IN ABSOLUTE DARKNESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 542, 15 February 1913, Page 5

IN ABSOLUTE DARKNESS.

THE NORTHERN PARTY. WINTER IN A SNOWDRIFT. LIVING ON SEAL MEAT. Wellington, Wednesday. The story of the journey of the northern party, which was full of hardships and privations, and which very nearly ended in another tragedy, was told by Lieut. Campbell, who led the party. The party consisted of Lieut. Campbell, Surgeon Levick, Mr' Priestly, and Seamen Abbott, Browning, and Dickson.

Returning from their journey, the party reached Terra Nova Bay on February 16th, and they anticipated that the Terra Nova would be there to meet them, the vessel being expected there about the 17th. On reaching Terra Nova Bay, however, they found that the vessel was not there, and whi'.e they were keenly disappointed, they thought that Bhe must have encountered bad weather. It transpired that it was not bad weather, but unfavourable ice conditions that had prevented the vessel reaching Terra Nova Bay.

Lieut. Campbell and his party were now faced with a journey over ice of 200 miles to Cape Evans. But it was impossible to undertake the journey at this time, as the water was not properly frozen over. SHORT OF PROVISIONS.

"There were sis of us in the party and we had to make up our minds to winter there in the snowdrift," continued Lieut. Campoell. "Into the snowdrift we cut an igioo, which had to be our home for six months. We only had about a month's provisions, and we were not suitably clothed to spend the winter in an igloo, but there was nothing else for it, and we proceeded to make the best of our posi-

Lieut. Campbell said that they decided to kill as many seals as possible, and during their stay there the party secured 17 seals. j The partv were in absolute dark- j ness in their ilgoo, but they succeeded in making some lamps with the aid of seal blubber, and so obtained light to brighten their surroundings. Then a small blubber stove was arranged, and this added to the comfort of the men. At the commencement of their six month's confinement in the igloo the members of the party were supplied with one biscuit a day each, but the small supply of biscuits soon ran out, and for a great portion of the time their daily meals consisted of the one unchanging meal secured from the seal*. The party also ran out of their supply of tobacco and this served to add to their discomforts. Asked how they managed to pass six months in their igloo in the snowdrift, Lieut. Campbell smilingly remarked, "By sleep and occasional sing-songs." He also said that some members of the party gave interesting lectures on various subjects, and served to while away the long and dark hours. Eventually the winter came to an end, and they were able to leave their camp on September 30th for Cape Evans. Two of their men, Browning and Dickason, were ill when they left, and for the first„ few they were able to make only a few miles a day. After three days, Browning improved, but Dickason suffered longer, and daring the journey to Cape Evans he had occaionally to be placed upon a sledge. On their way to members of the party made collections of geological specimens, and at one spot they found a small L depot of specimens left by Professor David, who was with Shackleton's expedition. ARRIVAL IN CAMP. The remainder of the journey was carried out without further incident and Cape Evans was gained on November 7th. There better food, of which they had been so long derived, effected a speedy .restoration of their

condition, and Lieut. Campbell mentioned that in hia own case he put on 2st 71b in a week, jumping from lOst to 12st 71b. The other members also improved. INDESCRIBABLE HARDSHIPS. Then Lieut. Campbell paused for a while, and Conmmander Evans observed that no one could have any conception of the hardships which Lieut. Campbell and his companions had gone through. "It is extraordinary that they ever survived." he added. Commander Evans went on to say that it was extraordinary that in spite of the hardships met with and the difficulties encountered there was never less indication of trouble amongst the members of any of the parties than in the case of Lieut. Campbell and his companions. Seeing what they had to endure for six months, there might have been some dissension, but ho was pleased to say that they all lived together in that small place for that time without any complaint being made.