Before leaving the ice, Sandell and Bickerton had fixed an aerial between the fore and mizen masts, while the former installed a wireless receiving-apparatus within the narrow limits of his cabin. There was no space on the ship to set up the motor-engine, dynamos and other instruments necessary for transmitting messages over a long distance.
As the nights began to darken, Sandell listened eagerly for distant signals, until on February 16, in latitude 47 degrees S, the "calls" of three ships in the vicinity of the Great Australian Bight were recognized. After this date news was picked up every night, and all the items were posted on a morning bulletin pinned up in the ward-room.
The first real touch of civilization came unexpectedly early on the morning of February 21. A full-rigged ship on the southern horizon! It might have been an iceberg, the sails flashed so white in the morning sun. But onward it came with a strong south-wester, overhauled and passed us, signalling "'Archibald Russell', fifty-four days out from Buenos Ayres, bound for Cape Borda." It was too magical to believe.
On February 26 we gazed on distant cliffs of rock and earth—Kangaroo Island—and the tiny cluster of dwellings round the lighthouse at Cape Borda. Then we entered St. Vincent's Gulf on a clear, hot day, marvelling at the sandy-blue water, the long, flat mainland with its clumps of trees and the smoke of many steamers.
The welcome home—the voices of innumerable strangers—the hand-grips of many friend—it chokes one—it cannot be uttered!
APPENDIX I
THE STAFF
The Ship's Officers
J. K. Davis Master of S. Y. 'Aurora' and Second-in
Command of the Expedition.
J. H. Blair First Officer during the later stages of
the Expedition.
P. Gray Second Officer.
C. P. de la Motte Third Officer.
F. J. Gillies Chief Engineer.
Macquarie Island Party
G. F. Ainsworth Leader: Meteorologist.
L. R. Blake Geologist and Cartographer.
H. Hamilton Biologist.
C. A. Sandell Wireless Operator and Mechanic.
A. J. Sawyer Wireless Operator.
Main Base Party
Dr. D. Mawson Commander of the Expedition.
Lieut. R. Bage Astronomer, Assistant Magnetician and
Recorder of Tides.
C. T. Madigan Meteorologist.
Lieut. B. E. S. Ninnis In charge of Greenland dogs.
Dr. X. Mertz In charge of Greenland dogs.
Dr. A. L. McLean Chief Medical Officer, Bacteriologist.
F. H. Bickerton In charge of air-tractor sledge.
A. J. Hodgeman Cartographer and Sketch Artist.
J. F. Hurley Official Photographer.
E. N. Webb Chief Magnetician.
P. E. Correll Mechanic and Assistant Physicist.
J. G. Hunter Biologist.
C. F. Laseron Taxidermist and Biological Collector.
F. L. Stillwell Geologist.
H. D. Murphy In charge of Expedition stores.
W. H. Hannam Wireless Operator and Mechanic.
J. H. Close Assistant Collector.
Dr. L. A. Whetter Surgeon.