DOGS IN ANTARCTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 13

DOGS IN ANTARCTIC

GREAT HELP TO BYRD WHALER KOSMOS RETURNS from Our Hesidcnt Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. The whaling mother-ship Kosmos arrived in Wellington yesterday afternoon carrying 116,000 barrels or oil valued at well over half a million pounds. Accompanying her were the sit chasers which are attached to her and on board were three members of the Byrd expedition, and 30 dogs which played an important part in the expedition's success. Th» three men were Lieutenant H Junes-Taylor, of Canada, Mr. Jacob Bursey, of Newfoundland, sledgeman and dog-driver, and Mr. Howard F. Mason, one of the radio operators' They speak highly of the work done by the dogs, saying that without them much of the scientific investigation carried out would have been impossible. With three others Mr, Bursey made a -100-mile journey to the foot of the mountains and back to Little America. For days on end visibility fell almost to nothing and yet St. Lunaire, the thoroughbred Eskimo team leader, never faltered on the track. The cold was intense, the lowest temperature being 38 degrees below zero. The nights were spent in windproof tents. The wireless outfit carried proved a source of comfort, as they were always in touch with the base. The task, of Mr. Mason, one of the wireless operators, was one never before allotted to a member of a Polar expedition. Mr. Mason and his associates kept the world informed of the activities at Little America. They were in touch with New York every day for a whole year. Lieutenant Innes-Taylor had charge of the expedition dogs at Mount Cook last year, and he took them to the Barrier for their work in the summer. He stated yesterday that they would remain in Wellington until arrangements could be made ' for their shipment to America. SUCCESS OF KOSMOS At the Pipitea Wharf the Kosmos will load stores in preparation for her voyage uack to Europe. Although she lias so much oil in her holds "several hundred more tons will be taken on board, but this oil will be for fuel purposes solely. A general cleaning up pf the vessel will also take place. The six chasers will spend the winter Jn Evans Bay awaiting the next whaling season. The two most sensational occurrences of the season were the loss not long after the beginning of operations of the airplane used for scouting purposes a loss which involved two lives, and the sinking of one of the seven chasers, the latter accident being fortunately not attended with loss of life although it was a narrow escape (or the crew. The C. A. Larsen, which returned to the base at. Stewart Island on Saturday, has a cargo of 77,000 barrels of Oil of an estimated value of £375,000 and is expected to arrive at Wellington on Saturday to load fuel and (stores. A member of the crew of the Kosmos, a man named Larsen, met instantaneous death on Dei-ember 6 when he was caught in a winch and torn to Pieces. The winch was one used in bauling up the whales, and the man’s body was whirled around and flung against a steel buttress before anyone could go to his aid. His body smashed the throttle, and it was impossible to ►ave him.