Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-27

UNDER ICE BARRIER;
LAND is INDICATED
Continued From First Page)
1t out. It resembled cold potato when
he stripped his socks OF. DR.. Conan
some warmer gloves.
Light was provided by portable gas
oline engine generator. which Hanson
attached to a locomotive-type search
light that was pointed down into the
dark flssure.
When everything was ready, a rope
was placed around the commander
under his arms, crossing on his chest
and fastened behind his head. He had
his foot in the loop of another line.
Then he was lowered down over the
edge slowly and carefully. The crevass
did not go straight down and there
were many sharp projections Of ice
which broke and tumbled about his ears.
The ropes were held by Strom, Paul
Siple, the Boy Scout, who Is about the
size OF the big Norwegian; by Vaughan,
Feuroy and Thorne together.
| MUCH warmer at the Bottom.
1t was warmer at the bottom, Comdr.
! Byrd reported, and a thermometer
placed on the ice registered 10 above
zero, Fahrenheit, against the so below
] at the surface.
He could walk only a few feet in
either direction: so after satisfying him.
self that the ice below him really con-
tanned salt and taking sample of that
and OF the bottom of the barrier snow,
he was pulled up again to Join the
frostbitten crowd above.
Joe DeGanahl was ready to lower
things to the commander as they were
| needed
Rope Nearly Chokes Byrd.
There was a strong draft down into
the crack which blew the exhaust from
the gasoline engine down there until
the engine was moved to the north side.
For this reason the commander did not
| wish to use magnesium flares, for he
| doubted whether the fumes would blow
out quickly.
lance when the lines running from his
gan to choke him. When he yelled for
those above to slack away on that line,
| they could not hear him because Of the
machine gun-like exhaust Of the tiny
engine. He finally caught their atten-
ton by jerking on the lines and made
the rest of the descent In comfort.
About Is or 20 feet down the crevasse
turned at a sharp angle so that by
carefully picking his way from one pro-
lection to another and by making full
use Of snow which had filtered down
the commander was able to walk the
rest of the way and take the strain of
the rope from the overhanging cornice.
When he reached the bottom he
found himself in sort Of grotto formed
by the contracted barrier ice.
smooth ice formed from sea water,
which had either seeped through or
come up from the bottom IL the
crevasse extended all the way through
the ice below the barrier. He was in
clined to think that the crack extended
all the way down and that the water
had come up and frozen over, because
there was apparently new small crack
In the ice below him.
He sent up for cfowbar and smash
ed into this crack until he reached
slush. He tasted it and 1t was salt.
There was marked difference be-
tween this ice and the snow Of the
barrier. for the barrier snow was still
though 1t was very hard and coarsely
crystallized. 1t looked like granulated
sugar pressed together.
Coming up Comdr. Byrd examined
more carefully some unusually large ice
crystals which projected thickly from
the sides OF the crevaSse. They were the
largest and most beautiful he had ever
seen and their presence led to much
| speculation later as to what conditions
caused them and what light they might
throw on the age of the crevasse.
The crystals were hexagonal, about
TO inches long and each side was
about inches long. Their size and
perfection indicated that they had been
forming for long time, possibly sew
eral years. Larry Gould, the geologtst,
Is going to measure some with mi
crometer and see II he can learn their
rate Of growth.
They are formed by the vapor from
the warmer sea water and slush at
the bottom of the crevasse. which rises
and Is affected by the changing tenn
perature. This temperature gradient
was shown by the size OF the crystals,
which were largest about half way
down and graded of smaller both up
and down from that point.
II the crystals have taken two or
more years to form, which seems prob
able. the crevasse must be an old one,
which possibly opens, due to contrac-
tons, in the cold weather and then
closes somewhat in Summer.
Crack Is sim a Mystery.
The fact that we did not see 1t until
recently does not mean that it was not
There, for heavy drift quickly closes
the top again with a snow bridge. We
get more respect for this barrier the
more we learn about 1t; 1t Is no place
to trifie.
Pieces Of ice were brought back To
the camp and tasted by a number OF
US, 50 that there can be no doubt OF
their containing salt Even Igloo. the
commanders dog, who will eat any
thing. chewed piece with gusto.
But the crack is still a mystery. fol
1t does not lead very far toward the
bay and We haven't the slightest idea
what causes 1t.
There Is no doubt that there il
land here somewhere" said Comdr
Byrd. land we are going To try In learn