Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 28, 1960, Image 28

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., April 28, 1960, Image 28

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1960)

Prev Page of 38 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (2.8 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 38 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextThe Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea Venture' iipedo-ooro Leaves I -w .-. . , ... ....-...... am am ma uIiaL X i Accomplishments Of Research Are Noted by Party (Editor's notti This it another installment In Herb Grey'a description of his trip to Antarctica with the USS Glacier earlier this year. Today's installment conctrna whiiaouts. accomplishmants of tha axpadition befora tha rasaarch was interrupted for a rescue mission, and an Incident with polar region residents.) BY HERB GREY Mail Tribune Advertising Manager On the evening of Wednesday, February 24, the Navy NSF Operation Deep Freeze 60 expedition was again stop ped by heavy ice. Bad weather and whlteouts kept helicop ters on the decks and leads through the pack Ice could not be explored. Whiteouts come frequently In this part of the world. They are caused by an atmospheric condition that occurs only in polar regions when snow and sky seem to blend and the horizon vanishes. Oldtimers described the sensation as "like being submerged in a bottle of milk." It's a good one. Helicopters and planes cannot safely fly in whiteout con ditions; wise Antarcticans never try to travel when they exist. They are frightening on the ground, much worse in the air. It is fortunate that, like many tropical storms, white outs can usually be seen approaching and seldom do they last long. ' Much had been accomplished during the previous three days. The dangerous "Porter's Pinnacles" had been examined for geological structure and carefully charted, radar photos had made a profile of the shoreline 120 miles from the deepest point of penetration, oceanographic stations made and small boats and heliocpters had transported scientists to prominent geologic and biologic points. The day before, Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy had sighted a macaroni penguin, with distinguishing orange plumes on its head, which had apparently drifted south on an icefloe. It was the southern most point on record where this species had been found. The Glacier's new "Ham Shack" located below the ship's bridge is popular with officers and crew. Harry Bau blitz and Robert Henry, ama teur radio operators, work late into the night to arrange 'phone patch contacts with mothers, wives and sweet hearts and send Ham - Gram messages. Until time for taps, the ship's public address system announces when various areas of the United States are con tacted. It was the evening of Feb. 24, when the fog's icy fingers gripped the two Task Force ships, the news came by wire less that the Argentine- ice breaker General San Martin was caught in the icepack 67 degrees 28 minutes South, 69 degrees 43 minutes West in Marguerite bay off Palmer peninsula just south of Ade laide Island. Heavy ice pressure was en dangering her hull while seven men in the station near by were running dangerously short of food. Two of them needed Immediate medical care. Unwritten Law Rear Admiral David M. Tyree answered the unwritten law of the Antarctic, and or dered the Glacier to set aside her scientific exploration- of the Amundsen sea coast and rush to the aid of the stricken vessel. The two icebreakers immediately moored for a con ference. Reluctantly, Commo d o r e McDonald passed on the word that the estimated half-million dollar scientific work in the Bellingshausen-Amundsen sea area must be interrupted. Three more weeks of high priority scientific work had been planned. This was not Capt. Mc- You don't have to be rich to enjoy V' N-Vna 'J J II old , I lp A BARREL STRAIGHT IOUIION WHUKir Donald's first rescue mission in Antarctic waters. Only last year he led the Task Force to the aid of the British resupply ship John Briscoe in the same waters off the Palmer penin sula, when that vessel was be set in the ice while trying to replenish four United King dom bases.- -Scientific Trips Final and frantic last-minute scientific trips were made by expedition scientists while 200,000 gallons of diesel oil were pumped into the Glac ier's tanks from the smaller Burton Island. Capt. McDon ald headed a group which landed on Thurston Island by helicopter -where the Ameri can National Geographic So ciety and Explorers' club flags were raised. Our sea approach to the Eights coast will be followed up this year with an over-ice expedition. In preparation for geophysical traverse programs during the 1960-61 field pro gram, a grant of $566,085 has been made to the University of Wisconsin. It is anticipated that one traverse will depart Byrd Sta tion in November, I960, and proceed to the Bellingshausen sea coast. A second traverse will penetrate the high polar plateau in the area between McMurdo, the Russian Station Vostok, and the South Pole Station. Washington Based The Bremerton, Wash. based Burton Island, com manded by Comdr. Griffith C. Evans of Honolulu, was sched uled to follow the Glacier out of the ice pack, cruise around Peter I Island for four days for scientific and oceano graphic reconnaissance, then proceed home via Valpariso, Chile. From a scientific standpoint, RICH BOURBON Quaker OF QUALITY IN EVERY BOTTLE I MOO OLD OlMMI 0ISTIUIN3 CO., UWIENCEIUIO, IND. ERECT FLAGS Members of the Belling shausen sea expedition, Operation Deep Freeze 60, erect a flagpole for the American flag and the banner of the National