Byrd’s Plunge to Rescue Shipmate

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 579, 4 February 1929, Page 9

Byrd’s Plunge to Rescue Shipmate

MAN FLUNG OVERBOARD

GRINDING ICE SHAKES SHIP (Australian and X.Z. Press Association) (United Service J BY RUSSELL OWEN Copyrighted. 1925. by the "New York Times" company and the s?t. Louis ' PostDispatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the “New York Times." BAY OF WHALES, Friday. There was an exciting incident to-day, and a rescue from the icy water, in which Commander Byrd figured. In the wardroom of the City of New York the men of the expedition were writing their last letters home, as in a few hours the Eleanor Boling, which was tied between us and the Barrier edge, was to start back for New Zealand. Nearly 400 tons of supplies had been put ashore in four days. It had been dangerous work. Finally there was a crunching jar, which shook the ship, and the City of New York heeled to port. As the ship reeled under them those below leaped for the companionway. They could not see what had happened, or how serious it was. The men rushed on deck and saw that the Eleanor Boling had a list far to starboard, as if about to turn over under the crushing she had received. Both ships were heeling in opposite directions, and were being thrust out into the bay by the blow, which tore the ice anchors loose as if they were straws. A man liung on a rope from the edge of the broken cliff, swinging hopelessly under the overhanging snow. The head of another man bobbed above the snow as large cakes of ice swept past the stern. Clutching at the small ice cakes which slipped over from him and turned over, Ben Roth, an airplane mechanic, who was in the greatest danger, spluttered a cry for help, which was answered by Commander Byrd who jumped, but the ice floated between him and Roth. The ships settled back to an even keel, but it was seen that they were not sinking. Captain Brown, the skipper of the Eleanor Boling, rushed on board his ship, that he might manoeuvre both vessels. FROZEN TO ICE CAKE The men were watching Byrd as he tried to force his way through the ice. Both men could be seen struggling desperately. Finally Roth’s clothing froze to the ice and so held him. A lifeboat was lowered and picked up both men. Byrd had been 10 minutes in the water. Later the lifeboat crew rescued Henry Harrison, the aerologist, who had clung to a rope for a quarter of an hour. Byrd by a roll call assured himself that all the crew were safe. All the men quickly recovered from the shock of the icy water. In a short time the commander was on deck, giving directions for unloading the remaining small materials on the City of New York, but this he ordered to be done out in the bay. From the time the ice broke until the last man was on board was less than half an hour, but it seemed hours to those who watched helplessly. Byrd had taken the chance, which had been forced on him by necessity, to get the heavy material ashore, and he had won.