THE POLAR EXPEDITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3782, 23 January 1908, Page 2

THE POLAR EXPEDITION.

Towing the Nimrod. Return of the Koonya. Dunedin, Yesterday. The Koonya has returned from towing the Nimrod to the Polar ice. She reached Port Chalmers early this morning. Reporting on the tow, Lieut. Shackleton says heavy gales were experienced from January Ist till the 13th. Qn the 3rd a gale prevented the Koonya towing at the rate of more than a knot an hour. Up to the 4th neither Captain England nor himself had had their clothes off, nor had they any sleep. The Nimrod proved a splendid seaboat. On the sth he signalled the Koonya to pour oil on the wdter which was done with satisfactory results. One pony fell on its back and had to be shot. The 7th was the worst day, with squalls ot hurricane force. Captain Shackleton expresses the opinion that no other vessel of her size would have done as well as the Nimrod. The ponies were making a plucky fight in the rolling ship. Oil was used all day. On the Bth the heavy gale, witk terrific squalls and high seas, continued, stoving in part of the bulwarks forward. They had to use oil throughout the day. The ninth day broke with a moderate wind and high, confused sea. The vessels were able to go at full speed, but in the afternoon the wind increased, with squalls of hurricane force, and very high seas. More of the bulwarks were washed away. Towards night the gale moderated. Lieut. Shackelton says:— ‘ *My admiration for the way all hands do their work under trying circumstances is great. Captain England simply lives on the bridge.” The care of the ponies under the adverse conditions was a serious piece of work. , Continuous rain fell on the tenth, the wind moderating, and most of the party recovering from their “ pickling ” during the preceding week.

On the eleventh a strong and increasing wind blew, with a rising sea, which caused anxiety, but the Nimrod proved a wonderful seaboat. Towards midnight the weather moderated. . Towards the evening of the 12th they were able to steer south again. • ' * : The staff was increased by the birth at sea of five white puppies. The Koonya did very well in the bad weather owing to the seamanship of Captain Evans, who had an anxious time. On the 13th a gentle breeze blew from the eastward, and the 14thwas a fine, clear da>\ The vessels passed two ice-bergs, and the weather was rapidly growing colder. The look-out sighted the icepack on the port bow at nine on the morning of the 15th in misty weather, and the Kocnya towing lines were let go.