Polar Exploration

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 206, 28 February 1914, Page 5

Polar Exploration

RETURN OF DR. MAWSON. DEATH OF NINNIS. DISAPPEARED IN A CREVASSE. KXTOMIIED IN EERIE DEPTHS. B 1 b!e Press Association—Copyright Received 27, 10.30 p.m. London, February 27. Dr. M.iwson's personal narrative la published in the Daily Mail. It states:— "December 14 was a beautiful day, and Ninnis, Hertz and myself were in the highest spirits owing to our arrival on an unbroken plateau. Our trouble seemed ended. Mertz, acting as trial breaker, was a quarter of a mile ahead, myself with the first dog team next, then came Ninnis with the sledge carrying most of the vital necessities. This plan was adopted in order that the first sledge would suffer if a crevasse were unexpectedly found. '"ln crossing the crevasse—we had already negotiated scores—with my team, I called out "Crevasse!" This put Ninnis on guard. Looking back | soon after crossing one crevasse, noth- I

ing met my eye excepting an expanse of mow and ice. Then the (possibility of having fallen into a crevasse dawned uon me. Hastening back we came to the yawning abyss. When our eyes became accustomed to the dark blue light, we heard a dog moaning and •aw it lying on a ledge 170 feet below. There was no trace of Ninnis. We called for hours without receiving an answer. Meantime the dog ceased moaning and eerie stillness shrouded the dejpths. The remaining sledge coitained only one man's food for one and a-half weeks and none for the six dogs. We improvised a tent from the tent cover, and by utilising a pair of ski and a theodilite. "Nine hours after the accident we read the burial service over the crevasse where Ninnis had disappeared, and started on the return journey." DEATH OF MERTZ. AX AWFUL SOLITARY JOURNEY. Received 27, 10.55 p.m. London, February 27. Continuing his narrative, Dr. Mawson says:—"Two dogs gave out daily for want of nutriment. We were one hundred miles from the hut on New Year's Day. There was a dense snowfall daily and Mertz had become very weak,- but continued very cheerful. I could not kave wished for a better companion. On January 6th, Mertz was unable to walk. I dragged the sledge with much toil only two and a-half miles with the help of . - the sail. Mertz died at midnight on the 7th. My own condition afforded little hope, but I decided to ;push on and diil not need the reminder that the Jhrorring month the snow would be experienced daily. Several times I fell into crevasses to the length of the sledge pole, and was scarcely able to crawl out. My skin and nails came off owing to the intense cold. The discovery of a food cache finally enabled me to reach the but."

WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. RESULTS TERSELY SUMMED UP. Received -27, 11.15 p.m. Adelaide, February 27. " Dr. Mawson to-day gave the followin;* statement, a portion of which was cabled to London, describing it as a terse account of the work of the expedition. Firstly there was the successful negotiation by a ship of the Antarctic pack-ic« jn a fresh sphere of action, where- the conditions were practically unknown, resulting in the discovery of new lands and an island. Secondly, the establishment on landi never before sighted of two Antarctic wintering stations separated by an air line of 1000 miles. The scientific programmes had been constructed in one case for a year and in the other for over two years. Thirdly, the journeys made over sea ice and (plateau in regions never before sledged over at the main base aggregated 2400 miles, and at the western base 800 miles, not including depot journeys, supporting parties or relay work. Land had been followed through 33 degrees of longitude, 27 of which were sledged over. Fourthly, the establishment by the party at Macquarie Island of wireless, and the connecting link with the Antarctic main base and communicating weather conditions to the meteorological office for immediate use in forecasts. Fifthly, the oeeanographic investigations, chiefly in the nature of soundings and trawlings between Australia and the Antarctic, continental shelf trawlings being successfully conducted to a depth of two miles, and by sounding the continental shelf had been indicated through 55 degrees longitude. "MAJESTY, LOVE A.VD DEATH." THE SACRIFICE OF BRITOXS. SIR ERNEST SIIACKLETON'S TRIBUTB. Received 27, 11.10 p.m. Sljk London, February 27. |y-- The Daily Mail says Dr. Mawson's ip story |g/tftictted r with majesty, love and

: Bleu of our race are prepared to make in the jpursait of scientific knowledge, and their readiness to face death in an unselfish cause. The impression made by Scott's story is confirmed by Br. Mtiwson's moving narrative. Nothing in the whole story of Antarctic exploration can be compared to his solitary journey in the unutterably savage waste. Sir Ernest Shackleton, interviewed, said Dr. Mawson was a born leader of Polar expeditions. He had every quality of a great leader. The manner in which the Bliip negotiated the pack was due to Davis' splendid seamanship. H« was capable of caution when caution was needed, but also going boldly ahead if the occasion demanded.

