PROGRESS OF THE QUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1922, Page 8

PROGRESS OF THE QUEST.

SOME EARLY HARDSHIPS. London, Nov. 18. A Blackbum correspondent sends word to London that Dr. A. H. Macklin, surgeon and biologist on board the Quest, has written home an interesting letter telling of the voyage of the expedition ship to date. “At all times a lively ship,” he says, “she has spent most of her time putting both gunwales under. She is drier than I thought she would be. She is, however, a fine tight little ship, and will stand anything. Owing to the difficulty of keeping anything on the galley stove, the food has, so far, been crude, and it is quite a relief to get into smooth waters again. Everybody has been very cheery. I have just completed two i hard days of' stevedoring, and am more fatigued and stiff than I have been since I played Rugby football.”

On leaving Lisbon the ship encountered head winds and a nasty sea, and the doctor suffered all the agonies of extreme sea sickness. It was all he could do to stick it out, and his spells at the wheel were simply a misery. The Quest is a good little ship, but is not so comfortable as the Endurance.

Dr. Macklin states that the “Boss” is in good form and becomes younger looking every day, while “Frankie” Wild is just the same as ever.

“The weather south of the Cape will make things pretty uncomfortable for a ship of this size,” lie continues, “and the trip, so far, can be sumnied up thus: Bad weather, much rolling and pitching, ship routine, and sea sickness.”