In Snow Forts

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 625, 30 March 1929, Page 7

In Snow Forts

Byrd Houses Planes for Winter Ready for Polar Night (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) NEW YORK, Friday. (By Mr. Russell Owen. Copyrighted 1928 by the “New York Times” Company and the “St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the ‘New York Times”.) BAY OF WHALES, Thursday. The grey twilight that comes before the long winter night is settling over the Antarctica. The sun rises only a short distance above the horizon, and gives little heat. Most of the outside work is done. There will be shelter for everyone, and rooms where we mgy work or read, and pass the days of darkness in comfort. A holid*ay has been declared, so that tired muscles may be rested and energy renewed for the last day’s hard j work. For three months the men ! have worked as they would never ! have worked under normal conditions, building a house, and hauling the bulky and heavy material which accompanies aviation. It has been a j herculean task. The Fairchild airplane “Stars and 1 Stripes” is buried for the winter in the house of snow blocks, and the Ford plane “Floyd Bennett” will be tucked away on the next quiet day. The Fairchild now rests in its snow fort, as safe as if it had run into a hangar. The middle section of the Ford has been put in place, and the wing motors hung, before putting it away in a dug-out of its own. Yesterday the last of the Barrier cache was brought in. This was material taken ashore while the Eleanor Boling lay alongside the Barrier and hauled toward the camp when the weather permitted. The last drums of gasoline and the last bags of coal were brought in yesterday, after they had been excavated from tons of snow. Everything about the camp has been collected and placed in one pile, out of which the house will be constructed. It is accessible and protected. The weather is less fickle. For days it has been clear and cold, with beautifully tinted sunsets, and a brilliant elongated moon of unfamiliar appearance. -