Evening star., 1933-11-13
ANTARCTIC VOYAGE
STRUGGLE IN GALE
Wyatt carp Safe in New zea'
land Port With Only 1000
Miles to Go.
BY LINCOLN ELLSWORTH.
- y, IL. - rr--m G3o-

DUNEDIN, new Zealano, november
i3.-There are thrilling moments In life,
but few more significant than when I
watched out of the gray mist of an
early South Pacific morning the arrival
OF the little ship which is to bear me
and Is companions to the great Ant
artic ice barrier, where I and my pilot
will attempt what Sir Ernest Shackle-
ton has called "the last great adventure
in the history of South Polar explor-
alton"
Showing no signs OF the merciless
beating she had received at the hands
Of tropical gales when for two weeks
without a break before reaching Cape
Town she faced the strongest and long
est spell af south trades" Capt. Baard
Holth had ever experienced in his so
and more crossings Of the Equator, the
Wyatt carp anchored safely in the har-
Dor of Dunedin.
Eighteen thousand miles she has COW
cred, with 1000 miles still ahead. Out
of the far north, down across the Equa-
tor and into the ice again, halfway
around the world-a long trek indeed
for a flight Of 90 hours. Three thou
sani miles over that which no human
eve has ever looked down upon before
with no bases beneath us. Bernt Bal
chen and / will make our flight across
Antarctica and return.
Compensation for M0notony.
Touched with mystery and the ro-
nance of the unknown, perhaps tne
vista of what lies ahead may compen-
safe not little for the monotony OF
the Wyatt Earp's long sea voyage.
The port of Dunedin has seen the
arrival and departure of many Antarctic
expeditions, including those of Amund-
sen, Scott, Shackleton and MaWson.
No wonder that the arrival of my snip
should be of interest to New Zealanders.
Then, too, the country. less than lOO
years old in colonization, is still IN
the pioneer period and people are IN
terested in pioneer things.
I know how glad those aboard the
WYATT Earp we're to reach port, put
no more than to see my ship come
In after wait here of three months.
The wait is the hardest thing In the
world. Under the incentive OF action,
time is never long. That Is why
feel the wives and families leIt pc
hind those of us who go exploring;
have never received the due snare ol
credit they deserve for the patience
and fortitude they must show under a
strain of waiting that is enough TO Try
the soul of the hardest explorer.
Ship to Be Overhauled.
The ship will remain in port 25 70
30 days for overhauling and 10 take
on fuel, provisions, etc. My little CABIN
amidships, opening into the olnlng sa-
loon, is anything but luxurious @
shelf beside my bunk stanos IaLse
photograph Of Wyatt carp, IN PlssA an
frame. The photograph shows TINS man
was still alert and compelling at the
age of 80, his piercing gray eyes rem
iniscent of that strange mastery nc
welded over men of the wild frontler
IN make Dodge City and TOMBSTONE
ut places to live In. ,,.,,ra
rinon the wall beside the picture
hangs an OK shoe found IN Deatn
valley. rescued from the shitting,
urind-driven desert sands, q memento
Of the pioneer days Of 20, from some
caravan en- route to the gold neloS Oh
California. Upon the wall nanss s.sU ss,
large silk American flag, which my
r;ace Glare Prentice, made Tor my
Nig1t ON the. opposite wall Is the
emblem of the National Geographic So
rietv which have the honor 70 carry
ocross Antarctica. A buffalo rope, my
trn,,by t.,O If the last Wild buffalo hunt In
the United States, lies on the noor,
reminiscent of the years spent as
civil engineer on railroad constructlon
across the Western plains.
have received two interesting re-
nuests during my stay in New leelano.
one asks my assistance IN getting Two
nairs of sea lions for the Auckiano
Geological Park, from the MacquarIie
islands. These sluggish creatures
mostly fat, am informed, can pc cap.
deck of The ship, requiring neither fooo
nor water during the several weeks III
transit to Auckland.
Party to Be Transported.
THE other request Is to transport q
x,,,+v oF three men and seven dogs with
+wantv-five f,undredweight Of stores 10
Campbell Island, 500 miles south Oh
New zealand, and pick them up on my
return from Anarctica, plus nuIy 1oo
mound bales Of wool. The island Is un-
inhabited and for sale, and on IL are
5000 sheep these % men aesre I,,,sS 70 foT nd-
venture as for gain"-for u may DC
business failure.
con board we would be prepared 10
hunk anywhere, Just somewhere 10
sleep and partially sheltered, to tie up
the dogs" the letter adds.
It is easier to imagine pleasanter
location for a period of sheep-shearing
than lonely Campbell Island. at wnlcn
there is no regular call by ship. Al
though sheep have been on the island
since 1908, this rugged area OF vol
canic origin, about 40 miles in circum-
ference, is covered only with tussock
grass and low-lying plants. The most
striking feature of the climate is the
small variation in temperature through
out the year. The mean temperature is
almost constant at about A degrees.
Sunshine does not prevail for many
hours Of the year. The atmosphere is
nearly at saturation point. Rainfalls
average three days out Of every four.