POLAR CHRISTMAS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 725, 28 December 1933, Page 5

POLAR CHRISTMAS

— Special to Uhited Pfess

FUN 1JS1 .THE ICE the byrd, ^xpijdltlon ships keep up 'the festival TURKEY GN MENU (Rec. 6. RO n tyi ) \

(By Radio-

Associated from Byrd Expedition) At Sea, Dec. 27. Christmas was celebrated aboard i the Jacob Ruppert in the traditional manner. The 95 members of the expedition feasted on turkey -and all that goes yvith it. Motion pictures and ' the Dog Mushers Glee Club provided entertaiument. Gifts were exchanged and Admiral Byrd visited all parts of the ship wishing each Uian a Merry Christmas. Even the elements released their gifts to the expedition for early in the morning the fog iifted and Commander Gjertsen ordered full steam ahead. When soundings were takeU on Saturday, a i0,500 feet line was dropped without tpuching the bottom (allowing for drift). The official report was that there was no bofctom at 9000 feet. Rocks were found embedded in a passing iceb'erg of varied colours, btown, green and blue. The expediti'on's geologist studied them ahd declared that they were carried from a contirient. This is interesting as there is nb coast in thiS vicinity undiscovered. The iceberg was a fragment of a fi'esh water glacier. A messagb from the Bear of Oak- ■ land states that until Christmas morn'ing, about 360 miles from New Zealand, the Bear was butting into a strong south west gale and mountainous seas. With all masts bare except for the double-i;eefed mainsail. At dawn on Chiustmas Day the sea moderated and the watch on rising found the forecastle and wardroom quarters decorated in holiday stylfe and stocldngs filled with delicacies were distributed to each man. The - noon meal was celebi-ated in appropx*iate fashion arid toasts offered to the success of the expedition.