WITH SAM AT THE SOUTH POLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 11

WITH SAM AT THE SOUTH POLE

3^

Minhinnick

(With acknoicirdgmentx to Mr. Rus*etl Otccn, of the Byrd [Copyright 1929 by the Auckland SUN. the Christchurch SUN and the Midnight SUN. All rights for publication reserved everywhere. Jealous contemporaries please note. By wire less.] SOUTH POLE. April 24 1 IST week’s blizzard blew itseli J inside out and to-day the thermometer went down with such a hump that it broke its leg and squirted all the mercury out the bottom. The temperature is 2ft Sin below zero and our barometer has come sll unstuck. Our chronometer is still recording at intervals, but our gasometer is slightly bent. The barograph, hectograph, phonograph and autograph are all doing as well as could be expected, thank you. very much. Our spirit thermometer was emp tied, some nights ago, during a party Captain Sam told us it tasted —good, and that when we got back to civilisation he would buy us each one. How the men love him! Now- that winter is here the summer has gone. This puts us under winter or non-summer conditions. We rise at 10.3 p a.m. and sink st 0.30 p.m. We consume only six meals a day, as we are on diet. This, of course, does not prevent surreptitious snacks, and one of the men was recently severely scolded by Sam for eating a pound of candles and a spare watch strap.

Our captain is a wonderful fellow and keeps the men happy and cheerful at nights by asking them riddles. Last night he asked them the one about the chicken crossing the road. How the men did laugh! Sam went out yesterday to stady botany. but soon returned, as he couldn't find any. In order to find out the effect that cold has on the human body. Sam lushed outside to-day without any clothes on, and performed a step dance round the South Pole. Needless to say, he had first ordered all hands to look the other way. Orders being orders, this was done.

sp<M ttAiO IAE SooVA 'rbue. - (tooziNC t*,t OPPOtxTfc VJaV) Washing day is every Monday, and it is a pretty sight to see the men drawing lots as to who Is to turn he wringer. Sam cheers them the while by playing the mouth-organ and showing them card tricks. These men never get tired of asking him to show them the one where he guesses a chosen card. They give him 52 guesses every time, and he is always right. We listened in on the radio last night, and Sam was visibly affected when he heard the voice of his great, aunt speaking to him across the raging ocean and the icy ice. It was very sweet and touching.

We are prepared now for the long winter night, which will last perhaps even till Thursday week. We have our ukuleles and knitting for our amusement and under captain’s orders we all keep our vests on at night for warmth. We take turns with the hot water bottle and bed socks.