The Elbert County tribune., 1912-04-12

After the return from the absentees
we settled down very comfortably
IN our winter hut, its arrangements
ior hghung, heating. cooking and
venuiation proved eminently satisfac-
tory. A comfortable stable had been
pniit for the ponies and some shelter
improvised for the dogs during the
iour winter months. The temperature
at tne station was rarely below,
minus, 40 degrees, at lowest minus
oo degrees. The wind averaged Is
miles an hour, but sometimes blew
nara with the temperature minus 80
uegrees. Everyone was very fully
occupied with station and scientific
work. exercising animals, etc. A
4 series OF lectures was organized and
football was played 20 within a month
OF mid-winter.
| frequent visits were made to Cape
hoyds and Hut Point. The animals
steadily improved In condition. On
June 9th. middle winter, Wilson,
bowers, Cherry and Gerard started
on sledge journey to Cape Crozier.
TO observe the incubation of Emperor
Penguins at their rookery. Very heavy
surface on the barrier forced the
party to relay work during the main
part and fortnight was taken on the
outward journey. The temperature
was seldom above minus 60 degrees
and often minus 20 degrees, the low
est observed with sling thermometer
being minus n degrees.
BEHIND land ridge on the slopes OF
Mount Terror, the party spent three
days building a stone hut on which
they rooted with canvas from this
camp. The men had great difficulty
In crossing the huge barrier pressure
ridges In the dim noon twilight to
reach the rookery. They were sue
cessful at a second attempt They
found comparatively few birds at the
rookery, but these had begun to lay
even at this early date. Fortunately
some eggs at different stages of de-
velopment were secured which should
give considerable information con-
corning the embryology of this inter-
esting bird The same night violent
gale commenced and the ridge proved
inadequate shelter from the hurri-
cane gusts which whirled down ON
the hut. A tent and other carefully
secured articles were blown away. and
after straining for IA hours the roof
OF the hut flew to ribbons. For 80
hours more the travellers were con-
fined In their frozen sleeping beds
half buried beneath snow and rock
debris. Forty-eight hours elapsed be-
fore the wind decreased and they
were able to get meal Searching
for lost articles they were fortunate
in finding the missing tent among
some morainic boulders. practically
uninjured.
The state of their equipment now
forced them to turn homeward on
the return journey they were held for
two days by another storm after
which the temperature fell and re-
NAMED below minus go degrees. The
party returned after five days absence
incased in ice and suffering from
want of sleep but otherwise well.
On September first Meares and
Mimintri, with dog teams made their
headquarters at Hut Point the dogs
leaving for that depot in splendid
form. At intervals since our arrival,
however, some obscure disease has
robbed us of four excellent dogs. In
every case the dog attacked appeared
vigorously healthy, but died in a few
hours. 1t is thought the cause must
be some minute thread worm enter.
ing the brain.
First Antarctic Telephone Line.
At the end of the month telephone
communication was established with
Hut Point through Is miles of bare
wire. This telephone has already
proved extremely. useful for reporting
the movement of parties, pending
changes of weather.
With Bowers, Simpson and Petty
officer Evans, Travelled west on
September Is. Ascending Ferrar
Glacier, we found by stakes planted
by Wright that the ice stream had
moved 80 feet in seven months.
Later, 45 miles northwest of our sta
tion. we found part of the glacier
tongue broken in March with the for
age depot left by Campbell intact.
Owing to work at the station and the
need OF increasing exercise for the
ponies we have been unable to under
take further spring journeys.
start Delayed to Cave Ponies.
All plans and preparations for the
southern journey are now complete
and despite the accident of last sea
son we have great hope of success.
The necessity of getting the utmost
out of our remaining ponies has de-
cided me not to expose them to great
cold. We shall therefore start later
than ordinarily intended.
The motor sledge party consisting
of Lieut.. Evans. Baq. Lashley and
Hooper, started five days ago, with