Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-25
BYRD SHIP LEAVES
FOR NEW ZEALAND
City of New York's Departure
Leaves Antarctic Party
Alone at Base.
Continued From First Page y

4 -
ing gust which drove the Temperature
down to 90 below zero.
The cold air created a dense, low
hanging gloom of frost smoke, which
sWirled also as high as the ships masts
and made an impenetrable current
through which the lookout could see
barely hundred yards ahead. With
big cakes of ice and small bergs float
Ing about, the condition was discon-
certing.
Mush Ice Forms About.
The wind became stronger as the
ship went farther to the north and
finally froze the surface of the water
into sort of Slush through which it
was difficult to force a way. The tops
of the waves broke and as they we're
whipped into the air froze and fell back
into the sea as ice.
In a short time vast areas of glass
like muSh ice had been formed, several
inches thick. The waves rolled under
it. so that the surface of the sea
undulated like living thing that
clutched at the sides of the vessel.
Small pans of ice formed with white,
f1owerlike crystals on them, pans which
rapidly became larger and more threat
ening.
The commander determined to turn
back but when an attempt was made
to tack it was found that ice had
frozen around the rudder so thick
that it was damned.
With ice cutters, fastened on long
poles. men cut and chopped around
the rudder post through the hole in
the deck until the rudder could be
freed but even then turns had to be
made very slowly.
Mems faces froze and their hands and
feet were nipped as they worked. DR..
Conan, on lookout on the forecastle
head. was caked in ice armor as the
spray froze on his clothes.
Things Happen in Boiler Room.
In the midst of this turmoil things
began to go wrong below. The steam
valve in the boiler room froZe in the
cold draft that came down from be-
CINE room stayed warm. Then a gaSket
blew out and later high-presSure valve
slipped
These were quickly repaired, but with
out the engine the ship was almost
helpless for time.
While the wind was bowling and the
ship was lying we'll over under only a
reef spanker, staysail and jib, Lloyd
Berkner. the radio operator, was calmly
sitting in his sWaying radio room, COM
municating with the base on the barrier
and copying messages from all over the
world congratulating Comdr. Byrd on
his recent discoveries.
Down below Ralph Shropshire was
working the sonic depth finder, taking
regular soundings in a area where no
soundings had been made before.
"The scientific results well warranted
the hardships," said Comdr. Byrd.
The ship was well off shore when a
course was set back to the bay, and it
was not until late yesterday afternoon
that she returned. covered with ice and
with sheath of ice more than foot
thick around her water line The an
Choir chains were cased in huge chunks
of ice.
Dog Teams Waiting.
The commander had sent for the dog
teams and they were waiting when the
ship tied up. and in short time per-
sonal gear was dumped over the side
Those who were to go back on her had
been told and had taken the blow
gamely. It was the hardest task Byrd
has faced. All have worked so hard
and showed such enthusiasm. Those
on the ship knew they were going back.
but there were two or three at the camp
whom Byrd had hoped to keep because
of their good work. Teddy Bayer, who
built the radio towers, was at work on
one of them when he was told by Larry
Gould.
"All right Larry" he yelled down
trying to be cheerful, Il half expected
it."
And vo,no ParIin ubo cor,a o,,t &C
a coal passer and who has developed
into good dog driver, who is eager to
do anything to help any one, smiled
although tears were running down his
cheeks. He went back to the ship and
helped get stuff ashore cheerily. Byrd
could hardly speak of the good sports
nanship of all of the men, it affected
him so profoundly.
(Copr'ght, 1929. by the New York Times
Co and the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rights
world)