IN ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1929, Page 5

IN ANTARCTICA

(By Russell Owen—Copyrighted )9?f. by the New York Times Company, and ot. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout lie world Wire'ess to New Yoik I’imes.)

TRAVEL IN FAR SOUTH. •

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyriglit.j

(Reeei-jed this clay at 8.30. a.m.) BAY Ob' WHALES, Nov. 31.

A message from the supporting party, including McGonafial’s description i/t tneir two days in a crevassed area, show they have taken their loads over the most dangerous part off the trail. When they leturii it will he with lighter sledge's, for they tool through that dangerous region supplie> for Depot Pour at 81 degrees 4o minutes south. There they turn back. Apparently the party found much worse travelling than did Amundsen on his journey seventeen years ago, for he

went through the crevassed area three times when vision was poor and without much trouble. The trip back to the northern edge to leave a warning for the snowmobile was made at Byrd’s order, for although he had given instructions tfiat the machine was not to go so far,/he was afraid that they might be carried away by «eal and attempt too much, ‘ft is evident that no machine could pass 'such a treacherous and broken area. ’ ' j Joe McGonahal, navigator of the supporting' sledge party, sent the following radio from just south off eighty latitude: The peaceful barrier showed sternest ' when the monotony of one hundred and sixty miles of unexciting sledging were broken by efforts to penetrate a maae of crevasses covered with chasms and hollow haycocks. Eleven miles south of the depot three tents were pitched to-night between two pitfalls three miles east of the scene of our escapes from whatever is below. Countless hollow crusts over fvliieh we passed the barrier trembles and roars occasionally as new traps open in this area, where the pressure of ice is equalised. From eighty-one south this morning a long line off knolls, jagged peaks, and rolling domes glistened majestically on the crest of the hilltop stretching east and west. > We had gone five miles when' Bursey who was leading the roped caravan, swung his sledge to a halt. His dogs were on the roof' of a round hollow pit, fifty feet in diameter. Vnere were many such invisible covens on the ascent of the hill, some filler and some bridged with snow. Evidently the craters of the Haycocks opened by released ' pressure, soon to become crevasses." A few open and some filled, most roofed and five miles of dodgihg ari drushing brought us to a stop.- Well roped we planned a short reeonnaisance on foot.

Walker stepped away from his sledge into a crevasse und sank down to the •waist, He was pulled out again and went down into a second, We crossed a safe looking ridge and slid down ten feet from an open hole with blackness for the bottom, anil turned the teams to the west, .

Bursev slipped over the brink of a pit as we crossed a narrow bridge between it and the Haycocks, but the rope dragged him back. As there was no room to turn the team between the Haycocks, Braather, roped and on ski is tested the largest, and we rushed the dogs around and over the dome, to* retrace our steps a few hundred yards.

Bursey stopped to fix the harness and the surface sank under Braathen’s sledge. The teams were hurried forward and pulled him up. A flag slipped through into space below. Everything was Hollow. We tried vainly with many crevasses but Braathen’s experienced short dodges, brought us to safe ground. The day of perilous reconnoitring over 1 the hills checkered with crevasses and a mountain of broken ice pitted ' and honeycombed by pressure, brought ,us to the firm barrier at midnight to-day, just as fog closed in on what we believe the most treacherous area ever crossed in the Antarctic.

Great upheavals have taken place here since Amatulsen’s time. Nothing lie ' describes can compare with the last ten miles of our journey. It was restless for all, for every few hours we were ai' r akened by thunder, announcing the birth, of a new crevasse and the shaking cf the hollow snow beneath us.