time.