The Washington times., 1935-05-11
MARINES BAR
ALL VISITORS
To CRAFT
Explorer to Leave Here Today
After Receiving Scroll Of
Geographic Society

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States Marine Corps, Admiral
Byrd's ship, the Bear of Oakland,
was almost as remote from the
public today as though it were still
In South Polar regions.
reporters and cameramen,
armed to the teeth with written
permission from Admiral Byrd's
headquarters, the United States
Customs Commission and various
other powers that be, found them
selves unable to get past the top
Of the ships gangplank.
Visitors we're compelled to view
the sturdy ice-breaker from with.
out the heavy ropes that excluded
them.
Records Hauled Away
Trucks from the U. s. weather
Bureau we're engaged in cart1ng
away various mementos of Scien-
tific import and George Grim
minger, meteorologist of the ex-
pedition, was busy signing auto
graphs.
Other than this, the Bear Of
Oakland might be just another
schooner tied up at the Navy
Yard.
Today Admiral Byrd prepared to
nose the Bear of Oakland down
the Potomac for another reception
at Boston.
For the third time, the National
Geographic Society paid tribute to
his exploits by presenting him with
a scroll bearing an official citation
for his contributions to geography.
The scroll was presented to
Admiral Byrd by DR.. Gilbert
Grosvenor, president of the So
ciety, with a distinguished group
in attendance at ceremonies last
night in Constitution Hall.
Dignitaries Attend
Members of the Supreme Court,
the Cabinet, Senators and Repre-
sentatives, the Governor Of Ad-
miral Byrd's home State Of Vir-
ginia, the District Commissioners
and scientists from all over the
country loudly applauded when
the explorer rose to receive the
scroll from DR.. Grosvenor.
In 1926, Admiral Byrd received
from President Coolidge the Hub
bard Gold Medal for his North
Pole flight, and in 1880 President
Hoover presented him with the
society's special gold medal of
honor for his first expedition to
the Antarctic.
In presenting the scroll to the
explorer, Dr. Grosvenor said:
"Of all living explorers, Ad-
miral Byrd has seen most Of his
dreams come true"
DR.. Grosvenor welcomed him as
o pioneer in new methods of ex-
ploration and Admiral Byrd re-
piled, outlining some of the scien-
tific discoveries made in his 18-
month expedition.
Greeted by President
It was q mellowed, shy and
somewhat philosophic Byrd that
returned from two years in the
Antarctic. The four and one-half
months of solitude which he spent
in his snowbound hut in the heart
of Little America had left its mark
on him. There were lines in his
face which were not there before,
and his hair was noticeably grayer.
He was reticent about the four
months he spent alone. OF that
period, during which he almost
lost his life from gasoline fumes.
he said he read a great deal and
studied weather conditions. Soil
tude, he said, brought him to the
conclusion that "all the urgencies
of civilization take the mind off
realities"
Found Minerals
OF the scientific discoveries, he
confirmed that he took possession
of 25O,O00 square miles of land
near the South Pole for the
United States and named it Marie
Byrd land after his wife.
He said the discoveries included
the finding of new mountain
ranges 600 miles from the south
ern cap which contained coal,
copper and silver. He added, how
ever. that the minerals were too
hard to get to be of value COM
mercially.
He said he found traces of plant
and animal life virtually on the
South Pole and expressed the be-
lief that the South Pole once may
have had tropical climate. He
said:
1--WE found there were bugs in
the snow. The sea, too, Is teem-
ing with life-whales, penguins
and SEALS"
He said the lowest temperatures
encountered were 110 degrees be-
low zero.