Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-11-27
Antarctic Explorer Gives
Lecture In Duluth ATnlOyy
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
Shows Motion Pictures OF Has
South Pole Expedition an
Connection With Talk.

With a setting that was a direct
contrast with that which was his al
most year ago, Rear Admiral Rlch-
ard f. Byrd lectured in the Duluth
Armory Saturday night. In the ST.
lence of the Antarctic wastes on Nov.
rs, 1929 with mountains and snow be-
meath him, with only the drone OF his
airplane motors and the shouting eX-
changes of conversation of his COM
panions in his ears, he dropped flag
on the south pole. Just few months
later, Saturday night, Nov. %, he was
to thrill an audience of nearly 1900
by his narrative of miraculous adven-
ture in the huge Armory. With mild
winds blowing outside, thoughts must
have come to Americas most intrepid
explorer as to this contrast.
The swish and roar of human
clothes and feet dwindling down to a
mere whisper at the time he took his
place before the transmitter that was
to convey his words to the audience
in all corners of the building made
an impressive scene. After being in
troduced amid applause, Admiral
Byrd Immediately set forth in his
straightforward and modest manner
to give the audience one of the most
interesting and educational two hours
that many have ever INDUCED in. Not
once during his entire appearance did
he refer to himself in a boastful man.
ner He told of the so men including
those on the supply ships and the Al
staying with him at Little America"
being like football team, intimating
that it took all to do the job. He told
of the North pole, which he also con-
quered, being located in the middle of
an ocean 10000 feet deep and the
South pole being in the middle Of d
high plateau, and injected a little
humor by adding that no foot of WON
an had ever trod either place, thus
making them the most quiet places on
earth.
Showed Notion Pictures.
His lecture was accompanied by
moving pictures which graphically
described the expedition to and from
the south pole, how at times in 10
degree-below-zero weather, wind Of
$50 miles an hour would sweep across
the snowy wastes, how the band of
men had to be on guard at all times
from breaking ice which would prob
ably send them to a bOttomless and
watery grave. Little America" the
tented home of the explorers during
the IA months of their stay in Ant
artica, rested on ice and snow several
hundred feet thick and this in turn
floated on an ocean of several hun
dred feet in depth.
The expedition demonstrated that
aviation had succeeded in doing what
surface craft had failed to do. The
expedition by the aid of modern in
ventions succeeded in mapping Out
many thousand square miles of un,
known land and gathering other sta
tistics which shall be of much value
to science. Admiral Byrd told of 81
degree sub-zero weather causing
kerosene lamp to go out, so degree!
to 50 degrees causing anti-freeZe solu
tions to freeze solid, and 65 to 20 de
grees causing human breath to freeze
In gripping style Admiral Byrd tolt
of and the pictures showed the set
ting of the sun at the beginning of tn,
long winter night The little band o
men formed a pathetic line when the!
stood watching on the wind-swep
snow while the sun went below
the horizon not to return for severa
months. Strict routine was kept dur
ing the long night to keep minds
and bodies in healthy condition
Night-watch shifts were conducted t
make observations and to jot dow
statistics as to the action of the winds
temperature, etc.
The hardship and danger which tn
men smilingly went through offer
little wonder that things were accom-
plished. When the ship. which car
ried them down, was anchored to TIL
ice barrier, provisions for the lon
job ahead Of them were hauled by do
team eigt miles to a substantis
base where Little America was I
be established. Men were forced t
wear skis as a precaution to avoidin