A PERILOUS TIME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 53, 27 March 1909, Page 5

A PERILOUS TIME.

NARRATIVE OF SECOND OFFICER. J ( hristehurch, March 25. ? The second officer of the Nitnrod, ill'.. A. S. Macintosh, had a rather exciting I experience, which should leave an indilible impression of the sinister side ot the Antarctic oil his memory. He fonned one of the party which was disJiatched with the mails to uic hut, anil this party had a decidedly adventitious time. They had first to travel over sea ice, but after they had proceeded a certain distance they found that it was scored with crevasses. This roite had to be abandoned, and two of the party, who had uot borne the rigours of the journey well returned to the sh.p ALL PROVISIONS LOST. .Mr. Macintosh, with Mr. Mcdillan, a New Zealander, set out by a different rci.tc, and the had the hardest time of their lives while on the journey. Mr. Mctiillan fell down a crevasse and lost all the provisions. In the face of the disaster, the pair had nothiii" to do but to go on, and eventually tney got to Cape ltoyds in a famished state, having been forty-four hours without food. One of the most exciting portions of the journey was in crossing over Mount Bird. Th'ev had to ascend to an altitude of about 4000 feet on one side and descend to sea level oil the other. By tile greatest good fortune they struck the only track down the mountain side, and they rolled and tumbled down it in the best way they could. Oil each side of tli" track we're open and snow-covered crevasses, but providentially there were none crossing the descent. \\ hen t-iicv w'cre nearing Cape ltoyds a olizzard came oil, and they had to circle round and round for about four hours, lost to every idea of locality. In addit'on to experiencing the pangs of hunger they also suffered from frost-bites. Mr. Macintosh said that Mr. McUi!la/i made a splendid and courageous companion, and that if it had not been for his bravery and resourcefulness they would never have «ot through. ABSENCE OF SICKS ESP. Mr. Macintosh looks back with pleasurable feelings to his stay ill Antarctica, though he confesses that he is glad to get back once more to the comforts of civilisation. "When you arc down there," he says, "you Know that nothing will induce you to go back, but from a distance there is a fascination about Antarctica."

The picking up of tile parties -was one of the most arduous parts of the work of tile ship's company. Some of Professor David's specimens bad to be left behind. Though efforts were made to iret them from the plai-e where he !i ><l cached them, the attempt was frustrated bv the inexorable pack ice. 'I he silence of the day in Antarctica has been commented on before. It is a thing line cannot get used to apparently. Mr Macintosh commented on the absence of sickness, the practical immunity of the parties from serious illness being one of the features of the expedition, considering that from the point of view of adventure it was not approached by -previous expeditions. Everyone seemed to sutler from frost-bite, and tpiite a number o£ the members of the expedition still bear marks of the attentions of Jack Frost, Mr. Macintosh, who, it will be remembered, met with ail unfortunate accident on the first trip of the Ximrod to the ice, is looking the picture of health, and has all the distinguishing marks and appendages in tfic shape of frost-bite and hirsute adornment of the Antarctic exploring party.