The 37-ton snow cruiser of the Byrd Antartic Expedition, which has amazed crowds, tied up traffic, broken down and been repaired several times since it left Chicago 18 days ago, reached its destination--Boston--at last today.
The big, streamlined, exploring device, looking very much like a magnified oil-truck with over-sized wheels, ended its odyssey beside the expedition steamer North Star at the South Boston Army Base at 8 a. m.
Thousand View Cruiser
Parked on the pier from which it will be loaded on the North Star about 8:30 or 9 a. m. tomorrow, the 55-foot cruiser immediately became the object of interest to thousands of visitors who flocked to the pier, sought to scribble their names on its flaming red sides, but found 60 husky dogs which were tied up nearly even more interesting than the Antartic cruiser.
By noon, it was estimated conservatively that more than 10,000 persons, including many women, had braved chill winds blowing in from the bay to enter the Army Pier and stare at the huge vehicle which has lumbered its way across Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts since Oct. 26, forcing normal traffic to detour to let it pass.
Throngs Kept Moving
First visitors were kept behind a rope about 100 feet from the cruiser, while soldiers and customs officers kept them moving. As the throng slowly passing through the pier increased in size to close to 3,000, officials let down the barriers and the spectators pushed up to the 12-foot-high tractor.
Many expressed disappointment that the cruiser was not funnier--and bigger. From published descriptions of its slow speed--often not more than five miles an hour--and its huge size-- barely able to get through highway bridges, many had expected to find some kind of a prehistoric monster refashioned in steel by natural scientists.
Instead, they found a large but plainly designed truck similar to many they had seen delivering gasoline for the large refineries. The only peculiar feature of the exterior, many commented, was the wheels--10-feet high and covered with smooth rubber tires.
Autograph Album
Even the painting job was plain--bright red, except for three horizontal bands of black, white and yellow. The plainness had been given variety, however, by hundreds of sight-seers who had scribbled their names on its sides. Spectators had difficulty to find room to add their names to the vehicular autograph album.
As Dr. Thomas C. Poulter, Scientific Director of the Armour Institute of Technology Research Foundation, took the two-ton spare tire rack off the rear of the vehicle and had it stowed--in parts--in the aft hold of the North Star, preparatory to rolling the remaining 35 tons onto the forward deck at high tide tomorrow, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, who commands the expedition, announced the ship would sail as soon as the cruiser is aboard.
To roll the cruiser aboard, it is necessary that the deck of the North Star and the floor of the pier be on a level, and it is expected the tide will bring the vessel to this point about 8:30 or 9 a. m. tomorrow. The huge tractor then will be wheeled about and set in a fore-and-aft position on the foredeck. Officials explained that the cruiser turns in a very short space, despite its huge length, because its wheels are set very close together.
Sailing Tomorrow
Unless unforeseen difficulties arise, the North Star will move from the Army Base pier into Boston Harbor about noon tomorrow, it was announced. She will spend two or three hours in the harbor "swinging ship" to check her compass against possible errors owing to the large amount of metal aboard. Before sundown, she will be headed south.
Admiral Byrd will not leave on the North Star, he said, but will join the vessel either at Philadelphia or Panama. Presumably, he would have to fly to overtake the North Star at the latter point.
The expedition's second ship, the Bear of Oakland, now at the Boston Navy Yard, will depart in another week or two, when additional supplies have been received.
The show at the Army Base today was virtually stolen by the husky dogs and puppies tied up at four-foot intervals on a huge chain. They arrived yesterday from Wonalancet, N. H., in Army trucks. Twenty of the dogs are making their second trip to Little America.
"Open house" at the Army Pier served to compensate many Bostonians who had motored out the Worcester Turnpike yesterday in a vain effort to see the cruiser as it plodded eastward. The traffic jam that resulted was exceeded only by that caused by the great tractor itself.
At 6:30 last night, the cruiser halted at the Framingham State Police Barracks for the night, but at 4 a. m. today it was on its way again, making good time in the early hours. Its only mishap, according to the crew, was knocking over a lightpole as it crawled through Wellsley at dawn.
From Wellesley, the cruiser proceeded through Hyde Park on the Cummings Highway, then followed the South Boston Strandway to Somerset Street, and crossed the Somerset Street Bridge onto the pier.
Army officials said they planned to close the Base to visitors at 5 p. m. today.
The cruiser left Chicago on Oct. 26 and the following day lost a hub cap in a collision with a truck. On Oct. 28 the vehicle crashed into a bridge abutment and plunged into a shallow Ohio creek. Almost any schoolboy could have leaped the five-foot ditch, which held it captive until Nov. 1.
Then it proceeded only 12 miles before a broken oil line again called a halt. At Mansfield, Ohio, various pieces of machinery were replaced and numerous adjustments made.
A broken oil line stopped the snow cruiser at Painesville, Ohio, on Nov. 3. Two days later new motors were installed at Erie, Pa., as part of a general overhauling.
In the hilly country around Cazenovia, N. Y., on Nov. 10, the cruiser was towed by highway trucks because the motors were overheating. Experts explained it was designed to operate in a much cooler climate.
At one point, when the electric motors were used as brakes, induction coils became red hot and ignited cork insulation. Through it all, Dr. Poulter appeared undisturbed. The vehicle was so new, he explained today, that it had not had any test runs. "We were breaking it in, and making adjustments as we went along," he said. "It is in pretty good shape now."
By a Staff Photographer
Huge Machine Awaits Go Sign to South Pole Specially designed tractor of Byrd Antarctic Expedition on Boston pier beside steamer North Star, which is due to sail tomorrow
It took a month's detailed planning by the Commonwealth's finest traffic experts to prepare for the 36-hour journey across Massachusetts of the United States Antarctic Expedition's snow cruiser, the biggest thing that ever rolled over local highways.
But now that it is all over and Dr. Thomas C. Poulter's snow ark is being safely loaded aboard one of Admiral Byrd's ships today for the antarctic, Massachusetts feels it has done a good job, Edgar F. Copell, traffic engineer in the State Department of Public works, said today in an interview.
Not only did every foot of road over which the snow cruiser passed have to be measured, but every bridge, underpass and curve. Furthermore, permits to allow its passage had to be obtained from 29 cities and towns.
On top of all that, related Mr. Copell, when the snow cruiser crossed the New York state line it was beseiged on its 160-mile Massachusetts journey by "100,000 camera fans, bicyclists and hitch-hikers--young and old--who sought to climb aboard for a ride."
But the snow cruiser, which passed last night at Framingham after the traffic jam reached incredible proportions on the Worcester turnpike, crossed Massachusetts, Mr. Copell recalled with some satisfaction, under the best highway conditions it experienced in any state in its journey from Chicago.
