THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1955,
CHINA FOUR MEN IN AN ANTARCTIC
VENDITADA 19$119
HONGKONG
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MUSICAL
LISTEN to George Fryer Play Fabors vi Paris (2 vola), Italy. Vienna,
Childhood. Jiullywood, Broadway, and Latin America, Avail able from The Sele Distributors. D. Fes, 4A, Des Voeux Road, room 1, 2nd floor, telephone 30100.
WANTED KNOWN
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Dmp" Insect Repellant From
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Drama Of Modern Voyage Across Frozen Sea Ice UNHERALDED EXPLOIT
(By T. A. G. Hungerford of the Australian News and Information Bureau who accompanied the Expedition)
In the middle of May last year people all over Australia were in the middle of a Federal election campaign weighing the promises of rival political parties; wait- ing for the opening of the Petrov Royal Commission; talking about the likely Austra lian team for the Empire Games; in fact going about the normal business of living pretty much as in any other year.
At about the same time, four young men, two Australians, a New Zealander and a Scotsman, were close to death in a blizzard amongst the crumbling sea ice on the edge of the Antarctic continent, 4,000 miles south-west of Melbourne. Very few people even heard about it.
195
Heard and
at even
how sow
for the
The
the
caravan were
BLIZZARD
In the Antarctle spring of 1954, four men of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition led by Robert Dovers set out from the Australian Antarctic base at Mawson to travel 115 miles to the Scullin Monolith, a towering outcrop of rack west of the base. They travelled in two wensels (tracked vehicles for travel over ice and snow) with two plywood living caravans and three sledges in tow. Their voyage across the frozen sea fee is one of the outstanding journeys of modern Antarctic exploration.
来
Picture shows the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition relief ship, Danish ice breaker Kista Dan, anchored off the Scullin Monolith during her visit in the summer of 1954.-ANARE Photo by Philip Law.
and the temperature was electric hand lamps, patched it, on fices, the mathauling slecn June 14, the four men lived lifeboat on its davits,
BURNING COLD
Mawson
When
their once
These four young men, Robert, snow-streaked hillside, gave way nothing about it. The Antarctic Daylight brought a moderation Dovers, Bruce Stinear. BI to the all encompassing, while was really turning it on.
in the force of the wind and a Storer
Jovci and Bill Harvey, were ness of the
sea-ice, to
chance to assess the damage. A The survival caravan had a trial of scattered gear all across the members of
Australian the sky and the chilled silence,
hull, and National Antarctic Resenres The surface was good, and large hole in the
the bay testified to the fury of not flout un- Expedition, which in February nowhere was the sea-ice less certainly would 1054 established
first per- then two feet thick-safe travel less repaired. As soon as it was the tempest. One weasel, minus station mament scientifle
hoavily laden on a solid foe, Bill Harvey, the its doors, was poised on a flow in
and
the middle of the bay; the other Mawson, ou the Autaretle malu-vehicles.
carpenter from Scotland,
was the radio-operator upe
completely submerged, held lund. Its other two bases, on The next day, the Antarctie B Storer,
on the
of an ice- from
crawled Sydney,
upended out Macquarie Islands, began to show its hand.
their chance of survival.
