The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-24
Stories of Men Who Go to
South Pole Read Like Con.
rad Fiction

New York, Aug. 24.-"The South
Pole? No, I've never been there. II
I had would have declined this
berth. for there's : lot Of travelin'
I'm 70 do and . lot Of places I'm to
see before castin' anchor perma-
nently."
That would be mister McGuin-
mis-" speaking. The roster Of the
Byrd Antarctic Expedition has him
listed as ''McGuinnis, Charles J." :"
but it's "Mister" that he's called
aboard the City Of New York, for
he is first mate Of Byrd's base ship.
Too bad He's Reticent!
McGuinnis has thrown out few
anchors during his career thus far.
Only IS years old now, he is the
youngest officer on the ship, but
one Of the oldest according to the
scale by which adventurers' lives
are measured. Conrad could have
done q half -.ozen wordy volumes on
Macs life. and probably would have,
too, if he ever had heard the Irish
seaman spin the yarns Of his
travels.
Mac doesn't like to talk, though,
I'm . reticent chap" he said. "A
soldier Of fortune-or q sailor, II
you please-doesn't always care to
chart out all his old courses So
there are missing chapters in the
story Of McGuinnis, but the ones
that remain are sufficiently thrill
ing.
He was only . lad in Ireland. when
he ran away to sea, taking only .
growing wanderlust and . rosary
his mother had given him. He still
has both.
Secured the World
On full-riggers and barks and
brigantines, he secured the world
and learned to know the colorful
out-of-the-way ports where the
canvas-carrying vessels piled.
A. . pearl fisherman in the
South Seas, he found adventures for
himself and wealth for others. Ship
wrecked in . hurricane, he and four
others put off in . small boat, only
to be capsized. His companions
went west" but the lucky Irish
man reached IN island. and was res
cued.
McCuinuis fought for his beloved
Irish Free State for . brief period.
but this patriotism and ability in
things nautical soon found . happy
combination in the ticklish job OF
running arms from Germany into
Ireland.
Ashore in East Africa while the
World War was under way, Mac
enlisted with the British, was thrice
wounded, and finally was captured
by the Germans. But the sea claimed
him again In q few days after his
release. This time ho sailed be.
tween Bankok, Siam and China.
The Official Diver
With the Byrd Expedition. Nc
Guinnis not only II first mate, but
is the official diver for the party.
What perilolj descents he may be
called upon to make into the icy
waters Of the far south. Mac doesn't
know, nor very much care.
"I'm . sorry diver" he admitted,
''but that just adds sest to the busi-
ness"
NcGuinnis has . Celtic manner
and is concise, even erudite' Of
speech. He is one Of only . few
Who were not born above 50 north
latitude, within the Arctic circle.
John Jacobsen has one Of those
faces you usually see only in the
movies. He IL the Byrd party's
Oldest member. He's next door to
90. Jacobsen Il on the Byrd roster
% sailmaker.
He went TO sea IN his boyhood
was apprenticed 70 . sajlmaksr.
and has stuck to that eallirg ever
since. jacobsen knows the northern
seas q well g he knows his sails.
He was . member Of the ziegle Ex-
psdition that attempted . lash to
the North Pols n 1904. but failed