SOUTH WITH THE NIMROD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 29 January 1908, Page 29

SOUTH WITH THE NIMROD.

THE ICE-PACK REACHED.

A STORMY TOW.

EETUEN OF THE KOONYA.

Twenty-one days from the date of her departure from Lyttelton with the Antarctic exploration steamer Nimrod in tow, the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Koonya— Lieutenant Evans, R.N.R., in command— arrived in Port Chalmers on Wednesday morning. | Captain Evans, upon his arrival, handed ' to the Union Company his towing report, in which in straightforward, modest, and simple terms, without embellishment, he narrated the incidents of an adventurous voyage; while, under arrangement with the United Press Association, Lieutenant Shaokleton, commander of the exploration party, forwarded extracts from his diary, which were consequently placed at the disposal yesterday of all the newspapers sub- j scribing to the association. _ j We are indebted, therefore, to the Union ] Steam Ship Company and Captam Evane i for the towing report, and to the United Press Association for Lieutenant Shackleton's record of* the tow. LIEUTENANT SHACKLETON'S DIARY. Ist January, 1908.-4 p.m., unmoored and proceeded, amid cheers from thousands ( various steamers accompanying us laden with passengers. Passing the men-o'-war the Nimrod was cheered, and the band on the Powerful played " Auld lang syne and " Hearts of oak." At 5 p.m. stopped end picked up Koonya's tow line, which was shackled on to 30 fathoms of our cable on each side. At 6.30 proceeded full speed. 2nd January.— Wind S.W., increasing. The Koonya requested 30 fathoms more cable, which was done. Towards the afternoon the wind increased greatly, and the Nimrod began to ship much water, to pitch and to roll heavily, so much so that we signalled the Koonya at 7 p.m. to go slow till the weather moderated. All this evening it blew hard, and the little Nimrod pitched about like a CORK ON THE OCEAN. In order to take care of the ponies, which were the chief anxiety, I started the shore party taking watches of two hours each in the stable, and a cold, unpleasant job it was. With the seas breaking over everything it needed constant watchfulness to keep the ponies on their feet, for I the vessel was rolling 45deg on either sxde. 3rd January. — All the morning a heavy gale and high sea prevented the Koonya from towing us more than a knot an hour, but in the afternoon the weather moderated, and we signalled "increase speed." Towards midnight the weather was better, with the wind from the W.S.W. 4th January.— At 3.45 a.m. we eet loose a carrier pigeon with a message. The bird's home is in Lyttelton^ and we trust that it will arrive safely. Towards the afternoon the wind from W.S.W. again increased, and we were soon shipping seas again. So far the decks have not been dry since leaving Godley Head. As the evening wore on the weather became worse, and WE SHIPPED HUGE QUANTITIES OF WATER. ' So far neither Captain England nor I have had our clothes off, and sleep is a thing that we long for. I cannot speak too highly of Captain England's handling of the Nimrod, for it it a difficult job the handling of this small ship and its heavy freight of live stock. Certainly the ship has again shown what a splendid 6ea boat she is, for in spite of the heavy seas, which would have smashed many another vessel's hatches in, our little vessel rose to them, and they went boiling foaming white under her. The splendid way in which Captain Evans worked the Koonya excited our admiration, and his superb seamanship was a treat to watch. I think that one would go far to find his equal. N sth January. — Blowing harder than ever this morning. We signalled the Koonya to POUR OIL ON THE WATER, so that we astern might get the benefit. It certainly has been of assistance to us The weather is very bad, and one of our ponies fell right over on its back this evening. It was impossible to get it up to-night, so we had to leave the poor animal. Captain England is practically on the bridge the whole 24 hours. The wind is ranging between S.S.W. and W. 6th January. — A strong gale stil blowing, and with the accumulated high sea of days it makes things very unpleasant. We found it impossible to get the pony on its legs, so regretfully had to shoot it at 10 a.m. Weather better ; towards noon went ahead full speed. ■ A huge sea 40ft high | now running abeam. We are having an anxious time. Captain England and myself have slept hardly at all yet. I exI pect that we will have a rest soon. I 7 tit January.— Our worst daj so far. A