sheer rock face by their moor geological and survey work, the were founded in late 1947 and wind increased to 40 knots, the against the screaming wind and foe by the tip of one track. The bound them, in a way, to were left hanging against the large part of the results of their weasel sledges and
From that day, May 22, until ing ropes, as Dovers said, like a magnetle and tidal observations somehow, half frozen and work-o was obscured by drifting carly 1948 respectively, and allsky
which they had socond
been at such ing In the pale the Antaretle know
glow of the shattered
amongst the wreckage of their egrees below freezing
On June 13, they decided to pains to accumulate. accumulated there went into the 22 degrees
battered, but afloat. So much
equipment until they would be rum, for home. Favourable Between these bars outcrops
for all the thought and pre-
However, some geological notes building of the latest bare
to essay the return to weather developed during the and specimens were saved, and able The meteorological
cul functions of rock and the next land, the
paration which had gone into the
day, but slowly, so that it was of these bases
expedition. can prove of Scullin Monolith, lay 85 miles of
One of sco-lee,
them dropped the a formidable barrier, At
actual not until 2 o'clock in the after the results of astronomical fixcu incalculable value to Australia,
land declinometer readings watery sky, a bui is only part of their purpose, this point
nells which they were re- copper
INTO ICY WATER survival was reasonably assured, noon that tho surviving weasel and fnection which includes
methodically about crept out across the trencherous calculated in the field were they went water of open
meant that when programmes
using, which OD
proserved in diaries, Unable to reach land because the business which had brought sea-ice; with its four occupants all, they gained invaluable ex-
train of camvan, twe indication
burning cold,
geological and its
ice cosmic ray, geology, biology
ot a bolt of water and shattered them they had
man-perience in mapping, the weasel sledges and the to retrieve each nell Dovers, water were seen. geophysics,
the
the party salvaged what surveys.
astronomical Axes and all the hauling sledge, buffeted by proved to their own satisfaction,
and to the party, seriously to plunge their hands into about ice,
satisfaction of the They serve also to show the leader of the
gusts of wind and lit water and gear they could and reinforex 43 back. considered
He a foot of freezing
which such pioneer savage means by
Australinas turning
National Antarctic carnest intentions of Australiane
the patch on the bull of the expeditions gather mowledge for palely by a freezing moon, conclusive
Research evidence studgo co which washed over to explore and develop to the found no
Expedition, which survival caravan Storer, trying the enlightenment of those who their of open water, so continued,
the Boo. He extent of their resourCOS
And for all their magnificent (designed it, that equipment to recover the floating sledge might come after. ot unknown is
ปี the son
member of
effort, the trip was in a way, a which could survive such testa and largely vast
had The wind rocked their caravan fell into the ley water and Antarctic territories.
Mawson's 1911 expedition-the
their fallure. Not only did the nuust be good. Antarctic is in his blood, and on its tiny floe, bombarding it to be rescued.
With that under their belte, PETROL AND SAFETY with it perhaps, the conviction savagely with flying chunks of made contact with Mawson and salvage operations. They literally Antarctic claim a weasel and a that you never get anywhere by ce, grinding and bumping its revealed their plight Mawson hacked the manhauling sledge caravan, precious equipment, but
They on the very night of their re- they, or someone else to whom thin plywood skin against could do nothing to help them, from a foot of living ice.
the surviving they will pass on their know- turning back too soon. dow
the moving flows outside, filing but it seemed some consolation, survived a subsidence of the turn to Mawson
caught fire and was ledge, will go back to the Scullin their thoughts and keeping them at least, that someone else knew non-tidal ice on which they had weasel
about it. The
and destroyed. With it they lost a Monolith, and beyond it. tenuous radio perched awake.
PRINTING of every description in- Booklet, Reports, Balance cluding Blueets, Articles ut Asociations Prompt
Service Apply "S C. M. Post.
STAMPS
SOMETHING EXCLUSIVE, Collec- tors packets of amortod stamps. From 20 cents per pachet upwards. An entirely
scrits. South China Morning Post Ltd., Wyndham Street. Hongkong and Salisbury Road, Kowloon.
new
STAMP ALBUMS - "Collection Bulider" series. New stock avaliable. 9. From South China Morning Post Ltd.. Wyndham Street, Hongkong
Salisbury Itoad, Kowloon.
and
veroarch on radiology, seismology.hanging clouds, and frost don't the air geared their ex-
and
For that reason the four young from Mawson on men set out May 17, their intention being to explore along the coast East of Mawson "as far as petrol and
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES safety permitted."
"ANCHISEN"
Damaged cargo ex this vestel will be surveyed by Messrs. Paulaen & Hayes-Davy at Hults Whart from
10 m. on October 4 and 1. 1958, and consignees are requested to have their representatives present during
the survey.
