The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-03
at Cape Evans very bad weather was
experienced during the sumo period
Second Trip.


experienced during the sumo period
Second Trip.
The western geological party, In
charge OF Grilhths and Taylor, with
Dobcnhan. Gran ana Forde. again left
headquarters on November . 1911, for
Granite llarbor. Their sledging loada
were exceptionally heavy, totalins
l,ieO pounds. This necessitated re-
laying, and speed of five milss n
day brought them on December / 10
their destination At cape nine miles
inside Granite IIarbor. where a stone
hut was built and a blubber stove in
stalled.
For over two months seal meat was
the staple food, blubber being almost
the only fuel used when on tho coast.
The hrst week was developed TO ex-
ploring the northern shores. FUR
ious blizzard prevented them from
sledGing further north.
During the next fortnight they slcdg-
cd around West Isrbor nnding mass
During the m,xt Fortnight they eledg
erals, such as topaz.
At Their headquarters thousands OF
winGlcsE insects of two different spe-
cies were found. clustering half froz
en- under almost every pebble.
On December p thoy started OK
pioring the western islands. They
passed tremendous ice falls on Macka y
Glacier By portagins their slcdge
gear up 1000 feet OF the granite
cliff and steep boulder covered
slopes a prominent nunatak was reach
ed. Here they found numerous Well
preserved fossils probably crustacean.
Debcnham discovered specimens OF
bituUiinous coal there, almost certain
~ derived from well marked outcrpp
OF beason sandstone on the nuratak.
Beautiful polished pavenents OF perch
ed blocks characterized the vicinity,
forming the most remarkable examples
of glacal action hitherto seen In VIC
toria Land.
Left Specimens behind.
The work done last summer b. tho
geological party. in connection with
| this seasons work, has resulted In 4
survey OF some detail. both geological
| and geographical, OF the whole coast
north OF Mount Morning to Granite
Harbor. including what appears TO be
good new route to the inland pln-
| teau behind Granite Hnrbor.
on January ,ae party returned to
Stone Hut to await the ships arrival,
but over thirty miles of fast sea ice
| remained between ~lcdSe and open
water. After waiting for weeks until!
only ten days OF available sledf,!ng
food remained. they decided 10 retreat
! over Piedmont Glacier to Discovery
| Hut vim Butter Point, No specimens
or personal gear could be carried
| Some twenty-ioot crevas1es were
crossed on the nrst day, but then n
route was found at n I.o0OLfoot level
which avoided the larger crcvasses
| They found ali the sea Ice had broken
| out south OF Dunlop Island After
| coasting around opan wpter for the
next ten days, the party was crossing
Blue Glacier when thoy were picked
up by the ship on February To-
T. ri. a,
Nova Will DO able 10 obtain the speci-
mems collected at Granite Harbor in
1918.
Splendid Scientific Work.
The general plan arranged for the
scientific work OF the expedition has
been carried out 80 far almost en-
trely. Strengthening inetcorologI-
cal instruments have given a conttnu-
Gus record OF the pressure OF tompsra-
ture within the locality and direction.
and these have been checked every
four hours by eye observations Tn.
| upper atmosphere has been investi-
gated by means of small balloons.
! which have shown the direction OF
upper currents to a height of six miles
and temperatures UP to five miles. An
almost unbroken record OF magnetic
elements has been obtained, and abso-
lutte magnetic observations have been
y
magnetic instruments were Installed
In room eScavated in the side Of a
small glacier. This eliminated changes
of temperature. which are q serious
cause Of error In this class OF work
All through the winter the aurora
was observed every hour, hut very
few brilliant displays occurred. At
mospheric electricity has also been
studied. and Ice physiography afforded
much field work
VcXed problems regarding the origin
of Alpine topography when Europe and
other Temperate regions were under
going tho ice age are being studied
in the examples offered by retreating
glaciers In Victoria Land, where the
age still obtains
Conl nj Granite Harbor.
The mainland Offered a rich field
for petrology, with an abundance OF
mineral bearing quartz veins, but OF
no economic value. Specimens of coal
of economic value and well preserved
fossils have been found near Granite
Harbor. AT the winter quarters nm
oxcellent field exists for Ice work in
miles of glacier. In front OF the hut
stands a cape formed largely of O
massive moraine with lava flows from
Mount Erebua
Pendulum observations for tho value
OF gravity have been carried out, nnd
tide gauge has given a continuous
record.
Marine biological work has been
; Carried on throughout the winter at a
hole kept In the sen ice for nets, water
samples and sea temperature. Quanti-
tative and qualitative observations OF
minute organisms at various seasons
are giving interesting results. Parasi.
tolosy OF nil seals. pensuins and other
birds and fish available. has already
given good results Some new protosa
have been found. This work has fully
occupied the time OF tho scientific
staff, and indicates an ample neld tcr
, further research In every direction.
Successful biological work has beer