Geogra phic Society near a temporary camp estab- ..,.v - . .; K4l PACK ICE The USS Glacier bull-dozes her way through a pack of pressure ice in the Bellingshausen sea during Operation Deep Freeze 60 in February and March this year. The powerful icebreaker, with 21, 000 horsepower, uses her weight to break the expedition had been high ly worth-while, Philip Smith, National Science Foundation representative told a quickly called ship-board symposium as departure neared. He voiced the general re gret that further exploration must be terminated much earl ier than expected because of the plight of the Argentine icebreaker. Briefly he listed these findings and accomplish ments: The Bellingshausen sea had been penetrated to the coast for the first time. Thurston Peninsula, dis covered 20 years ago, is be yond doubt an island rather $25 PINT Code 145C $420 V. QUART Cede MSB A "jWjgj -win - , i than a peninsula - part of an archipelago extending east along the Eights coast. Noville Peninsula mid way along Thurston Island may also be an island. Fletcher Islands, shown on the map at the eastern end of Thurston Island, could not be located. There Is an apparent scar city of mammal, bird and vertebrate sea life in this Bellingshausen-Amundsen sea area. In fact, according to Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy, this portion of Antarctica is virtually a biological desert. Only four species of birds were seen. Weather information gathered Indicates that this area lives up to its reputation as the birthplace of bad weather in the Southern Hem isphere. Rocks Gathered Rocks were gathered from many points and geologi cal data assembled for further careful study. Three astro nomical stations were estab lished to take sun and star sights for charting and map ping. Insects and lower plants such as algae, lichens, mosses and liverworts were gathered for scientific examination. The "Grasshopper" auto matic weather station was planted on land and Is success fully broadcasting tempera ture, barometric pressure and wind velocity. Several oceanogra p h 1 c stations were made to deter m i n e temperature, salinity and oxygen content of the water. The sea bottom was dragged so that cores and plankton samples might be taken for study. In this work, NSF repre fentative Phil Smith acknowl edged the important contribu tions made by the Task Force 43 officers, Comdr. Joseph Morgan, oceanogrppher; Lt. Jg. Chester Frankenfield, me teorologist; and Ensign Ber nard Koether, navigator. Lt. Donald Edwards, navigator of the Burton Island was also cited for his assistance. Turning toward open tea Aoorclbica tfoir Rescue i ler, here in this lonely part of , Delineation of coastlines withl tarctica will undoubtedly in- I' bon voyage" and "goo the world. their protruding ice shelves is elude recommendations of the 1 uric' from hi little tplvisin $rVI - ! blished by geologists examining a prominent rock outcrop on Cape Flying Fish, Antarc tica. Scientists from both the USS Glacier and USS Burton Island studied this unusual coastline. (Offical Navy Photo) the ice. The ship's unique keel-less, spoon shape bottom enables her to crush ice over 15 feet thick. A heeling system also pro vides an artificial roll when stopped by ice. (Official Navy Photo and her rescue mission, with the Burton Island close at her heels, the Glacier began the tedious task of crashing through pack ice up to eight feet thick. The first day, Feb. 26, only two miles were cov ered, each hard gained. Whiteouts and near zero visibility halted the two ships late in the afternoon and they were moored to a giant ice floe. Gangplanks were lower ed and the crews spilled out onto the fresh snow covering the ice. Social Event of Season It was a gala party, cele brating the successful con quest of the Bellingshausen sea. Almost all on board of both ships hadn't set foot on land since the Glacier left New Zealand, and the Burton Island sailed from Valparaiso, Chile. The "land" In this case was Ice and snow 10 feet thick floating on 300 fathoms of sea water. Although no engraved Invi tations had been sent out, this was definitely the social event of the season, or any other season in history for that mat Make Dollenback Your Choice in The Primary A Winning Candidate in November Paid by Delltnback (or State Representative Com mittat. S. V. McQueen, Chairman 2136 Hillcratt Rd. The time was 1900 to 2200 (7 to 10 p.m.); the place: 71 degrees 47 minutes Smith, 100 degrees West. Informal, of course, with polar "gear" and parkas in order. A few fires glowed on the Ice and, with the mercury hovering near 33 degrees, the warmth was wel comed. There was but one casualty. During a hastily organized football game, with seals, sailors and penguins on the side-lines, a curious penguin, undoubtedly feeling the urge of audience participation, charged into the scrimmage with an off-tackle buck. The traditional "stone wall" de fense stopped him cold - quite cold. An autopsy held on the stern of the Glacier the next day showed broken ribs and internal injuries. A change in wind loosened the pack ice Feb. 27 and the two ice-breakers zig - zagged their way through the floe with helicopters ranging ahead to point the way. Low-Hanging Clouds Dark, low-hanging clouds on the horizon indicating wa ter sky, proved to be correct, and the two icebreakers emerged from the ice pack into open seas with seals and leopard seals lazily reclining on floating ice, whales play ing in the waters with a back drop of majestic icebergs. At night the Glacier's spotlights sent soft rainbow colors into the darkness when they light ed patches of floating brash ice. Winter must be near at hand, here in Antarctica. We were