IN ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1929, Page 5

IN ANTARCTICA

“By Russell Owen, copyrighted, 1929 by New York Times Company and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to ‘New York Times.’ ” BYRD’S EXPERIENCES. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) /Received this day at 9.25. a.m.) BAY OF WHALES, March 3. • The last few days have been days of great anxiety. Ice has formed much more quickly in the Ross Sea than usual this year, and the City of New York had a desperate battle to reach a position of comparative safety. She ploughed her way through heavy pack and massed new ice for three days until she reached open water. A severe storm added to her difficulties, and she was coated with ice until it had to be chipped away to prevent her rudder and propel lor, as wed as the rigging from becoming one solid mass. The Eleanor Bolling also turned back but fortunately we have everything we need until she can come through next year, including gasolene and petrol for the polar Right. The fresh meat ! she would have added to our supply can be made up by killing seals, and I soon we shall have enough, not only lor ourselves, but also for the dogs. Even if the Eleanor Bolling could have made her way through the pack and the new ice in the Ross Sea, she Would have been stopped by ice which lilted the Bay; and continues unbroken northwards as far as the eye can reach from a plane which ascended two days ago to spot seals. Captain, Brown, aboard the Eleanor Boding, still wished to come and sent the following message:— • “All hands, are daring to' gon We have not seen any ice so far; and why don’t you let me try? You know what experts said before, that it was impossible to go to the Bay of Whales. Would the depot at Scott’s winter quarters in. AleAturdo Sound' do? I and my original gang would go to H—for you ! —Brown.” Byrd sent this in reply:—“l know how you feel, old fellow. If I wanted someone to sail me through the gates of H I would ask for you and your crew, for I know if anyone could accomplish it you could, and you would not lie afraid to try either, but this place is as cold as the other is hot! It is almost a certainty that should you bring the Eleanor Bolling down this way you would got frozen in somewhere along the course and lose the ship because the Ross Sea is frozen to the northward here.” ' : Altogether we are a comfortable and happy bunch, numbering 42, the largest group ever to spend a winter in the Antarctic.