The 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-
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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 - . .;
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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