IN ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1929, Page 6

IN ANTARCTICA

(By Russell Owen —Copyrighted 1921 by the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world Wire'ess to New Yoik Times.) THE SUPPORTING PARTY. SLOWED BY COLD AND BLIZZARD (United Press’Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) BAY OF WHALES, Oct. 22. Cold and blizzard slowed the supporting party yesterday. A bitter wind came out of the southeast and the temperature dropped sharply from zero to eighteen below crusting snow so that sledges broke through ’ a*nd made the pulling again difficult. When the party got out of' their tents in the morning the sledges and dogs were half drifted over '■ with snow, and it was all the dogs and men together could üb, to get the loads started again. The weather cleared in the afternoon and as there were signs of crevasses, the sledges and men were roped together. When they stopped at night the drivers picketed the dogs between the sledges attached to a light steel cable with loops into which chains may be snapped. Greater speed is being made in making the camp. It takes only a - short time to picket the dogs, then Walden puts up a tent and starts the primus stove while Joe De Ganahl is erecting the radio masts so he can communicate with the base. Chris Braetfien and Oursey cotok supper and by the time it is ready the evening tasks are finished and there is a rush for the hooch.

Then the four men crawl into their sleeping hags and chat while they smoke cigarettes, and after writing their diaries go to slhep, tired out by the day’s hauling with their dogs. .