TERRA NOVA ARRIVES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 349, 1 April 1911, Page 5

TERRA NOVA ARRIVES.

EFFECTS OF THE STORM. MEETING WITH THE FRAM. [BY TKLKCUAI'It. — I'ItKSS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, This Day. The Terra Nova arrived at 5 p.m. yesterday, and met with a hearty reception. The effects of the storm on the way down were shown by the state of the bulwarks, a large part of which were missing. Those on board say it was the worst storm they had ever experienced, and if it had lasted three hours longer, the ship would have gone down. The engines were immersed in water, and the crew had to bail the vessel out. They had a great surprise when they found the Fram in Balloon Inlet. At early morning the company were roused by the cry of "Ship, ship!" which they thought a joke, but there was the Norwegian vessel, lashed to the ice. Her deck was soon crowded, and greetings were exchanged. Further accounts of the gale state that the ship was really over-laden, and but for this, they would have had no difficulty. Some coal had to be thrown overboard, and two ponies and a dog were lost. The ponies were very troublesome, and when they fell they would not attempt to get up till kicked into action. The Terra Nova was in the ice for twenty-one days, passing through 300 miles of it. This was an unusually long distance, and the real fact was that they stated too soon. Later on in the season the Fram got through the pack in four days. Nobody tried it so early before. Some soundings were taken, which went to disprove the theory that Antartica was once connected with other continents. The chief difficulty in landing was caused by the ice breaking alongside the ship. It was quite firm, and the team men started to take the last motor sledge ashore. Mr Day intended to use its own power, but fortunately no fuel was available, for almost immediately the ice gave way and the vehicle slipped into 100 fathoms of water. The men hung on to the ropes till they were nearly drawn under, and had to let go. Finding the ice dangerous, the men returned to the ship, and ci the way Priestly fell through a hole and was only dragged out by Lieut. Pennell just in time. A strong current was running under the ice and the water was bitterly cold.