Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-09

IlOn Ie1I IOIlOOl SSpl- It, 1SG1' ] strikes which occurred to prevent the putting in of oil engines proved to be a great misfortune for soon after we had started we had engine trou- bie, which compelled adjustment at Lisbon, Madeira and St. Vincent, and caused considerable delay. We reach ed St. Paufs Rock on Nov. s. The ship was immediately surrounded by num- bers of sharks. We effected landing | which was difficult on account of the swell Wilkins and Marr made bio logical collections and took photo ! graphs of birds and fish. Douglas and Dell carried out an accurate survey , and made geological examination of 1 the island. Hussey and Carr did me 1 neurological work.
 Further engine trouble caused Sir | Ernest to put into Rio de Janeiro for | another complete overhaul. This con l stunned a month of valuable time, and l compelled an alteration of the pro- gram. It was now impossible to visit ] Cape Town and reach the ice in time for the season. Sir Ernest decided to proceed straight to South Georgia, and go direct to the ice. Our special equip | ment and clothing was at Cape Town, and an amount Of scientific gear. This we had to do without. We reached South Georgia on Jan. 4, when Sir Ernest Shackleton died suddenly. This tragic occurrence 1 do noL deal with here.
 Tn assuming command I had a diff ficult problem which can be fully re- alized from the foregoing remarks. Nevertheless, 1 went ahead, for I felt that it was incompatible with British prestige to turn back. We left South Geo. gia on Jan. r. On Jan. 20 we sighted and surveyed Zavodovski Is- land. It Is a barren, rugged Island of volcanic origin. On the southern side were caves from which poisonous fumes issued, causing a smarIing sen
 sation Of eyG5, throat and nose. On the isIand are immense rookerIes of
 penguins, both of the ringed variety and kings. They avoided any proxim-
 ity to the caves. Numerous grounded
 bergs surrounded the island. Leaving
 the island, we encountered a phenom-
 enal number of larger icebergs, over
 hundred being in sight at the same
 time.
 "On Jan. 30 we reached the charted
 position of Pagoda Rock, when we
 made a trayerslng cruise and made a serles of soNndings. There was no sign : of 1t, and it may be safely wiped off , the map.
 "On Feb. 4, we encountered pack tF we were beset and frozen in. We broke
 to retreat, but after return about sev- enty miles we were able again to turn south. We reached the faruhest south l position on rep. Il. SoundIngS had shown marked and rapid snoaling | and general indications showed prox- unity of land. Further progress was 1 impossible on account of the density and thickness of the ice, and falling 1 temperature compelled us to retreat
 in order to avoid being beset and froz- l en in.
 "On Feb. 13 serious fire broke out,
 which was effectively controlled by ! extinguishers of the carbon dIoxide | producing type. On Feb. 15 we enter
 ed loose, open pack, and for the time 1 being were saIe. On Feb. F we enter | ed open sea. On the 18th we turned
 south agaln in another atLenpL 70 reach land. On the 24th we were com {; pelled by impenetrable ice to turn l north again. On March 13, in mak- | ing an attempt to reach the charted position of Rctss's appearance of land, we were beset and frozen nj. We broke
 out eight days later and reached Ele- phant Island on March 25, when we
 carried out a survey and laid in bal last and a supply of blubber to helI
 out our depleted coal supply.
 Report Greatly Exaegerated-"It was l reported that we slaughtered all the sea elephants on Elephant Island, and
 8 protest was raised, rightly enough
 by Sir Sidney Harmar, of the Natura History museum. We killed in all only nine, and as we saw many hundredI I think he may take it that his fear;
 are groundless. During the night O. the seventh and eighth a gale sprani up in which we narrowly escaped de struction on Seal Rocks. It fresheneI , to a hurricane and compelled me t. run away 5eIole it, not, however, with , out considerable damage to the shil , We reached South Georgia safely ol } April S. Repairs were carried out, dur ] ing which time Wilkins carried on hi } natural history work. Douglas contin 1 ! ued his geological examination an
 Worsley and Jeffrey did survey an, . hydrographical work. We left on Ma f ' and reached Tristan da Cunha O. May 20.
 The Islanders were in a very desti
 ute condition and asked me for hell
 In the name of MT. Rowett, I gay
 them all the help I could, includln
 all we could possibly spare in the wa Q of food stores and general equipmen . They were very grateful. 1 sent D. Macklin ashore to make investigation 2 as to their habits and mode of If, V left him there while we proceede z to Nightingale, Middle and Inaccessi
 ble Islands, on all of which we ef o fected a landing with difficulty on ac ' i count of the swell. We surveyed an
 charted all of them, and the naturali, !, and geologist made their own partiC ,f ular examinations.
 ,s We returned to Tristan to pick u - Dr. Macklin, whose report shows th ,s islandeAs to be healthy and not sri ,s fering from degeneration as reportei ,s They are remarkable for their Tor ,s geyfty and seemed to have found tt n secret of prolonged youth. Dr. Macl n lin attributes 1t to lack of alcohol ar n tobacco, absence of epidemic diseas, d hardy mode of life in the fresh air, ar h also to the fact that their suppl,
 compel them to eat Eparingly. Nor al k- they subjected to the strain of moo st ern civilization mad speeding up. V wj We visited Cough Island on May 2 $ Here we carried out complete natur to history. geological, hydrographical al tl survey work. We made very accura Id chart of this island The summit ne the island was attained and namt ryI Mt. Rowett. We reached CapetoT ye on June 19, when we fell ready vi n-t tins to cold and influenza. Leayil t-l Capetown on July +, we visited ct turn St. Helena, Ascension Island, S a Vincent, and San Miguel where inve m tigations were carried on. We arrtv, k back in England on Sept. 1s."
 L.