BUTTERFIELD & SWINE, Agents.
Hong Kong. October 4, 1900.
To ADVERTISERS
|
of
MASS OF ROCK On the fourth day, the party reached the Scullin Monolith. great black mass of rock 1,000 The equipment would have feet in height rising sheer from ongendered envy, almost disbelief, the son at the edge of les polur expeditions of a genera-glistening poler icecap. than
There
A: were two ада
Dovers'
party weasels, tracked veueles which, entered the bay, gale force winds
the developed by
Americans assailed them. They had already during the last war and fitted by last the bridging equipment, ANARE with cabins for the com-blown from Its lashings some fort and safety of the occupants, miles back and
left with the have proved
of great value in hope unfulfilled-of later re
which
FOOD
11.9
posed akin with
Later
MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN
I DARE NOT LEAVE IT HERE.
THEY CALL BOSS,
on
મ.
there
the
the
continued And they
their
the
BUT WHO HAS IT THE ONE
OH, NO, YOU DON'T!
THEY FORCED ME TO HELP THEM STEAL ALL THATƒ Hmm=-10
I THINK
LEAVE WITHOUT
of the nexi
snow and ice travel. They towed covering it. two borge caravans, tank-like, On the morning wheel-less transports of ply-day the stage was really set. woad, also developed by ANARE, Tempestuous winds howied from
caл be used either s
as every quarter, the barometer sleeping and living quarters or was falling and a heavy swell for the
On ground the bay ice into a jagged the stowage of equipment. On
With the this occasion, one was used as chaos. At 9.30,
first and one was fitted light, Dovers cargo carrier
discovered
that cracks had out as a survival unit with five sight
appeared in
а
SUNDAY POST-HERALD Space for commercial months' sledge rations, fuel and the ice about the weasels, and be other necessities, Two weasel that the whole surface moved
advertising should
booked not later than sicdges and a man-hauling sledge and creaked uneasily over
noon on Wednesdays.
For the 8OUTH CHINA MORNING POST and the CHINA MAIL, 48 hours before date of publication, Special Announcemente and Classified Advertise- ments as urus).
Hong Kong Birds
Herklots, G. A. C. 1953. Hong Kong Birds, Pp. vil-4-233, 11 pis., 8 in colour, numerous black- and-white drawings in text. Hong Kong: South. China Morning Post, Ltd., HK$35.00.
BETTER NOT
MY DISPLACER GADGET--
A
FERDINAND
completed the train.
perceptible swell At the time. Knowledge gleaned from poiar the party was having breakfast ventures by many nationalities, a meal which they were des- coupled with
tined not to finish, and which the application of recent developments in fabrics almost proved to be their last. and tools and instruments, fitted Both weasels were started im this expedition as fully as an ex-mediately, without time even to pedition could be Atted to a very far, they were scrambling refuel. Before they had gone come any emergency. of nylon fabric lined with down, desperately from flow to tilting wind and water and cold proof floe, somehow dragging their to an amazing degree, relegated curavans and slodges with them to museums the traditional thick across widening cracks. and heavy furs of snow travel.
Clothing
In the caravans were cylinders of SURVIVAL CARAVAN cooking gas, lengths of finest By the skin of their teeth, nyloctible,
rope, light and virtually they crawled into a narrow cleft electric hand-half-way along the eastern shore lamps, radio and scientine equip of the bay. Unable to land the ment, sponge rubber sleeping weasels through a stretch mats, an oxygen mask and water and shattered ice, they cylinder; wonderfully
the Survival down-lined sleeping bags, with concentrated on
caravan which with its stock
nylon Inner sheets, which fold of food and fuel, was their chief
baga, armour Incredible
whatever lay against varieties of food
fuel ahead of them,
into
small
and
a most welcome scientifically designed to sustain Their only snatch block lost, handbook for omitholo- and function in the lowest tem-
they were forced, when they gists resident or station-peratures. Apparatus for bridge had established on anchorage ed in Hong Kong. All ing gaps in the lee was carried, ashore, to tow through a rope the hitherto recorded and nothing which could be loop instead,
using The power species are included; thought of and provided was of the weasel. The towing rope plumages are clearly and withhald.
