The Penn's Grove record., 1912-04-05

Mount Erebus prevented any POSSIBLE
ity of returning to Cape Evans by
land, but with the freezing of the bays
l decided to make and attempt to
reach the station, partly by land and
partly by sea ice.
On April IT l returned to Hut
Point with a fresh sledge party carry
ing supply stores. AS it was impos-
sible for animals to travel on the
route taken, l left Meares and five
others in charge of those at Hut Point,
and again returned to Cape Evans on
April 80. Sea ice continued to drive
out of the sound until the first week
in May. 1t was not until May 10,
three weeks after the sun had gone,
that the men and animals left Hut
Point and safely returned to the main
station. The sound froze solid in
May and later in Winter packed ice
extended to an unprecedented dis
lance northward, despite numerous
gales.
Lectures and Football.
After the return of the absentees we
settled down very comfortably in
u Winter hut. Its arrangements for
lighting, heating, cooking, and ven.
tilation proved e%minently satisfactory.
A comfortable stable had been built
for the ponies and some shelter i'm
provised for the dogs during the four
Winter months. The temperature at
the station was rarely below minus 40
degrees, at lowest minus so degrees.
The wind averaged fifteen miles an
hour, but sometimes blew hard with
the temperature minus 80 degrees.
Every one was very fully occupied
with station and scientific work, exer-
| cising animals, etc. A series of lee
lures was organized and football was
played to within a month of midwin-
ter.
First Antarctic Telephone Line.
At the end of the month telephone
communication was established with
Hut Point through fifteen miles of
bare wire. This telephone has already
proved extremely useful for reporting
the movement Of parties, pending
changes of weather. Lieut.. Evans,
Gran, and Forde travelled to Corner
Camp to rebuild cairns. They expert
enced temperatures between minus
sixty and seventy, and Forbes
hands were badly frost-bitten, but are
now recovering rapidly.
Overheated Motors Abandoned.
We found the motor party waiting
at latitude so IL. Two of their num-
Der now leave us. The sole cause of
the abandonment of the motors was
the overheating of the air-cooled en-
gines. Time did not permit of the de-
fects being taken in hand. The sys-
tenn of propulsion of the motors prov
ed entirely satisfactory. The machines
dragged heavy loads over the worst
part of the barrier service and cross
ed several c~revasses. Considering in
adequate trial, their success has been
remarkable. With the experience now
gained a reliable tractor could be con-
structed which could travel anywhere
in this region and save the sacrifice of
animals.
] send this note by returning teams
The party is very fit but cannot keep
up the hours which we have been
working, The storm has already cost
Us five days. It's effects may yet delay
us further, which would be a serious
matter. Otherwise everything has
worked as planned. We hope to find
better conditions as we advance up
the glacier. We are necessarily de-
pendent on the weather, and the sea
son thus far has been very unpromis-
ing.
$50 Miles from the Pole on Jan. 3.
Jan. 8, 1912, latitude 1892, height
$500 feet.-After leaving the upper
glacier depot, south of Mount Darwin. l
steered southwest two days. This did
not keep us clear of pressure ridges
and crevasses, which occurred fire.
quently at first and gave US trouble,
but we rose rapidly in altitude. Proba-
bly, the difficult places were more
snowcovered than further eastward.
On Christmas Day we were close up
to the Seth parallel, and the prospect
of Christmas fare gave is an excellent
march, seventeen miles, but the effect
was not so happy the following day.
The surface grew more difficult as we
approached the 87th parallel. On New
Years Eve, in latitude Sc degrees Sc
minutes, We depoted there a unit of
provisions and rebuilt our sledges
with new short runners, which re-
markable piece of work was perform
ed by the seamen under adverse con-
ditions.
Although it cost us nearly a days
march, the change amply repaid US.
We have been able to keep up our
average and we are now within $50
miles of the pole.
Five Going on to the Pole.
l I'M going forward with a party of
five men, sending three back under
Lieut.. Evans with this note. The
names and descriptions of the advance
party are: Capt. Scott, R. NJ; DIR.
Wilson, chief of the scientific staff:
Capt. Oates, Inneskilling Dragons, in
charge of the ponies and mules; Lieut..
Bowers, Royal Indian Marine, COM
missariat officer; Petty Officer Evans,
R. N, in charge of sledges and equip
ment.
The advance party goes forward
with a months provisions, n the
prospects of success seem good, pro-
viding the weather holds and no I'M
foreseen obstacles arise. 1t has been
very difficult to choose the advance
party, as every one was fit and able to
go forward. Those who return are
naturally much disappointed. Every
n has worked his hardest. The
weather on the plateau has been good
on the whole. The sun has never de-
serted us, but the temperatures are
low, now about minus 20 degrees, and
the wind pretty constant. However,
We are excellently equipped for such
conditions, and the wind undoubtedly
improves the surface. So far all ar
rangements have worked out most
satisfactorily. 1t is more than nroha-