The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-21
THE DISCOVERIES VOYAGE
LIEUT.. sHACKELTON'S TALE OF AD-
VENTURES IN ANTARCTIC SEAS.
Government Contributed a Large sum,
tiOns-Ice Barrier Examined.

the three members of the Discovery's expe-
dition who reached the furthest south, has
written the first detailed story of the work
done in those remote Polar regions. The
earlier chapters of his narrative appear as
a supplement to a recent issue of the Illus
trated London News.
The National Antarctic Expedition left
England in August, 1901, under the auspices
of the Royal Society and the Royal Geo
graphical Society. A grant of f4500O was
made by the government specially to aid
the magnetic work to which the scientific
members of the expedition under the lead Of
Mr.. Bernacchi devoted most of their time.
The Discovery left Lyttleton. New Zealand.
Dec. % and encountered the first pack
around the foes was extraordinarily abund-
ant. The Adele Penguin was everywhere
in thousands and whenever the ship slowed
down these birds hoped around it on tours
of inspection. OF seals there were three
species. the Ross, the Crabeater and the
Sea Leopard. The latter. a beautifully
marked animal was extremely ferocious.
Still steaming and drifting southwark, the
Discovery anchored near Mount Erebus. the
great volcano which, while always smoking
pressve indications of the fires burning in
its bosom. Jan. % Cape Crozer was
reached and then the Discovery began to
make her way slowly along the face of the
huge ice barrier which rises in some places
nearly 800 feet in height, and extends in one
direction more than five hundred miles. 1t
does not yet appear that the expedition ex-
its origin, although a balloon ascent was
made for that purpose. After coming to an
anchor at the foot of Mount Erebus in
faaA DO otras nie00 frn1
in at the point where she still remains and
from which it is doubtful if she will be
speedily released.
PREPARING FOR OBSERVATION.
On arriving at these winter quarters. i'm
mediate steps were taken for the main work
of observation. 1t may not be out of place
to mention here what this work consisted
of. First, it must be remembered that, al
though the National Antarctic Expedition
has made a fair higher Southern latitude
than any other expedition, it was not for
Pole-hunting that it set forth All branches
of science were to be investigated. One of
the most important was the magnetic work,
and from March l up TO the present time
observations were made by the officers. in
addition, of course. to the self-recording
instruments, in order to determine the mag
netic elements, which. when taken in con-
junction with the work of other nations, all
engaged on the same subject, will correct
the variations in the charts now existing,
and will add to the safety of all vessels
travelling the sea. Biology, especially the
fauna of the deep sea, is another branch
of research which has been actively pursued,
and hundreds of new species will be added
TO the books on this subject. Other branches
of biology, zoology and ornithology. as rep
resented by the seals and birds of that quar-
ter of the globe have been studied care
fully and will enlighten scientific circles on
many questions at present in dispute.
The meteorological work, which has been
continuously carried on despite adverse cir
cumstances such as low temperature and
strong billiards, will be of great value.
Every two hours of the day and night from
the time the ship left England these obser-
vations were recorded and kept not only by
two-hourly readings on the part OF the Of
ficers, but also by the self-recording instru-
ments. Geology had its representative,
and the character of this volcanic country.
ton of the Antarctic, will have. new light
thrown upon them. Oceanographical prob
lens have had their share of attention. and
object has been sacrificed to the
other. Botany-as much as could be stud
led, the abnormally rigid conditions which
exist in the Antartic preventing the de-
Bacteriology was also studied. and last, but
not least, geographical research by means
of sledge parties was carried out when
ever possible. There were great many
preparations to be made during this time,
SO that the ship should be in perfect condi-
ton to withstand the billiards a-1 storms
All the running gear and the articles gen.
orally required for the working of ship,
and would be useless were carefully slowed
away. The boats were taken OFF the ship
and put on the ice but unfortunately they
were covered with snow in the first blizzard
and it required deal of exertion to keep
the bulk of the snow away from them until
we were able to dig them out in tie spring.
The covering which was to protect the
main portion of the ship from the snow
drift was then put up Snow was laid on
the deck and helped to keep the cold out,
and the dogs kennels were placed handy
so that there should be no trouble in going
daily to feed the animals.
A TRYING JOURNEY.
A meteorological screen was erected
about a hundred yards from the vessel A
rope stretched from the ship to the screen
and other ropes to the hut, which had
been erected about three hundred yards
away on the shore. BY these guides it
was possible in the severest weather and
during the most binding billiards. to jour-
ney to and fro. The officer whose turn it
would be to take the meteorological obser-
vations for the night would sit up the
whole time, having to dress in accordance
with the weather DOMINIC his wind clothes
instruments. Crossing the bar in a temp
estuous sea to still water is similar feel
ing to that which the officer in question
experienced when he came from facing a
into the warm, well-lighted wardroom.
Even on these short Journeys of ten min
utes, or so, men were often frost bitten
owing to the low temperatures Ten de-
grees below zero in a breeze is as uncom-
Portable or more so that fifty or sixty de-
grees below zero In calm weather. The
Ship which was housed in by a strong avn
ing. would become covered and weighed
down by the driving snow during these
billiards., and Immediately after had to
| be dug out
1T may interest many readers" continues
| Lieutenant Shackleton. IF describe a typ
| ical day on board. At $50 a. m. all hands
were called, and a working party of men
| proceeded with the sledges to a small ice
| foot or glacier about five hundred yards
| from the ship, where there was plenty of
| clear blue ice available for turning into
water. With pick and shovel they loaded
| the sledges and dragged them back to the
vessel and filed the ice-me1ters. this job
| being finished by o'clock. Between and
| $50 breakfast was ready, and at 915 the
| commander read prayers to the crew, who
! were mustered on the lower deck. After
prayers various jobs occupied the men, such
| as preparing sledges splicing harness, feed
| ing the dogs and working at getting stores
| UP from below. At o'clock the men went
to dinner, and during the afternoon they
were free until O'clock. when another
| party proceeded to get ice again. Tea for
| the men at O'Clock finished up the day.
During the evening they played games
read, or had debates on subjects that inter
| ested them. The musical ones played the
piano or various instruments, on which