IN ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1929, Page 5

IN ANTARCTICA

READY FOR GREAT ADVENTURE. AWAITING WARMER WEATHER. (By Russell Owen—Copyrighted }92£ by the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to New Yoik Times.)

(Received this day at 10.30. a.m.) BAY OF WHALES, October 9.

As soon as a break in the weather comes and a few warm days can be expected, the dog teams of the first party will go south, also* the supporting party will leave the base and start their difficult journey over the heaved up bay ice, which in some places has been, forced fifty fact skyward. They are ready to go but it has been unusually cold this springl and a start will not be overrushed. The sleds are being brought together so that there will be as little delay as possible, when Commander Byrd gives the word for the long hike. Last night it was ■ forty-three be,l/ow. It has been much colder than when Amundsen started on his Polar journey on October 19th. Work on the planes is proceeding steadily. ■ Snow is being shovelled from round the Fairchild and the wings are being left with the landing gear in the hole where they have been all the winter, so firmly frozen in that a storm would tear the wings off without moving the skis. But such a storm is not anticipated here where the, wind ' velocities do not ireach the intensity experienced at Rockfeller Mountains Inst summer, when the Fokke-r was blown away. The engine cf the plane is tuned. The carburetter has been taken out, adjusted and cleaned, and if it becomes necessary to go to the assistance of the clog teams at any time the plane will bo ready to fly. Everyone •is anxious to get in the air again, but it will be weeks before good flying weather can be expected. Tills is the season of storms and sudden changes in weather conditions and down hcije when the wind blusters it blusters quickly and with authority.