Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-29
EMERGENCY.
EQUIPMENT VARIES
Material Was Chosen Care
fully to Meet Greatest Needs
With Lowest Weight.

By Radio to The Star and the New York
LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctica, No
vember 29.-The material taken in the
plane onComd r. Byrd's polar flight
consists largely of supplies and equip
ment which might be needed in the
event of a forced landing.
If it were not that this contingency
remote. it is hoped-must be provided
for, the load would be lighter. So. most
of the supplies which are being taken
are for this purpose, sledges, food.
clothes. cooker and even emergency ra-
do and medical equipment.
Food is the heaviest item in the list,
as enough must be taken to provide
for four men for three months 1t
weighs about 800 pounds. Then comes
clothing, weighing about 300 pounds;
camping equipment, weighing a little
over 100 pounds; travelling equipment,
including sledges. weighing IS pounds;
navigation instruments. weighing 20
pounds; radio gear, weighing So pounds,
and medical equipment, weighing
pounds.
Studied Lists Carefully.
Comdr. Byrd went over these lists
time and again this Winter, consulting
various members of the expedition most
directly concerned to make sure not
only that nothing essential was over
looked but also that the amount to be
taken might be brought down to the
minimum weight. Things have been
taken out of the original containers,
and put in lighter containers reduced in
every way consistent with safety. A
forced landing on the plateau would
mean a long walk home and Byrd made
his plans to meet this extreme emer-
gcncy.
Food Is, of course. the most vitality
important part of the emergency equip
nent. Maintaining is the hardest kind
of work. and a ration on which men
can keep their strength and still Dull
Sledge-loadS must not only be Sufnc1ent
in quantity but contain necessary nutri-
tional elements.
The emergency ration for the plane
consists of pemmican of the same kind
used so successfully by Amundsen and
used by the trail parties of the Byrd
expedition: biscuit containing many
valuable food elements, powdered milk.
sugar, peanut butter, bacon, condensed
soup. rolls, raisinS, tea, cocoa, chocolate
and salt This ration will provide So
ounces per man per day.
Clothes Meet Tests.
The clothes have been selected also
10 meet all conditions on the trail and
Comdr. Byrd made up his list after
experimenting all Winter and also using
the experience of men who have been
on the trail.
Each man has a fur parka and fur
pants, sleeping bag. wooden parka,
wooden pants, light windproof pants
and parka, windproof shirt. wooden
underwear, sweater. fur hat. wooden
helmet, scarf, mukluks. ski boots, canvas
boots, caribou socks, moccaSinS. wooden
socks, windproof socks, nittS of several
kinds. face, masks, safety belt and
pulling harness: also towel, sewing kit
knife. snow glasses. crampons, compass
and a few other articles.
This clothing has been varied so that
after a day of pulling and becoming
soaked with perspiration the men may
put on dry clothing and so far as pos
sible avoid the wet which has made
polar travel so uncomfortable and even
dangerous.
The camping outfit consists of a tent.
a zegka-cooker using a primuS stove.
aluminium soup bowls enameled cups,
wooden spoons. primus stove cleaner,
needles. 10 gallons Of gasoline for the
stove, boxes of solidified alcohol tablets
to light the stove. matches, snow knife,
saw. shovel, ice ak and wire.
The travelling equipment consists of
two sledges and canvas tanks to hold
the loads, sled meter, rawhide sails for
sleds, bamboo poles to be used crossing
crevasseS, skis and ski poles, straps and
repair gear for the skis, one pair snow
shoes, three lengths of alpine rope with
knots and loops and smoke bombs for
signaling.
Radio Equipment.
The navigation equipment comprises
q Bumste2d sun compass with pelorus
for use on a Jacob staff, binoculars,
pocket aneroid barometer, two Their
mometers, dividers, ruler, protractor,
four watches on Greenwich mean time,
triangle, czegka position compass,
azimuth and line of position tables,
nautical almanac, four charts, note
book. lead pencils, sextant and oil for
artificial horizon.
The radio equipment consists of a
transmitter, another transmitter for the
radio compass, antenna, receiver, storage
battery, radio helmets and spare parts.
Copyright. 1929. by the New York Times Co
and the st. Louis PoSt-Dispatch. All
rights for publication reserved throughout
the world. Wireless to the New York