well within the Antarctic Cir cle, yet the nights were pitch dark. In earlier days of Antarctic exploration, names were af fixed to "lands" and "coasts" at random. To add to the con fusion, explorers and cartog raphers of several nations and languages were naming peaks and plateaus, cliffs and capes. ice shelves and islands with out regard to the international usage of these names. Problems Are Presented The great size of the conti nent and marked similarity of many natural features present problems. Extraordinary has ards of travel and frequent poor visibility add to them, Fri., 28, Mede In Grant Pes of the finest full cartas beef and pork. FW- I with the very best natural spices. Guaranteed no after taste. State Department of Agric i inspected. PATRONIZE YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS ... GET THEM AT: BIG Y MARKET GROCETERIA OK MARKET OAKDALE BIG Y MATLACK'S CITY MARKET EASTSIDE BIG Y CENTRAL MARKET In Central Point THRIFT MARKET ECONOMY MKT. In Gold Hill LESTER'S MARKET Grants Pass Provision Co. their protruding ice shelves is another. Chronometer errors in early day exploration resulted in mistakes in reported longi tude, looming and mirages may have caused wide errors in latitude, accurate location from the air in more recent times is difficult in this white shrouded land. Within the last two decades order has come from chaos. Today other interested nations collaborate with the U. S. Board of Geographic Names, under the Department of In terior, in the nomenclature of Antarctica. The board's new gazetteer of Geographic Names of An Section B MEDFORDf MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1960 Higher Education Board Gives OK to 1960-61 Budget Portland-(UPH-Final approv al to a $33 million 1960-61 budget has been given by the State Board of Higher Educa tion. The budget calls for setting aside in contingency reserve about $500,000 be cause of a forecast of enroll ment reductions. Part of the estimate half- million dollars will come from elimination of 30 of the 70 new academic positions contained in the budget. Twenty of these are at Ore gon State and 10 are at Ore gon. Board members and the chancellor's office will discuss the eventual size of the re serve fund with state officials. The budget proposes an in crease in the average faculty salary to $8,403 in 1960-61. It is $8,085 this year. In other action Tuesday the Board Approved changing the name of Oregon State College to Oregon State University. Sat., Sun. 29, 30 Aran CAVEMAN WEEK tarctica will undoubtedly in clude recommendations of the U.S. Navy and the National Science Foundation dealing with the previously unexplor ed Bellingshausen sea we had Just left. One name, however, will probably not be included or even suggested. That is Huckleberry Hound Island. Comical Cartoon Personality Quite an honor for the comi cal little cartoon personality! It seems that the Glacier's storekeeper, Gerald Sweeney, and mess caterer. James Welch, wrote to Hollywood's Hanna - Barbera Productions before the ship left Boston. Huckleberry Hound respond ed (in person) with a letter wishing the Glacier's crew Pages 1 - 8 Tribune The 1961 Legislature have to OK it. Named Dr. William C. Jones, senior administrative dean at the University of Ore gon, as acting president effec tive June 20. The search con tinues for a permanent succes sor to Dr. O. Meredith Wil son who is leaving for Min nesota. Named Dr. Jackson T. Crane to replace retiring Dr. Warren Hunter as chairman of the pathology department at the medical school July 1 Classroom Plans Approved Approved final plans for a classroom building at Portland State, an addition to the Physics-Chemistry build ing at OSC and alloted money for the first addition to the University of Oregon science building, which will cost $2, 110,000 in all. It also accepted final plans for dormitory No 4 and authorised plans for dorm No. S at Oregon Gave favorable hearing Spnong Safl "bon voyage" and "good luck" from his little television colleagues, Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, Mr. Jinx, Pixie and Dix ie. An appropriate cartoon " accompanied the letter. Those who might wish to visit Huckleberry Hound Is land at some future date prob ably will not find it on an official map. It's likely they, could not reach it, too, with out a private icebreaker and then only during a highly favorable season. Just the same, as far as the Glacier's crew is concerned. Huckleberry Hound Island Is right there, just. 73 miles from Cape Flying Fish at 71 de grees 40 minutes South, 98 degrees 19 minutes West! 'Hams' Will Air Handicap Meeting Washington -fflPB- Two 'Ham' radio operators con fined to wheelchairs will broadcast an account of next week's meeting of the Pres ident's committee on employ ment of ,the physically handi capped. They are Miss Margaret Cauffield, a secretary for the Department of Health, Edu cation and Welfare, and Gor don Walter, an elecronics en gineer with the Navy depart ment's bureau of ships. President Eisenhower and other high government offi- ials are expected to address the sessions here May S and 'We are going to reach as far as we can, " Miss Cauf field said. "We particularly hope to make contacts in Cen tral and South America." A local electroncs firm will loan the equipment to set up a temporary 145-watt station In the Labor Department build ing downtown. Miss Cauffield, who began amateur radio activities in 1953, now operates a 120-watt station from her apartment in Washington. Walter has been 'Ham" buff since 1931. to an Oregon faculty resolu tion opposing the "repugnant" affidavit of disbelief required of students under the Nation-' al Defense Education Act. Mb. Pkg.