A “SHISHING” SOUND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 707, 5 July 1929, Page 10

A “SHISHING” SOUND

MEN HEAR THEMSELVES BREATHING 64 DEGREES BELOW ZERO BY RUSSELL OWEN Copyrighted, 1928, by the York Times” company and the St. Louis “PostDispatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the “New York Times.” Received 9 a.m. BAY OF WHALES, Wednesday. The thermometer showed 64 degrees below zero last night before it began to rise, and it was very cold so cold that, standing outside the entrance to the house tunnel without a hat to muffle the ears, the sound of one’s breathing was plainly audible. If one stood sideways to the wind, so that the breath would blow past the leeward ear, there was a distinguishable faint “shishing” sound like snow blowing along the surface in a strong wind. There was a momentary interval between the expulsion of breath and the sound which intensified the effect, for there was no reason for believing that . the sound was caused by the breath itself leaving the lips. One after another of those in the house went to experiment and verify this amusing phenomenon; but nobody lingered. Although it is possible to stand outside without extra clothing for a few moments, the cold quickly eats through and nips thez nose, ears and fingers, and drives -one to a hasty retreat. There is a striking contrast between the temperature inside and that outside. It was about 62 above zero in the house, while it was 63 below out of doors. That one can undergo such a violent change of temperature even for a few moments without extra protection, seems remarkable. The cold causes some interesting things to happen. Yesterday it was found that a can of kerosene left out in the snow tunnel near the entrance had frozen solid. It was brought into the hut. In New York kerosene is used to prevent automobile radiators fj-orn freezing.