Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
BYRD VIEWS NEW
/. AREA ON FLIGHT
Explorer GIimpses Antarctic
HinterIands, Peeps Over
Great Ice Field.
Continued From First Page.)

until IL disappeared over the edge OF
the barrier.
The commander had given orders
that as soon as he left an attempt
should be made to get in close to the
barrier. and had sent Strom and Braa-
then over to look at the ice which had
def1ed the City of New York a few days
ago With the Eleanor Boiling coming
IN few hours, there was urgent need
OF getting to the low spot in the bar
rier if possible. but all the time we
have been here watching for the ice
70 move, 1t has stuck to that place
ike tar to dogs back. But at the
last moment, when the ice around the
ship and all along the edge of the way
was getting so rotten that it was be-
ginning to get dangerous and 1t did
not seem possible that the Boiling
could be unloaded quickly, the ice over
on the eastern shore began to move.
BY the time the commander left there
was only a little heavy pressure ice be-
tween the water and the low barrier.
The value of this place can easily
be realized. 1t is like the edge of a
saucer, a gentle slope coming down
to within few feet of the top Of the
bay ice which at this point is quite
thick and about feet above the
water. At the north end of the saucer
ming down to the bay ice, perfect
pathway for hauling up sleds. On
each side Of this low spot the barrier
rises to so feet, much too high for
lis. and it SO happens that this low spot
is the only one between us and the
camp and the nearest to open water.
The fact that we could get near to it
at the last moment after so many fail
ures seemed too good to be true.
City Of New York Bucks Ice.
The City of New York started to buck
the ice which remained while eyes were
cast astern to the north for the Eleanor
Bolling'S smoke. Time after time the
stout old ship was sent Keeling into the
thick but rotten stuff, forcing passage
to a pool of open water ahead, which
If it could be reached would cut off so
much that the pressure ice would move.
Down in the fireroom Bubier, airplane
mechanic and temporary Stoker was
tossing coal on the fire and yelling every
time the ship hit, stop it, old girl, hit
1t on the nose" and trying to pop the
safety valve. Every one was smiling and
gay with the thought that Byrd had
successfully started on an important
flight and that in short time the mail
from home would be in. Men at the
wheel or engine room telegraphed, or
hanging over the stern watching the
ice-bound rudder. turned their eyes sea-
ward every few moments for the Eleanor
Boiling.
Ships Masts Show.
From the rigging a yell went up
Heres she comes" and the top of the
mastS could be seen above the CLASSY
horizon. All the traditions of the Ant
QTnfiR hooY1 hot NJ fNp
first time an expedition ship built of
steel had forced its way through heavy
pack ice and reached the continent
Folks at home and in New Zealand had
said it couldn't be done, but there she
was. 81 bring her down." said Brownier,
the captain, and he did. She was load
ed so she bulged. Things were piled all
over her decks. She had gasoline and
blasting powder and all sorts of poten-
tial hell aboard as we'll as big house
and coal and food. Even whale meat
hung all over her, for we have learned
to like it. Most of her load was bulk
rather than weight and she was a foot
above her Plimsoll mark when she got in.
Bucks Ice for Four Days.
She had come through pack ice so
thick that she had had to buck it for
four days and depended on the power of
her engine to get her through. This is
one thing We have learned down here,
the value of engine power.
Sure, We come through alright" said
Mr.. Brownier. Der sides, they go lit
tie this way" he said, moving his hands
together to show pressure and then
shrugged his shoulders, Come through"
Well I'll be bowed" called out Mel
vile, captain of the City of New York,
'if he hasn't got al his flags out. The
American flag and the house flag and
the mail flag" fairly roaring the last.
Mail Magic Word.
Mail is a magic word. News from
home, from those we will not see for
many months yet and who seem in an
other world.
There was furry around the radio
house and Hanson called out that the
commander had sent back a message,
Men crowded around the door and Han
son and Petersen rugged UP the loud
speaker so that when June fastened
dow nhis key we could hear the singing.
pulsating note of his signal, sound very
much like that of distant airplane
motor. 1t was thrilling to hear
that sound and to know that we could
keep in touch with the plane during the
entire fight; TO know that if anything
went wrong we would be aware of it in
Stantly. Radio communication has not
been the least of the marvels of this
trip, for the plane was not only heard
here, 1t was heard in the States, 1t was
heard by whalers out in the Ross Sea
and at the base. where men sat around
IN the house tracing its progress on a
map. And while that singing sound
was still coming in, it was possible to
communicate with the Eleanor Boiling
and toward the end send short mes
sage to the New York Times.
Flying Well, Weather Fine"
That first short message from the
plane was in code and read, Flying
well, weather fine, motor running fine
Signed. Byrd" It was sent at 3:40.
BY this time we were so close in that
Parker, with rope tied around his
waist and DemaS holding the other END
was out on the ice looking for the best
way through and Harrison, Conan and
Nanderveer, who was taking pictures.
were out working with an ice anchor.
The Eleanor Boiling ce:se slowly up
astern. nosed her way into a huge cake
OF ice and pushed it aside and then
stuck her bow up alongside of us. There
were ..yells back and forth, calls OF
friendly deriSion and Jokes, and as soon
as the sides touched the men from each
ship jumped over on the other and be.
gan shaking hands and patting each
other on the back, then from the
Boiling brought purchases they had
made for friends, the most common OF
which, curiouSly enough, were handker-
chiefs, which every one seemed to have
forgotten.
Work Forgotten for News of Outside. -
We are tired of the sight of red ban
dannaS. The mail was brought over
three large sacks of it, and hustled
down into the New York's wardroom
where it was sorted on the table b,
many willing hands and then taker
up on deck to the distributors. 1t was
grabbed eagerly, and for a little while
work was forgotten while envelope,