Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-29
BYRD PARTY HEADS
TOMORROW
Polar Explorers Enjoy Their
Thanksgiving Dinner as Final
Check Is Being Made.
BY RUSSELL OWEN.

By wireless to The Star and New York
Times.
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, via the
Bark City of New York November 29.-
A great cheer went up today on the
Stubby square rigger. cluttered with
stores and grimy with the dirt of load
ing, when Condr. Byrd called his crew
together on the after deck of the City
of New York and announced that, with
good luck, the ship would sail tomorrow
for Antartica. It was Thanksgiving
day in more than one way, as the
moment had arrived for which the
men have been looking forward for
many months.
the waters of the tarbor, and clouds
scudded overhead. In the air was a tang
OF the great Southern world of ice and
snow.
Heavy Going Expected.
The men in the little group buttoned
the!rcoats tighter and grinned at each
other as the air bit into the skin. In a
week the sturdy bark will be staggering
through sleet-laden gales close to the
Ice pack and those aboard will be look
ing eagerly for way through that
great floating barrier.
Comdr. Byrd, slim and eager in his
brown uniform, his eyes keenly sur
veying the group before him. told the
men he appreciated their efforts and
knew they would tackle the job ahead
with the greatest enthusiasm.
Byrd expects rough sailing.
This is no picnic" he said. I'VE are
going to have rough time and must
expect it, but if each man does his best
I have no doubt of the outcome.
Keep smiling. Remember that good
fellowship is perhaps more important
than efficiency on an expedition like
this
1--WE are going to try to get out to-
morrow evening, and if every man does
his best, we will do it. Now 60 to it,
Hats were snapped off and waved as
the men cheered him, men briny of face,
clad In dirty dungarees, men who had
been working long hours every day on
the tremendous task of preparation, but
men happy in the thought that in a
lew days they would face conditions
which would make everything before
them seem like a Sunday school party.
Byrd Popular With Party.
Comdr. Byrd's personality has won
him an unusual response from his
crews, and pilots, scientists and the
captains of both ships have been work.
ing like Stevedores. It is nothing un-
usual to see a mate who had a lieu
| tenants commission in the NAVY stag
gering along under packing box or
an Army officer Juggling baggage or sup
plies for some one else. Every one lends
a hand. One has to be a member of
such an expedition before it is possible
| to realize the meaning of the word
comaraderie. Probably nothing like it
has been seen since the war.
The Thanksgiving dinner provided a
merry party. Every one ate aboard the
! City of New York. The big forecastIe
was filled with men and an overflow
went aft.
The forecastle is Uttered with boxes,
| for every inch of space must be utilized
and in this light it was a place of in
describable confusion, with the bunks
| filled with luggage. Some of the center
hunks were tipped up on their sides to
make room, and along one side a big
table was laid, at which Is men ate at
time.
The menu of turkey and cranberry
sauce, mince pie, cake and ice cream
gave touch of home that was doubly
welcome on this day.
Check Equipment Carefully.
AS soon as the dinner was over the
men scattered to the various tasks as
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