ROARING BLIZZARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 11

ROARING BLIZZARD

SEPTEMBER’S FAREWELL IN ANTARCTIC

BYRD’S PARTY SNOWED IN By RUSSELL, OWEN Copyrighted, 1928, by the "New York Times” company and the St. Louis “PostDispatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the “New York Times.” BAY OF WHALES, Tuesday. September went out in a roaring blizzard. It turned out to be our second coldest month as the average temperature was 44 degrees below zero, or 10 degrees colder than Amundsen’s average for September. Also, it was our only winter month when the temperature did not rise above zepp at. any time. Two degrees below was the warmest day. When the wind shifts to the north and blows in from the sea it frequently forces the temperature up for a time, but in September those fluctuations were not nearly as great as they were in mid-winter. Today the wind is howling outi*de and sucking draughts through the tunnels and ventilators. This affects us inside, although the houses are buried out of sight by snow. It is almost impossible to see anything outside and care must be used in going from one house to another lest one should stray from the path and be lost. But the men have become somewhat used to that now, and although they wander to one side they have learned to halt for a minute when they temporarily lose their sense of direction. Then they hunt around for a landmark from which they can get their bearings. . Ys a rule the top ot the radio towers can be seen part of the way, and when they are lost something else—a box, a well-known drilt oi a pole sticking in .he snow— serves as a new guide. It- is always interesting to walk in thick weather. It was just a year ago today that Commander Byrd tfnd members of the expedition left Np" ' orK oil the journey to the South.