mountainous sea and whole gale. The I squalls were of hurricane force. I don't 1 think that any other ship of her size would have done as well as the Nimrod. The sprays go over the fore-yard, and the Koonya disappears from view every few minutes, because of the intervening mountain seas. The Wind simply 6hrieks through the rigging, and my thoughts are always with the poor ponies, who are making such a plucky fight in the rolling ship. Lost a dog to-day. We are using oil all the time. Bth January-— Heavy gale and terrific squalls, with high sea. The heavy seas stove in part of the bulwarks forward, which is not to be wondered at, considering the state of the weather. We are using oil throughout. Towards evening the weather moderated, but the squalls were very strong. Qth January.— Th - . 'a moderate wind, witli . - i! *ea, and were able to go FULL SPEED. In the afternoon the wind again increased, the squalls being of hurricane force, and the sea very high. More of the bulwarks were washed away, the wind ranging between W.S.W. and S.W Towards night it moderated slightly. My admiration for the way in which 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 I conditions obtaining now is a seriou6 piece ' of work, and one of our best stablemen is IMr Buckley, who came with ' us at an hour's notice. 10th January. — Continuous rain and the wind moderating is the story of to-day. Most of ue have managed to wash the salt from our haii\ and faces. We were getting pickled during the last week. Wind S.S.W. to W. 11th January. — Same old game again. Strong increasing wind and rising sea, which increased so much that we had to keep away in the afternoon. This particular specimen of the sea was a dangerous one, and gave us some anxiety, but the Nimrod has proved herself to be A WONDERFUL SF * BOAT. Towards midnight the weatner moderated. 12th January. — A high sea running early in the morning! which gradually moderated, and at 6 p.m. we were able to Steer south again. Our staff has been increased by the birth of six fine puppies, all pure white ; mother doing well. Signalled the Koonya the happy event, and received congratulations from her. The Koonya has done very well in the bad weather, owing to the careful seamanship of Captain Evans. He must have had an anxious time. As the weather is now fine, we have been signalling each other. 13th January.— Wonder of wonders, a gentle breeze from the eastward. The ship looks like a drying green on Monday morning, as blankets, coats, boots, etc., are all recovering from a thorough saltwater soaking. Thie evening we gave a farewell dinner to Mr Tuckley, who returns in the Koonya. Keeping a. sharp look-out for ice, which we may see any time. 14-th January. — Fine clear day. Passed two icebergs this morning. The weather is rapidly growing colder. Otight to see pack any time. 15th January. — Sighted the pack at 9 am. in misty weather. Am now going to let go the Kooriyj' CAPTAIN EVANS'S REPOKT. HEAVY CYCLONIC GALES. Captain Evans reported that the weather was delightful when the Nimrod, in tow of the Koonya, left Lyttelton on the afternoon of New Year's Day, and this continued for the first 19 hours, but thence on till January 6 markedly unfortunate weather conditions were met with. During fche night of the 6th and the morning of the 7th th© wind rose to a gale, which necessitated the Koonya being hove-to. On January 7 the weather became exceptionally severe, increasing to heavy cyclonic I galee, which prevailed during the three succeeding days. It was not till the tenth day that the condition of affairs improved, and good progress was then made for the 30 hours. After the lllh the wind shifted from N.N.W. to W.N.W., and again blew a heavy gale, which lasted until the aftei"noon of the 12th. The wind, however, did not go south of west, so the vessel was able to make some southing; and on the evening of the 12th they crossed the sixtieth parallel of latitude. HOW SHEEP WERE TRANSFERRED. From the 13th the weather had improved, and at 8.30 a.m. on the 15th the Koonya sighted] tihe pack ice. As the presence of icebergs in close proximity to the vessel pointed to the arrival of the period when the tow would have to be abandoned, Captain Evans signalled to the Nimrod to prepare for disconnecting the hftw&ere. Captain England, after «*

tad b««n taafcang&L h£i tia?^ 1*?1 *? red in tilit* vends wfiai«hcs> ?f\J Vr rowod *o tfcit Koonja, whioh 41 TJDttWa (or the uurpctti of ftrranying th« aefcjltf for castinsr on tM t^hnoft. vhiJM arraiiff^inenfci }i«d ie bo made verj hurricidly, as th« «* mi rising rapidly] a-nd a» a nis.tt«r of {not C»vtaio England was not taor« than 20. minut^ on oogrcf tho Koon.T*. CJonsiderab:' difficulty wait ©xperienoed In gfetiing lit the wira by Jneajiß of spdoiai-purchasa laokla. Wiilf this operation was in progress the vdaa increased to half a gale, with a nasty sea, and very thiok weather set in. It too/ until 8 o'clock to complete the disconnect ing operation! amid these difficult sur< roundings; and then, the towlines naring been oast off, the work of transferrin* in* Koonya's sheep to the Nimrod waa unffortaken, tho gheep beinj? killed and theiß carcases successfully' drifted to the Nfnlfod by means of lifetuoys.