The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-26
Wilmington Lad Tells OF Trip
With Admiral Byrd To Antarctic

have become as common as flies.
We sighted n iceberg that we
estimated weighed 80 million tons.
That is a lot of ice. One afternoon
while on watch we counted over
100 icebergs in sight at one time.
From Boston to Panama we
had nice sailing weather, but since
leaving Panama it hasn't been so
good. We average about 200 miles
every "a hours.
eve are Up so much that we
sleep every spare minute we get.
I've almost worn my mattress out.
It makes the time pass faster to
sleep,
Jan. Is.
I'VE arrived in the Bay of
Whales this morning and tied up
to the ice and started taking fuel
aboard from drums brought down
by the North Star. Everything was
going fine until the plane took off
for a trial flight and was forced
down on the ice about a mile from
the water. The pilot landed in the
snow on floats. Had to get the
ship underway and go get it. It
was 12:45 a. m. when we finished
and returned to our mooring.
Haven't stopped working since we
arrived. Had some seal steak al
ready and I like it very much.
1t is very dark red before it is
cooked.
1--WE shall be here at least two
weeks, then the North Star goes
to Valparaiso, Chile, to load sup
plies for East Base.
after we leave here we go to
East Base, which is at least 1000
miles-no one knows just how far
It is. We will stop about every 3
days and send the plane up to take
pictures. We shall also take sound
ings of the ocean depth all the
way over. We are in water so
deep now that we couldn't use the
anchor if we wanted to-310 fat
homs-1860 feet.
We'll, it won't be long now.
Each day brings us nearer home.
So far we have Travelled about TO-
0C0 miles in all types of weather.
From East Base, in Palmer
Land, to Cape Horn we were in
a terrible storm. For several days
we had a diet of sardines, kip
pered herring, crackers. cheese,
and coffee. Each meal was a
laugh. Coffee would spill on deck
and at least 4 people would slide
down and under the table. The
ship road pretty good, but it was
impossible to sleep a couple of
nights, due to the heavy rolling
Ct the ship.
Our largest roll was 48 degrees,
which is a roll on any ship especi-
ally one with as much superstruct-
ure as this one. The port rail
carried away from the beating the
sea gave it. The jib boom and
bow spirit were going under with
almost every wave. All of it will
have to be repaired when we reach
Vic SldtSS III Liz
I'VE stopped the engines and
sailed around the Horn on March
81. 1 was on watch, and when the
Horn was due north l really gave
the whistle a workout. The cap
tain entered it in u record. 1t
was the first navy ship to sail
around the Horn in many, many
years.
ARRIVED in Punta Arenas, Chile
in the Straits of Magellan March
so. At that time we had been at
sea 1870 days. The cook bought a
few fresh vegetables and potatoes.
Everyone ate lettuce and cabbage
like it was cake. 1t had been a
long time since we had anything
fresh.
1--WE really did fling a big n
in Punta Areans. Everyone that
could went ashore and caught up
on all the fun missed in 100 days.
It was a wornout crew when we
departed the 4th of April. The
Chilean sailors gave us a tea the
second day we were there. After
the tea we took them in takes
and had more wine.
while the North Star was I'M
loading at Little America, the Bear
steamed eastward along the ice
barrier. 1t was a tough grind and
long hours working with the plane,
but we managed to 60 further east
taan any ship had ever been. We
started back to Little America and
found that the ice had closed in
behind us when we went in. Had
to break through lots of heavy ice,
before returning to the Bay of
Whales and unloading supplies.
From there we went to Queen Vic
toria Land
1.-THE Admiral wanted to make
a flight over the South Magnetic
pole. After three or four days of
searching, we found a place which
was a little unlevel so everyone
started leveling it off with shovels.
We had leveled more than 100 feet
when the wind shifted, making it
impossible to take off.
"After leaving Queen Victoria,
we did not see the sun for more
than 6 days. Had binding snow
storms several days. Pushing
through ice in a snow storm is no
fun at all. Arriving at Palmer
Land we spent several days sell
Getting a site for the base. We
anchored in Horseshoe cove to