Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-19
BYRD HUSKY TEAMS
SET RECORDS FOR
7 HAULING SUPPLIES
Dogs Build Polar SIedging
Epic With Two 16-Mile
Journeys Daily.
180 TONS CARRIED
IN FIRST TWO WEEKS
Magnificent Desolation of Antar-
tica Charms Norwegians and
Americans Alike.
BY RUSSELL OWEN.

ny wireless to The Star and New York Times
BAY OF WHALES, Antarctica, jan
aarv ia stiff wind is blowing of the
barrier today, wind that lashes the
surface snow into a cloud, that cuts the
face and nips the hands and feet. Into
II line of sledges just began to bore
ts1eir way toward the base, the men
S,gging at the gee poles and calling to
their dogs. the frost from their breath
gathering on their unshaven faces and
the sides of their fur caps under their
pArka hoods.
They are building an epic OF polar
kledging. doggedly fighting their way
eight miles inland and back twice
day. carrying loads that had been
thought impossible. They began on De-
cember 81 and in the II sledging days
nince then they have moved more than
400 tons of material to the base over
the drifting and buckling bay ice. On
two days, during a blizzard, the work
had to be stopped, but, although con-
dftions are severe today, they are plug
King ahead making two trips, carrying
prosaic- and undramatic coal sacks, trav-
cling in all 30 miles.
Have Not Lost Parcel. =
They have not lost dog or parcel,
although time and again sledges with
loads of more than 1000 pounds had
tipped over or slid into slush holes be-
tween pressure ridges.
It is difficult to know which to admire
the most, the men or the dogs, for both
are thoroughly tired at the end of the
day The men, who fight sliding Sledges
and topping loads when the trail Is
rough or along knife edge of pressure
ice. are able to ride back to the ship
from the base, but the dogs trot the
entire 80 miles. tugging unfailingly at
their harness, grabbing mouthful OF
snow as they go, and occasionally turn
ing aside to find little recreation In
trying to pick fight with passing
rival team. No men are more appre-
ciative of such work than the Norwe-
Velop polar travel. and they have been
frankly amazed at the progress achieved.
Norwegian Enthusiastic.
One of them, a powerful, indomita-
BE man of the race, of Nansen, Syer-
drup and Amundsen. one who had lived
ail his life in the Arctic and is driving
one of the most successful OF the dog
teams. was expressing his enthusiasm
last night And lest it be thought that
too much is being claimed for an Amer
Scan expedition. it might be best TO let
him tell what he thinks of 1t.
Every time go round that point
MD there and see all those things piled
Up, am wondering" he said, slamming
down huge fist.
"Ail that stuff-eight miles across the
See and those pressure ridges. Never
had there been anything like 1t ana no.
BODY could do it but Americans. They
no. 60, all the time they CO."
TO one who saw Comdr. Byrd unload
ane his plane in the face of almost
lnsuperable difficulties at Spitzbergen
before he made the North Pole flight.
there is much in the present situation
Do afford striking parallel and to show
che spirit with which he imbues his
men.
Worked Night and Day.
At the time the bay was full of float
sng ice and the Norwegians living there
doubted that pontoons could be safely
forced through such large and dan-
Ferously pressing cakes of ice. How
ever. he did 1t with the aid of men who
worked day and night. Down here the
Nay ice is so far out that at first 1t
seemed an obstacle that might for a
tsrne hold up the expedition.
When Capt. Roald Amundsen ar
rived here he was able to take his ship
IN beyond our present base and within
RL2 miles of Franheim. his base. Only q
few days after the anniversary OF Capt
Amundsen's arrival here (January 14
the Byrd expedition has put more than
qS0 tons ashore and the ice, although
shifting, has not yet shown any signs
of going out.
It is difficult to make any compari-
sons as to loads because the sleds have
8raveled light for half the 80 miles COW
cred every day and the number of dogs
in a team has varied considerably.
However. the loads have run from zoe
hounds with a five-dog team up to more
Than ton on occasions with nine-doe
team.
Yesterday one team of nine dogs
made the usual two trips and carried a
ton and three quarters. and, although
these loads may be said to have beer
carried over the same trail, it is trail
which has shifted near the base con-
stantly. as huge pressure ridges have
been forced up and detours have beer
made necessary. There have been many
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