Evening star., 1939-11-13
Snow Cruiser Gets In;
Byrd Expedition Ship
To Start Tomorrow
Bio Vehicle Will Have to
Be Cut to Get II Aboard;
One Mishop on Lost Leg
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, Nov. 13.- Admiral
Richard E. Byrd decided today to
start the United States Antarctic
Expeditions ship, North Star, on the
first leg of her voyage at noon
tomorrow, shortly after the expedi-
tion's gigantic snow cruiser rolled
into Boston after its mishap-inter-
rupted cross country trek from
Chicago.
An attempt to place the cruiser
aboard the vessel will be made early
tomorrow when the tide brings the
deck of the North Star level with
the Army base dock, where the huge
vehicle now rests.
In the meantime, workers under
DR.. Thomas Poulter, designer, chauf-
feur and scientist, will cut approx
imately 10 feet of the rear end Of
the snow cruiser to permit its storage
aboard the ship.
The operation would slice into
the compartment where the vehicles
huge tires are stored, but the section
would be welded on when the craft
reaches the Antarctic.
Admiral Byrd said he would join
the ship at either Philadelphia or
Panama, depending upon how
much time would be required for
several remaining tasks in connec-
tion with the expedition.
To Check Compass.
Unless unforeseen difficulties arise
between now and tomorrow, the
ship will put out into Boston har-
Dor at about noon. Two or three
hours will be spent swinging ship
to check against compass errors A
large quantity Of metal aboard has
made this necessary.
There had been speculation that
the giant snow cruiser might not
arrive in Boston in time to make
the trip south. because OF the nu-
merous troubles that beset It,
Only one minor accident marred
the final 20 miles of its mishap-in-
terrupted trip from Chicago. The
great vehicle knocked of the glass
globe atop a highway arclight In
suburban Wellesley. but none Of the
3O-odd early morning spectators
nearby was hurt by the shower Of
glass.
Moving cautiously along main
traffic arteries and parkways, the
cruiser threaded the slowly swelling
early Monday morning traffic Of
metropolitan Boston, completing the
final miles just in time to avoid
snarling up the peak of the CITY,
bound rush, after an overnight rest
in suburban Framingham.
Jam 20 Miles Long.
The cruiser caused a traffic jam
involving an estimated 10000 auto
mobiles on its l32-mile run yester-
day from Pittsfield to Framingham,
where it was berthed for the night
in a field alongside the State police
barracks.
The tie-up, with scarcely moving
| automobiles extending some Is to
20 miles behind the cumbersome We
hicle. was described by State Police
lit George O. Thompson as the
worst he had ever seen.
Expected difficulties in negotiat-
ing the steep and winding Jacobs s
Ladder in the Berkshire Hills failed
to materialize. The cruisers crew
said the grade there was not as
steep as some others they had en-
countered. but that the curves kept
them busy.
A low underpass in Palmer, caus-
ing some CONSERVATION among on
lockers. who feared a collision. was
negotiated successfully by the ex-
pedient Of lowering a forward Sec
ton of the cruiser.
Travelling at an average speed OF
10 miles an hour, though on some
occasions hitting it up" to 18 or 20
the brightly colored vehicle inspired
wonderment among the crowds, who
increased in number as the day wore
on. Many reached out to touch it,