Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-02
TWO GO OVERHEARD AS ICE
CAVE-IN RAMS BYRD SHIP
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stern. How he kept afioat is beyond
his understanding
BY clutching at small ice cakes which
slipped away from him and turned over
he sputtered his quick cry for help
which was answered by Byrd and then
his head disappeared in the broken
debris from the barrier. Byrd could
have reached him easily when he first
tried to jump over and life saving Is
not new to the commander. He has
medals for saving five men from drown
ing. But when he did jump the ice had
floated between him and Roth.
The ships settled back to an even
keel and 1t was seen that they were
not sinking. Brown, captain Of the
Boiling had leaped aboard his ship so
that he might maneuver both vessels.
Men were anxiously watching Byrd as
he tried to force his way through the
ice. He was lightly clad for he had
been in his room talking with Nc
Guinness and the water, below the
freezing point, chilled by the greatest
ice field in the world, swiftly gripped
and numbed him. Byrd Is strong
man, an athlete. but for the next 10
minutes he fought the fight of his life.
Roth could be seen struggling silently
but desperately as he went father away.
The sun was in the South and shone
SO brightly on the ice and water that
ing light. Sometimes a dark speck
could be seen in the midst of slush.
grasping at cakes which slipped from
him. and then 1t would disappear, and
we thought he had gone.
1t was heart-rending to see his brave
efforts to keep afloat and We unable to
reach him. His. movements became
slower and slower as he tired, and his
heavy clothing dragged him down. He
threw one arm YEARLY over an ice cake
and managed to hold on, and just
then another small cake came up on
his other side and he threw over that
other arm.
His clothing froze to the ice and held
him.
Swift Action on Ship.
On the ship there was swift action.
Joe De Ganahl on the Boiling had seen
Harrison fall from the edge and land
on the ice cake. A plank from the
barrier come floating by and Joe went
overheard, straddled the plank and
started to paddle to Harrison's side.
But the current swept him out also.
and Harrison might have followed IL
rope had not been thrown down. He
grasped 1t and was hauled part way up,
where he was stuck by the overhang.
So Joe tried to reach the commander,
but failed and went past In the swift
rush of water and ice.
1t was not known how many men
were overheard, and those on deck
feared that there might be some who
had been struck by ice as they fell and
were held under the ice cakes. Anxious
eyes scanned the debris-covered water.
A small boat was picked up by dozen
men and dropped over the side where
1t landed right side up with only q
little water in 1t. Three men, one of
them Hanson, chief radio engineer who
had on life belt, jumped into 1t. 1t
was nearly 10 feet down to the boat.
but with all their hurry they landed on
their feet and did not upset. The little
boat was full and almost down to the
gunnel when another man dropped into
1t. and Hanson, Immediately realizing
that there were too many and that the
boat would be useless and full of water
in a moment. rolled over the side. It
put on after Roth and on the way came
near the commander.
In Water Nearly 10 Minutes.
Don't mind me, am all right" said
he, go after Roth, he can't SWIM"
Byrd by this time had turned and was
more and more slowly swimming back
to the ship. He had been in the water
almost 10 minutes and his strength
was nearly gone. This water paralyzeS
AMI numbS the muscles and brain itself.
1t is amazing that he kept swimming so
long. Only man in perfect condition
could have done 1t. Those in the sboat
could not see Roth. The light shining
In their eyes made a brilliant, but OBJ
scuring trap In which objects were lost
Men on the barrier. working to get
Harrison up. halted moment and
pointed to the far side of big ice
cake. They rowed rapidly around and
could see Roth holding grimly to his
two cakes of Ice.
Take your time fellows" he said
cody. Don't run me down." The men
In the boat were much more excited
than this plucky Army airplane me-
chanic, who has become one of the best
liked men on the expedition because of
his thoughtfulness for others and will
lingness to help any one. They finally
reached him and hauled him aboard
He was so benumbed that he fell fiat
on his face in the boat and they had
to lift him and help him to sit while
they rowed back.
II wasn't cold all over until got out
OF the water" said Bonnie. But then
! couldn't move. And the first thing
I sew was Harrison hanging on that
rope and 1t struck me as funny for
some reason. But 1t wasn't funny for
Harrison"
Byrd Clings TO Rope.
Just as the boat reached Bennie the
commander also reached the stern of
the Boiling. Hanson had swum around
there to help his chief If possible. but
a rope had already been dropped over
the rail and Byrd was clinging to 1t
with all the strength his exhausted and
nerveleSs muscles could exert. There
was no feeling in his hands and 1t was
all he could do to hold on as he was
pulled up to the deck. He was helped
over the side and to his room where
his wet clothes were stripped from him.
Have they got Roth?" he asked.
eyes, he Is all right. Commander" he
was told. Thank God" he said. and
relaxed for the first time. In a moment
he lifted himself again.
"Are the others all right?" he asked.
and was treasured. but 1t was evident
that he was still fearful that some OF
his men were unaccounted for and
might be under the ice. Joe De Ganahl
had padded his way to q big chunk OF
ice and had managed to crawl out on
top of 1t. He took his shoes of for
some reason and sat there calmly with
his knees drawn up and his hands fold
ed around them, much as though he
had been sitting on the floor at home