The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-27
EXPLORER RETURNS
FROM THE FAR SOUTH
DR.. Douglas Mawson De.
clares His Expedition Was
''Eminently Successful"

ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb. 26.-Dr.
Douglas Mawson. the Australasian e1-
plorcr, returned here today from the
Antarctic on board the Aurora. He said
his expedition had been eminently
successful -
Mr.. Mawson declared that dredging
had yielded the best collection of bio
logical specimens ever obtained IN the
Antarctic, Many mineral deposits had
been exposed, some OF them rich. Their
extent, however, was not traceable,
owing to the ice. Occasional rocks ex
posed indicated the existence Of vast
coal bed
The original expedition under DR..
Mawson left Hobart, Tasmania, on De-
cembcr 2, 1911, its principal OBJECT be-
ing the exploration and survey of the
Antarctic coast line.
Two Of the members, Lieutenant Min
mis-, OF the British army, and DR.. Merz,
Swiss, met death by accident,
When the Aurora went to bring the
explorers back from the Antarctic ear
ly last year, the vessel was forced to
leave before taking on board DR.. Nav
son and five OF his companions. They
were well equipped and no fear was felt
for their safety. 1t is this party which
has now returned.
DR., Mawson said that after the lose
of his companions, MINIS and DR..
Merz, he was alone for thirty days
81 had miraculous escape from star
vation," he said. Gas l was STUN
bling along through a snowstorIn, hap
peped to see black spot, and on gong
toward it discovered IL was cache OF
sufficiently, as / thought, to reach my
base twenty-one miles away, ] left the
remainder of the cache for the search.
ing party L considered likely to be sent
out.
~ was able, however, to make only
two miles, owing to the severity OF the
weather. So ] returned TO the cache,
and was found there by members OF
the searching party,
splendid specimens was carried out
partly on the homeward journey. West
ward of my base some extraordinary
fish and sea animals were obtained ar
a depth of two miles:
81 While the delay in Adelieland ow-
ing to the presence OF terr1flc WINDS
was unpleasant, ii enabled the party 10
do N1SC amount Oh CUiIcttlbS' "A hieb.
nificent assemblsge of bird eggs most
of them extremely rare. was obtained.
'Beside coal the mineral chiefly OBJ
served was copper.
'sThe scientific results Of the cxpe'
dition are TO be presented to the &C.
ographical association OF Australia;
l"fhe wind experienced at the base
was terrific. During one whole month
it averaged siaty.three miles an hour
For ono hour it blew 1l6 miles, and
gusts were frequently gauged at over
goo miles. -,
DR.. Mawson has been in poor health
ever since his trying experience ID
February last year, so little sledging
was undertaken afterward The health
of the rest Of the party was exception
ally good. ,.,, +o Ado.
laido experienced two severe hurri-
canes. She lost her motor launch IN
the ice and the ship, herself was badly
ahmed on one occasion. when IT TOOK
clrver seamanship to extricate her
DR. Mawson said that one OF the
greatest lessons learned by the expedI-
ff;on was the value Of wireless teleg'
ranhv, No similar exploration, work, ne
added, should ever be undertaken win
out it,