Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
BY ]. p. AULT,

$1,000
a Of the Carnegie several years
4 \ ago, We set May /, 1928, as the
date for sailing from Wash
ington and October 8, 1928, as the date
fpr arriving at Panama after encircline
the North Atlantic. AS these words are
being written we are about 140 miles
from the latter place and the date is
october 9. So you see that we have
kept pretty close to our schedule.
Would you like me to tell you of
what has happened to us during these
first five months of this three-year
cruise and of what we have been doing?
It is difficult task because at sea one
day Is much like another.
Sails Always on Time.
We left Washington exactly on time
0 am, May /, with our families and
friends crowding the dock wishing us
godSpeed and safe return.
Five beautiful days greeted us during
our experimental work at the mouth of
the Potomac River, near st. Marys.
Eight of our colleagues from the Office
at Washington were on board, assisting
in getting things started and 1t looked
like real yachting party with men
sleeping all over the decks
We swung ship" to test for the pres
ence Of any deviations in our magnetic
readings due to new installations of
generators, engine and radio equipment.
And we set up station on shore to
observe the electric neutrality-suspicious.
or electric charge Of the earth, carrying
on simultaneous observations on board
ship, where, on account of the effect of
sails, davtS and deck buildings, the
values must be corrected to agree with
the shore results.
OscillatOr Is Repaired.
We reached Newport News Nav z.
I and went into dry-dock for repairs to
the oScillator, used in measuring ocean
, depths by the echo-method, to install
new radio equipment, and for some
minor repairs.
Finally, all preparations having been
completed. photographs having been
taken and our Washington colleagues
f, having said good-by, the sails were set
the towline was cast off and we squared
away for the North Atlantic-for UNI
known experiences, storms. Gains, cold
weather, head winds, new lands and
! new friends.
Gradually the new men got their sea
legs and became acquainted with the
instruments and obServational pro-
cedure. They found that they could
live, eat and sleep in quarters full of
water: with ship hove to in heavy gales,
and with waves flooding decks. filling
boats and f1inging one against the rail.
They fund that, even under the most
trying circumstances they could GO
through with the daily program laid
down. But they also found that the
old saying still held true, THE best
place to see the sea is from the shore"
The radio helped a lot" We could
tell those at home how we were faring
/ and feel their interest and sympathy
reaching out to us over the invisible
avenues Of the air.
First Great Thrill.
We have been learning many things
about the sea. Our observations have
told US how much the compass has
changed over these routes since our
previous cruises in 1910, 1913 and 1915
We have secured new data relating to
the electricity in the air and the guam
tity Of dust to be found at sea. The
water bottles which came up on the
wire from the ocean bottom felt ice
cold, and the Thermometers gave the
temperature as 2 to degrees above
freezing, with the surface at A to 81
degree Fahrenheit, depending upon To-
cation.
Many biological specimens were COL
lected at night by means of the SUBJ
marine light. At times the sea is filled
with 1ellyfish and other organisms
Phosphorescence is often present and
the ''firefliesg of the sea switch on their
lamps With sudden and brilliant glow
New Depths Discovered.
The depth of the sea is measured
every few hours during the day by the
, echo method. Many new deepS and
peaks have been discovered and much
new information added to our knowl-
edge Of the shape of the ocean bottom
In regions where no Soundings have
heretofore been taken.
And so through the storms Gains and
head winds of the North Atlantic we
approached our first port-Plymouth
England. But first We were made to
feel the temper Of the sea. For 10 days
before we could enter the English
Nhannel we had to tack back and forth
and run the engine against a wind
which seemed to be nailed down to the
EAST point of the compass. When we
were within a few hours of Bishop
Rock Light, Sclny Islands, it began tc
rain. Fog and mist closed in on us
and we were compelled to stand out tc
sea as We had repeatedly done.
For the next two days terrific vino
CACW AAOA4t TIC oOUL1I f1dQ we I1OL DSeL
lucky enough to weather the Channe
when we did, it would have sent us hur-
rylng back again for another week.
Plymouth Gives Relief.
Imagine with what Joy we went
ashore at Plymouth, once more to treaC
on solid ground, to get taste of fresh
1ood, to see and meet other people anC
to relax after the strenuous trip, the
first experience at sea for some of the
members of the party.
Ship repairs. conferences with Scien.
lists OF the Marine Biological Labora
tory, dinners, lunches ashore, hurried
trip TO London, showing visitors owe
vessel and equipment, all in 10 days
and we were off for Hamburg, through
the English. Channel.
Fifteen busy days we're spent IL
Hamburg. More repairs were made
new oceanographic equipment was pur
chased, German scientific bureaus AM
organizations were inspected, confer
enceS held with specialists in the diff
ferent subjects which we are investi
eating tan illustrated lecture was givel
before a joint meeting of scientists a
Berlin, and official luncheonS, dinner
and receptions were conquered). w
flew over the city for a view Of its ia
nous harbor. In every way we en-
joyed our contacts with the German:
especially with their men of science
We left with a new inspiration for tn
heavy task ahead.
After being towed 20 miles into tn
North Sea against head wind, W
started our own engine and continue
TO get an offing from shore before head
ing up for the Shetland Islands.
was Summer time and the North Sc
was in a quiet mood. Fair winds hur
ried us along past the Shetlands, pas
the Faroes and at last, on July Is,
a glorious view of the enormous Oraef
glacier on the eastern end of Icelant
1000 feet high and so miles wide.
Head winds again greeted us and fo
six days we fought our way westwar
along the south coast of Iceland, usin
the engine with fore-and-aft sails whe