SOME THRILLING PAGES. INTERVIEW WITH DR. MAWSOK. EXPLORERS TO BE ENTERTAINED. Adelaide, February 27. The University Council has decided to tender a reception to Dr. Mawson's party. The Prime Minister and State Premiers have been invited. The Mayor has convened a public meeting of citizens to tender a leeeption. Dr. Mawson, interviewed, said he was delighted to give any information ho could, without interfering \v ; th other arrangements made. After the ship relieved the bases the Aurora made an extended cruise west attempting to discover new land and taking soundings and deep sea dredging. He was .sure this collection of biological material was the best obtained from the Antarctic. The i operations extended miles down. Nearly ! everything got wa9 new to science. When the British Association met in August he would give a preliminary outline of his achievements. In addition to the large number of animaL* he secured hundreds of birds' skins, which would be distributed throughout the Australian museums gratis. They had very trying times in Adelieland. It was the worst climate in the world, yet even in terrific storms scientific study was continued. Not one man who returned after the long and sensational sojourn there wouldn't commit suicide rather than stop another year. THIRTY DAYS ALONE.

_ Dr. Mawson was reticent when questioned as to his own heroism after the deaths of Lieutenant Ninnis and Dr. Hertz, saying simply: "I was thirty days alone and had the most marvellous escape. I was reduced to the lart stages of starvation and was tramping along in deep snow when I noticed something black. It was a bit of food dropped by the search party sent to ascertain my whereabouts, i was then twenty miles from the hut, in a place where no previous expedition had ever been.'' The great point of the undertaking was that for the most part they were travelling new country. With the exception of the deaths of Ninnis and Mertz the expedition was very fortunate. Those two died like heroes. Nobody ever lived a braver life than either of them. Taking into account the number of men in the field and the length of time of the expedition, with the exception of Shackleton and Amundsen, no expedition had suffered fewer losses. The health of the party was remarkably good, they having taken great care in provisioning. There was very nearly loss of life at the start. Parties were sent out and the one led bv Madigan nroved most successful, yet their tent was carried away and the men had a long march. Madi"an was badly .roet-bitten and his toes and finger nails were frozen oil'.

TERRIFIC WIND. Very little sledging was undertaken this year in the late summer after the ship left, Mawson himself was in poor condition, and there was always a possibility that the Aurora might return.. The wind had a velocity of 63 miles an hour for every "hour in the whole month. On one occasion it recorded 116 miles an hour. The puff velocity reached 200 to 300 miles per hour. The hurricanes very much hampered the wireless installation, hut experience demonstrated that no expedition should dream of going without the equipment. On one occasion the Macquarie Islands station was heard off Cape Horn.

MINERAL WEALTH. Regarding mineral wealth, Dr. Mawson explained that only scattered patches of rock were exposed throughout the 1500 miles of country traversed. With such small area exposed it was hopeless to seek for payable deposits, but what they did find showed great variety. They secured good specimens, which seemed to indicate that the land, was even richer than an ordinary country. Copper was the most abundant ore found. They discovered a visible outcrop of coal and the fact taht it was dredged up in many places on the coast indicated that a large formation was running through the land. Dr. Mawson said he had no inclination to return at the present moment. He had plenty of scientific work to occupy his mind. He must go to England very soon. The members of the expedition who have returned are:— Ainsworth, Blake and Sandall from the Macquarie base, Bagc, Madigan, Bickerton, M'Lean, Hodgman and Jefireys from Adelieland. There are also on board Hurley. Hunter and Corroll, who returned last vear with Wild's party. Dr. Mawson and the men are all in excellent health. Their difficulty has been to keep themselves from getting too stout. London, February 2fi. The Evening Standard says that though Dr. Mawson's tragedies are eclipsed by those of Captain Scott, the world w ill Not willingly let die the story of the heroic struggles of Dr. Mawson and Dr. Merz. There are few more thrilling pages in Polar history.