BACK FROM ANTARCTICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 66, 7 March 1908, Page 2

BACK FROM ANTARCTICA.

UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL OF Tift NIMROD. HREE MEX LANDED AT Dl'XEl)

RFASOX FOR lURLV RETtlliX ! L'XKXOU'X. | Per Press Association. | Duiiedin, Friday. ' Tlic Ximrod, which look Lieutenant Shacldeton's expedition to the Antarctic, hove to otV the Heads shortly before noon, and signalled for a pilot. The Kopufai proceeded out, and took oil' three men. One is supposed to have I) i the lirsl mate, who had one cy; put out by a hook in the ice region. Another was the doctor. lie reports u line passu"- of IS iluvs. After dropping tiie three men. Hie Ximrod went on to Lyllelton. > The arrival of ilia'Ximrod was quik unexpected, as she was not due till Ilu middle of April at the earliest. Slu was to have called lirst at lliilf-nmor Jliiy, Stewart Island. Imt apparently dii not do so. Her sudden return wouh appear to indicate sonic unforeseen de parture from Hie expedition's pro

MEX HOUND TO SKCUI'X.'V

Duiiedin, Lust Night. The men landed were Dr. Mitchell, Alelntosh, and Cotton. .Mclnto.-h was not the liv-st male. The men are bound to secrecy till the Ximrod reaches Lyttelton.

LATER PARTIO'LA US. Duiiedin. La.-t Night. The Ximrod arrived ol!" the' Heads at 2.30 this afternoon afler a run of ];i days from the Antarctic regions. Her passengers were Dr. Mitchell and Messrs Alelntosh and Cotton, who landed at Port Chalmers. Mr. Mcintosh met witii a serious accident, which, it is feared, may result in the loss of one eye. A fish hook at the end of a line was hanging from the hood of a companion ladder, and when going below, Mr. Mcintosh l.ru-i ed against it, with the result that the barb entered the eyeball.

With this exception, everything seems to have gone wonderfully well. In spite of the storms met with, the ponies are reported to have stood the. voyage remarkably well, iiiul us far as could lie judged were shaping in excellent manner. The members of the expedition are said to lie in good fettle, anil hope seems high in the camp.

When the Ximrud arrived at her southerly destination, the harbor was blocked with ice which, however, cracked and parted, and came floating out in masses, so that in an incredibly short space of time the entrance was compuratively dear, and the Nimrod was enabled lo 'pick her Way. The landing of the expedition and supplies and implements seems to have been effected without grave mishap, and the iirst camp was made at a reasonable distance from the landing place. It appears that the camp (the party took their own huts with them) is a* cosy and convenient as possible under the circumstance.

Dr Mitchell, Messrs McTntosh and Cotton left for Lyttcltou this afternoon. The Ximrod is expected to reach Lytflton to-morrow evening. The passengers informed the Tress that no information could be given until the arrival of the Nimrod at Lvttelton.