Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-07

The first day, almost prec
lasted only three minutes. But
1t was wen worth leaving our
snug quarters to see the view
even though the temperature
was IS degrees below zero. Now
the sun remains above the hori-
ION 20 minutes longer each day
until it win shine "a hours q
day during the summer months.
We do not see the sun much
at any time because the weather
is generally overcast. But there
is an excitement about having
1t return. The sun begins the
end Of our underground con-
finement. We can afford the
luxury Of looking forward to
outside activities Of spring and
summer.
Seat on Radio Mast
Hugo Neuburg, glaciologist
from Yonkers. N. Y, had the
best seat for viewing the light
on the northern horizon as it
flashed an arc Of color that re-
fiected crimson and yellow on
the scattered clouds above.
One Of our 5O-foot radio an
tenna masts had been blown
down by strong winds some time
ago. Because of the dark and
cold we had not been able TO
repair it. Neuburg was perched
on top Of the pole fixing the
antenna when the sun made its
first brief appearance.
Neuburg had already built up
Q good resistance to the cold.
His chief project during three
Of the dark winter months had
been to dig a 100-foot-deep pit
In the ice barrier for glaciology
studies. DR.. E. c. Thiel and
j. c. Behrendt, our two seis-
mologists. helped in complet-
ing this pit, which is 10 feet
square at the surface and tapers
down to 6 square feet at it goes
into the ice barrier.
All the snow was chopped
and dug out by hand shovel
The snow brought up from
the bottom is in layers and
each years accumulation Il
separated from the previous
years by a layer Of ice. caused
by melting and refreezing In
the summer. Neuburg deter
mined that 100 feet below the
surface the snow is between
so and 70 years old. Fifty feet
below the surface, Is degrees
below zero seems to be the
constant annual temperature.
Dig Out Aircraft
As the sun gives light to our
base, our outside work has
become more and more stren-
uous. First we must dig Out
our outside equipment. Fol
the last two weeks the IL men,
bers Of an air development
squadron, under the leadership
Of the Ellsworth Stations
executive officer, 1t. Comdr
Charles j. Mccarthy Of New
Richman, Wis, have been dig
ging out the two Otter aircraft
from under 30-foot snowdrifts
The temperature has been II
the minus SOS, and as so Otter
happens in this area, a 35-mile-
an-hour wind ohliterated two
days progress By filling the
cleared areas with newly blowr
snow.
A 12-foot Weddell seal. frs
Of the season. has been sighted
on the ice foes at the barriers
edge one and a half miles from
camp.
As the light returns and the
outdoor program gathers speed
the numerous indoor hobby
projects pursued during thu
dark winter months will b'
discontinued. We have haC
model airplanes and race carr
in action; there has been con-
siderable interest in organized
matches in billiards, shuttle.
board and ping pong. Since
the snow shoveling began
weight lifting has been com
pletely abandoned. but oul
nightly movies will continue, al
they are always well attended
Snow shoveling builds healthy
appetites. We are eating about
one and q half times our nor
NAL amount Of food. mostly
proteins, and about four time
the normal consumption Of cot.
fee. Many Of the men havl
gained height: one ained a