The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-11

| northward, despite numerous gales.
After the return from the absentees
we settled down very comfortably
In our winter hut, its arrangements
for lighting, heating, cooking and
ventilation proved eminently satisfac.
tory. A comfortable stable had been
built for the ponies and some shelter
improvised 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 Is
miles an hour. but sometimes blew
hard with the temperature minus 30
degrees. Everyone was very fully
occupied with station and scientific
work. exercising animals, etc. A
| series OF lectures was organized and
football was played 20 within month
| Of mid-winter.
Frequent visits were made to Cape
| Royds and Hut Point. The animals
steadily improved in condition. On
| June eth. middle winter, Wilson,
Bowers. Cherry and Gerard started
on n 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 seIuom above minus 60 degrees
and often minus 20 degrees, the low
est observed with a sling thermometer
being minus a 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
cerning 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 root
OF the hut flew to ribbons. For &c
hours more the travellers were con
fined in their frozen sleeping beds
half buried beneath snow and roch
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. or
the return journey they were held fol
two days by another storm aftel
which the temperature fell and re
NAMED below minus 60 degrees. The
party returned after five days absenc,
incased In ice and suffering from
want OF sleep but otherwise well.
On September first Meares ant
Mimintri. with dog teams made theil
headquarters at Hut Point the dog.
leaving for that depot in splendit
form. At intervals since our arrival
however. some obscure disease ha,
robbed us of four excellent dogs. II
every case the dog attacked appeared
vigorously healthy, but died in few
, hours. 1t is thought the cause mus
| No
ing the brain.
First Antarctic Telephone Line.
, At the end OF the month telephone
i communication was established will
Hut Point through Is miles Of bar
wire. This telephone has alread!
, proved extremely useful for reporting
, the movement Of parties, pendinl
changes OF weather.
With Bowers, Simpson and Petit.
Oficer Evans. travelled west o.
September Is. Ascending Ferra
Glacier. we found by stakes plante,
: by Wright that the ice stream ha'
moved 30 feet In seven months
Later. As miles northwest Of our sta
tion. we found part OF the glacie
: tongue broken in March with the fol
age depot left by Campbell intact
|. Owing to work at the station and tn
need OF increasing exercise for tn
). ponies we have been unable to under
!. take further spring Journeys.
: start Delayed to Cave Ponies.
q All plans and preparations for tn
I southern journey are now complet
4 and despite the accident Of last SET
I son we have great hope Of success.
4 The necessity OF getting the utmos
a out of our remaining ponies has d.
n cided, me not to expose them to grea
|. cold. We shall therefore start late
8 than ordinarily intended.
;. The motor sledge party consistin
v Of Lieut.. Evans. Baq, I4ashley an
|. Hooper, started five days ago, wit
II two motor sledges dragging fuel an
n forage The motors eXDerienced III