Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-04
BREATH IS frozen
. |NANTARCTIC COLD
Mercury TumbIes to 64 Be-
low, Bringing Frigid July
Fourth for Byrd.
BY RUSSELL OWEN.

BY Radio to The star and New York Times.
LITTLE AMERICA, Antartica, July
3-The thermometer went down to "a
degrees below zero last night before be-
ginning to rise, and it was cold. 1t was
so cold that standing outside the en-
trance to the house tunnel without
hat to muffle the ears, the sound of
ones breath freezing was plainly audi
BILE. If one stood Sidewise to the wind,
so that the breath would blow past the
leeward ear, there was distinguishable
a faint swishing sound like snow blow
ing along the surface in a strong wind.
Cold Drives Men Inside.
There was a momentary interval be-
tween the expulsion of the breath and
the sound which intensified the effect,
for there was no reason for believing
that the sound was caused by the breath
itself leaving the lips. One after an
other Of those in the house went up to
phenomenon, but nobody fingered.
Although it is possible to stand out
side without extra clothing for a few
moments, the cold quickly eats through,
n1pS nose and ears and fingers and
| drives one to hasty retreat.
There is a striking contrast between
the temperature inside and that out
side. It was about 81 above in the
house, while 1t was So below zero out
| doors, a difference Of 125 degrees. That
one can undergo such violent change
in temperature, even for a few mo-
mentS without extra protection. seems
remarkable. Just think what 1t would
be to go from comfortable house
into one 125 degrees hotter.
Kerosene Freezes Solid.
The cold causes some interesting
| things to happen. Yesterday 1t was
found that a can Of kerosene left out
| in the snow tunnel near the entrance
into the hut. Yet, at home, kerosene
is used to prevent automobile radiators
from freezing. Some Of it was put in a
test tube and frozen solid outdoors and
some in q cigarette can turned in a
short time to a mush consistency like
tallow just about to melt It steamed
tremendously when brought into the
house, and a finger poked into 1t was
nipped as II by fire. A kerosene lantern
was placed outdoors and, although 1t
was lighted, the kerosene inside froze
in three-quarters Of an hour.
The ventilators letting warm air out
at the top of the houses pour forth
! vapor like the exhaust of a steam en-
CINE, and when the door is opened
Vapor rushes in cloud. It works both
| ways.
Byrd's Breath Freezes.
Comdr Byrd has a ventilator pipe
running from hole in snow bank
outside into his room. Yesterday 1t
belched steam two or three feet into
| the room. The moisture from his
| breath froze on his face around his
mouth so heavy that he continually
had to pull it away from his face to
keep from freezing him. It is so cold
here in the halls and under the hunks
that everything placed there condenses
| into moisture and Is covered with frost.
Haul out a can of tobacco from under
the bunk and 1t looks as If 1t had
been outdoors in q snowstorm. Even
the mattresses and clothes placed be-
tween them and the sleeping bags be-
come full of frost. And yet we are
quite warm and comfortable, and II
precautions are taken when going out
doors 1t Is possible in calm weather
such as yesterday, to walk for some
! time, despite the cold, but "a below
Is new to US and tomorrow Is the
Fourth Of July. Br-br-br!
Copyright, 1929, by the New York. Times
Co and the st. Louis PoSt-DlSlatch. All
| rights for publication reserved throushout
| the world.