Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
BYRD'S CAMP DARK
ASSUND|SAPPEARS.
Probably win Not Shine
Again on Explorers Until
Next August.
ny RUSSELL OWEN.

BY Radio to The star and New York Times
LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctica, April
1s.-The sun disappeared from out
Comdr. Byrd's camp today.
Yesterday it crawled along the hori-
xon formed by the barrier to the north
q round ball of dull fire, as II seen
through thin haze, and slid slowly out
of sight. To-day the upper part OF 1t
might have appeared again, but there
were clouds in the northern sky, and
only red spot crept slowly. westward,
grew fainter and went away. leaving a
chill sunset.
It may be visible day or two more
from the barrier top or the bay ice, but
it will be next August before 1t shines
again on our little hollow.
It has left a long twilight, an eerie
gray light which almost imperceptibly
fades into night, and this light will be
with us in the middle Of the day for
some time.
And it is curious that our sunset is
in the north now and that in the
south, where the golden rays use to
light the rolling barrier surface, is the
grim black line OF approaching night
Waterman Keeps Tabs on Aurora.
With the going Of the sun the cold
has increased and last night it was
again 40 degrees below zero. calm
clear night with the aurora blazing
overhead.
The magnificent and mysterious
glow palpitating as II alive. sending
its shivering curtains and streamers
across the sky. is an occurrence on
almost every night and night watch
han has been appointed to note its
volume and direction and character
The Waterman makes his headquar-
tiers In the library of the large house,
which has been named after Edgar
Barratt. the designer of it, the mess
hall being named after his son. Ros-
well.
In addition to keeping track of the
aurora, the Waterman keeps one eye
on the wind and in the morning builds
the fires. If he has time he washes
his clothes, and if in a particularly
luxurious mood he takes bath.
AS this duty is allotted alphabetically
to every one in camp, Comdr. Byrd had
his turn early, and only dropped two
stove lids while making the kitchen fire.
Barrier Crack Grows Near Camp.
We have been interested the last
few days in a crack which appeared
some time ago in the barrier north of
the camp. The general line of the camp
is east and west, and the barrier, after
a sweep north and then east, turns
northward for about Is miles.
This crack appeared first during an
easterly storm and was only few
inches wide at first and about 800
yards long. 1t has now widened a
few inches, but has not become per-
ceptibly longer. It is about half way up
the slope of the hill to the north and
only short distance from camp.
It's general direction is east and west,
but the western end turns after cross
ing a trail and heads toward the camp
for short distance before closing.
Cc.ndr. Byrd is under the impression
that it is contractions crack, common
to ice fields such as we are living on.
An attempt has been made to plumb
1t, but the line goes down only about 40
feet, indicating that it narrowed at the
bottom and that the greatest contrac-
ton is at the top, where the tempera-
ture is lowest.
Aurora's Tricks With the Radio.
The Aurora has probably been re-
sponSible for some radio vagaries which
/ have occurred recently. Larry Gould,
for instance. wished to communicate
with the University of Michigan, but
1t was found that 1t was easier to reach
Michigan through the uniVersity'S
short-wave station at Mount Evans,
Greenland, than direct.
1t is hoped that it will be possible
during the periods of darkness at Mount
Evans and Little America to compare
auroral phenomena by radio and learn
something new about 1t. 1t has never
yet been possible to know whether it
occurred at the same time at both poles.
Copyrisht, 1929. by the New York Times
Co. and the st. Louis-Post Dispatch. All
rights for publication reserved throughout
: the wcrld.)