Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-02
First Antarctic Telephone Line.

lHey experienced temperatures between
minus 60 and 40, and Forbes hands were
badly frostbitten, but are now recovering
rapidly
With Bowers. Simpson and Petty Off
Ger Evans. l Travelled west September 10.
Ascending Ferrar glacier, we found by
stakes planted by Wright that the ice
stream had moved thirty feet in seven
months. Later. forty-five miles north
west OF our station, we found part of
the glacier tongue broken in March, with
the forage 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 undertake further
spring journeys
ing of Taylor, Debenham, Gran and
Forde, delayed by Forbes accident, will
leave in few days for Granite harbor.
All plans and preparations for the
despite the accident of last season. we
have great hope of success The neces-
sity of getting the utmost out of our
remaining ponies has decided me not
therefore. start later than originally
intended.
Motor Sledges Do Well.
The motor sledge party, consisting Of
Lieut.. Evans. Bay, Lashley and Hooper,
started five days ago, with two motor
sledges dragging fuel and forage. The
motors experienced unexpected difficulty
on sea ice where 1t was very thinly COW
cred with snow. but were last seen going
well on the surface Of the barrier beyond
the base camp of last season. They
have, therefore, placed the possibilities
of motor traction beyond question.
The pony party, consisting of myself,
with Wilson, Oates, Bowers, Cherry. Gar
rard. Atkinson, Wright, Evans, Cream and
Keohane. will start about November l.
Ind ay16n Of fhn he
motors. ponies will be worked with light
loads in easy marches to Corner Camp.
with full loads and easy marches to One
Ton camp, and with such pressure as
ing will rejoin us at One-Ton camp and
help to advance loads. By these means
we hope to get thirty units Of food to
the foot Of Beardmore glacier, a unit
being weeks provision for four men.
Then with three divisions of four men
and twenty-one units Of provisions, l
hope to extend the advance to the re-
quired distance if the weather conditions
are not wholly unfavorable.
Decides to Stay a Year Longer.
OF the ten remaining ponies one is
unreliable and one doubtful, the remain
der being in very fine form. officers and
men in splendid health and eager
to go forward. Owing to my decision
to postpone, there is an obvious chance
that the most advanced southerly party
will be unable to catch the Terra Nova
before she is forced to quit the sound.
Under these conditions. having regard to
important scientific work done and facili-
ties offered for further work. l have de-
cided to maintain the station for a sec
ond year. The majority of the shore
party will probably remain, but details
depend upon the date of our returning
from our journey. on home news, and the
extent of fresh transport provided. 1
shall greatly regret the departure of any
member, as we have lived in the happiest
social accord. Pointing probably returns
with a large batch Of Photographic ma
terial, to which second year might add
little of Importance. Owing to Pointing,
the Photographic results of the eXped
ton are a most remarkable series of
cinematOgraph pictures, giving com
prehensive record of our polar life. The
plans arranged for the scientific work
of the expedition have succeeded so far
almost in their entirety.
Off for the South Pole.
November "a, latitude S1.15 S.-We left
Hut point on the eve of November ., hav-
ing decided to march by night and rest
during the day to give the ponies the
benefit of warmer day temperatures. We
reached Corner Camp this morning.
Travelling south for sixty miles, we fol-
lowed the tracks of the motors, then we
found the machines abandoned. The party
had proceeded onward as directed, was
delayed by a blizzard on the Sth, but
reached One Ton Camp on the morning
of the 10th. The dog teams had caught
us up some days earlier. and the whole
party proceeded in company. A days
rest was given the animals at One Ton
Camp which we left the 18th. Having
regard to the weight of the loads. the
heavy surfaces and limited number of
animals 1 decided to march fifteen miles
only every night. This distance has been
maintained eight nights. and, so far as
we can foresee, it should be continued.
The ponies are going very steadily and
keeping condition remarkably well. Ihe
first pony has been shot for expediency,
but could have travelled farther. The
animals have ten pounds of oats and
three pounds of oil cake daily. We are
hopeful of getting the mems food supply
to the glacier, according to program.
without great difficulty, but shall be a
day or two later than anticipated.
Motors Abandoned.
We found the motor party waiting at
latitude SO1a Two of their number now
leave u.s. The sole cause of the abandon
ment of the motors was the overheating
of the air-cooled engines. Time did not
permit Of the defects being taken in
hand. The system of propulsion Of the
motors proved entirely satisfactory. The
machines dragged heavy loads over the
worst part Of the barrier service and
crossed several crevasSeS. 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 ami
mails.
We are building snow cairns at In
tervals of four miles to guide the home
ward parties and leaving a weeks pro-
vision at every degree of latitude to the
barrier. The surface was extremely bad
and trying to the ponies up to One-Ton
Camp, but has been comparatively good
since. The greater number of the ponies
have been dragging over $50 pounds.
Through Violent Storms.
December TO- latitude SO degrees Is
minutes.-After the return of the mo-
tor party from latitude 81 degrees Is
minutes we pushed steadily south,
hopeful for better weather conditions.
A second pony was destroyed at lati-
tude 81 degrees 10 minutes, third at
latitude 81 degrees As minutes and two
these animals was exhausted, but were
sacrificed on account Of Tightening
loads and as food for dogs.
AS we approached, the weather grew
worse, snOwstorms were frequent. the
sky continually overcast and land
very rarely visible. Under these cir
cumstances it was most difficult to
keep straight course and maintain
steady marches. The ponies continued