parted, and they were obliged to leave the wespels on
concisely described, and
of field characters,
the
a short account is given MALICE & FEROCITY bucking floes on which they But the Antarctic cannot be stood, and expend all their volco, habits, status, etc. The illustrations measured and assessed and tied energies on getting the caravan up in a parcel. No matter how to land..
except for three plates much thought and preparation is of photographs, are
by Cdr, A. M.
ail
devoted to
its subjection, there clinging by some miracle of luck are hidden in its white fastnesses or desperation to the ico hun- reserves of malico and ferocity mocks of a narrow
With a chain block on shore.
and include four attrao
tive plates of the heads
It of 42 species and many which it calls at will to not-tidal ice,, they winched
resist; incalculable powers which inch by inch towards them. The
Intrusion wind beat them fint, sho useful drawings in the savagely frustrate
showering text. The writer of this of man upon its sovereignty. It them with drozen
spray and review
would
woll-jagged
shrupno. bursts of Ice, fra have war against them that the- bencflied greatly from equipped Eastern Coastal journey Out in the bay, the heavy bridg this books when station came to grief, and it was from ing timbers floated around, like ed In Hong Kong some tham that the four members of feathers. The second barge
jara ara.
Even now, the expedition had so narrow an caravan was turned completely
and righted on referring to it, some escape..
Again by 40 unfamiliar species. The weather when they left successivo quets of wind, and the
Mawson at
weighed noon was just wenset slodges, cach
over
on which noter we weather-asither good nor bad down with a ton and a half of made at the time have with Ught changeable winds and petrol, were moved and liko almost all proved easily. Identifiable.-D. W wassal towing its
in overcast sky. With each dominoes,
train, the
At ce atago, the galo picked praun or the Beitian Penithonghats bound, harbour, soon dropped out ad un alt at Bruce gunent, (Extract from the big offolat omillar campate one lor-up the heavily faden manhauling and hurled itbodily Union," MrlUsh museum).
of- eight behind theor alepo pri black/rook and the narrowly missing him. The les fanciful of hater and^aturehouses; five. mupporting one of the' Uhe food it fuel dumper and the wearer lowly heeled over and lines of obeined; hustler on the|bugan to rink, but they could do
S. C. M. POST:/
KOWLOON
HỒNG HỒNG.
Cha
KUK
NANCY
MY DOG IS NOT STUPID
I'LL BET HE CAN'T
EVEN CHASE A
STICK
I'LL
BET HE CAN
JOHNNY HAZARD
THE OPERA TOSCA. NEARS.ITS. CLIMAXE AT A SIGNAL THE
FIRING SQUAD AMB ATM MARIO
IF HE'
CHASES
caravan,
By Lee Falk and Phil Davis
LET ME GO, MUSHI YOU'VE NO RIGHT.
TO KEEP ME HERE!!
LISTEN,FAT STUFF! THE COPS ARE
LOOKIN FOR US. WE'RE HOT? YOU'RE NOT MOVIN
FROM HERE!
And above
traved, and
By Mik
miki
B.
EVEN
MAGICIANS
Can't Carlsberg
BBRAC
I'LL BUY
YOU. A SOPA
OKAY ---
GIVE
ME THE STICK
By Ernie Bushmiller
THIS
STICK
|BUT ONE RIFLE AMS JIST OVER-THE
UNLIT BULB ON JOHNNY'S BOX
THERE IS A VOLLEY OF BLANK) CARTRIDGE FIRE, AND
FROZEN FRESH IN THE COUNTRY!
TRY
Libby's
FROZEN FOODS TODAY!
**ERNIL BUSHMILLIONĖS
BLACK MAGIC
ASSORTED
CHOCOLATES
By Frank Robbins
situation.
m
Miguel