The Mirny Diary 12 Feb.1958 - 7 Feb.1959 by Morton J. Rubin At Mirny, Antarctica Morton J. Rubin, The Mirny Diary, 12 February 1958 – 7 February 1959; page 1 12 February 1958 СРЕДА [Wednesday] It seems appropriate to start a new diary as I begin a new phase of my Mirny assignment. Now, I am on my own. This book, also, seems to be a convenient one for the purpose. The new regime is taking over. We have now gone on the winter meal schedule; the only change is in breakfast which will now be from 8 - 9 am; dinner still from 1 P.M. - 2 P.M., and supper from 8 - 9 P.M.. Babkin had a terrible hangover and thirst today. Last night he was in a bad way, and was continually dunking his head in cold water. Today he swore never to drink again. Sovietskaya station established today at 78º 24’ S, 87º 35’ E, elevation 3,700 meters. Tolstikov says that the tractor train had heavy going in soft snow, and tractors sank about 1 meter into the snow. Birthday party tonight to celebrate Babkin’s birthday, and he did drink. I gave him a bottle of Australian white wine. I mentioned that today is also Lincoln’s Birthday, and this made a big impression. I am slowly getting out from under the mess in the rooms, but I’ll have to rearrange things and put in more shelves so as to get everything in order. Had a great pleasure reading mail from home. 13 February ЧЕТВЕРГ [Thursday] More work on shelves. It’s taking a long time to scrounge around for materials -- and locate tools are hopelessly inadequate. I’ve decided to put in a small closet to hang my suits and parkas. Everyone is interested in the outcome. Beylov calls me the architect and carpenter -- all in one. He’s being over-friendly, and seemingly begun to think that some things American can be good. We had a chocolate issue today -- 500 grams in five 100 gram bars. It is good, not bitter, not sweet, and very chocolaty. I noticed today that the basin I use to wash my feet, and which is also used for soaking dirty socks, etc., was today used to wash up the dishes from Babkin’s birthday party. Still rereading mail from home. 14 February ПЯТНИЦА [Friday] (Henry Mayevsky flew today to Sovietskaya to institute the radiosonde program there -- this happened on 18 February) The one meteorology (met) observer at Komsomolskaya is sick; appendicitis is suspected. George Gruza is to go up there to replace him for several weeks. The station serves for an airplane stop. It’s personnel consists of 2 radiomen (1 serves as station chief), a mechanic, a tractorist, and a met observer. I am constantly being asked if I am not lonesome, and if I do not miss Cartwright. My answer is, and it is an honest one, “how can I be lonely with more than 100 who are all my friends?” 15 February СУББОТА [Saturday] We are watching the course of the Kooperatsiya, and she is headed due north, just west of 90º E. Where is she going? My guess is Indonesia, as there is a shipping shortage there; or maybe India. Anyway, she isn’t going to S. Africa. I am getting out from under my construction and remodeling, and have also sorted out the items I’ll be storing in the trunk, and those that I’ll keep here in the room. All non-freezable items will be kept in the room. 16 February ВОСКРЕСЕНЬЕ [Sunday] Ivanov, the observer from Komsomolskaya was operated on today for appendicitis. All went well. Jap ship in ice 65 miles N of base -- towed out by USS Burton Isle. Base abandoned. 17 February ПОНЕДЕЛЬНИК [Monday] Have finished shelves and closet. Everything is now in order. Except for a few little jobs I won’t do any further remodeling or reconstruction. I’m very pleased, and now feel that even this small room with all that I have in it, can be kept orderly. But Lord help me if I didn’t have space in the storage corridor for my four trunks, four bags, and extra boxes! Wash, D.C. had 13” yesterday! Cong Hollsfield says IGY [International Geophysical Year - July 1957 to December 1958] halfway break down barriers -- wants IGY extended 10 years! [Sir Vivian] Fuchs’ “Rock & Roll” [name of snowcat, first to traverse the Antarctic continent] 542 miles to go. 18 February ВТОРНИК [Tuesday] The Adelie penguins seem to have gone from the small islands. Only some skuas are left, and even they seem to have thinned out in numbers. George Gruza has left for Komsomolskaya temporarily. The tractor train departed from Sovietskaya yesterday for Komsomolskaya on its way back to Mirny. Babirikin says that the sastrugi in the Morton J. Rubin, The Mirny Diary, 12 February 1958 – 7 February 1959; page 2 vicinity of Sovietskaya show only winds from 100 - 110º. Ice broke up at McMurdo -- C124 left hurriedly for N.Z. with 78 men. 19 February СРЕДА It looks now as if the Kooperatsiya is headed for Australia. I find myself frustrated when I try to carry on conversations in Russian. Even simple ideas are difficult without a store of words with which to give expression to them. But they, too, will come. I think that I have a gift for languages, and this one won’t appear to be hard this time next year. Fortunately, not many -- if at all -- of these men have a good command of English, so I have to depend on Russian. Spoke with Tom Gray at Little America this evening. 20 February ЧЕТВЕРГ I broke my resolve and did some further construction, making a step attached to my inside window-frame so that I can get up into the bed easily. It is very convenient. 21 February ПЯТНИЦА The boys are experimenting with putting a bit of sea water in our wash water. It makes lathering a bit slower, but it does help to get the soap off and prevents that soapy feeling afterwards. Vasikov dipped up several fingerlings when he got up his bucket of sea water today. They are swimming around in the kettle now. Tonight Babkin brought back the met data, and said that I had a telegram. It was from Gordon. Then, under it, I found one from Goldie. It was even more wonderful, coming as a complete surprise. I have now changed my sentiments about exchanging radio messages with home. Not having had any before, I suppose I unconsciously resented others getting them, and said that they were not necessary. But they are, and each re-reading leads to further awareness of thought, and summises as to what is going on at home. And I still read again and again all the mail from home. It will be a long time until the next mail comes, but maybe I’ll have enough radiograms to keep me happy. We have heard that Shackleton and South Ice stations have been closed. That means that that phase of Fuchs’ program is over. 22 February СУББОТА George Washington’s birthday! The tractor train reached Komsomolskaya from Sovietskaya. Which reminds me that the dinning hall seems so much roomier without the people who left with the Kooperatsiya. Also, the meals, and particularly the head, are better. The chemist, Anton Antonovitsh Mateev, visited me to ask about the snow crystal replica method. He is interested in precipitation chemistry. I gave him samples of Formvar and Ethylene dichloride. He appears to be an eager young man, very active and interested. He doesn’t drink or smoke. 23 February ВОСКРЕСЕНЬЕ Today is Red Army Day and the dinner at night was a special one. There was vodka at each table. I had to drink several toasts with the men at my table. Unfortunately, I eat slowly and got involved with the second shift at my table. Belov and Schkolnek were particularly insistent and wouldn’t let me stop with only one drink together. They were drunk to start with. They became really unmanageable, and I was torn between not wanting to hurt them and not wanting to drink. I had to leave abruptly, with them hurt and I angry. Belov had appealed in the name of anti-Fascism, Jewish refugees, etc. I understand their feelings for their army and even for their desire to drink, but I didn’t have to drink more than I want to. It’s a mess. Later, when I was working, I was asked to join them at home in more drink. Imagine! I continued to work. They said that I was not being nice. Paul Pauletsh is angry because his wife hasn’t sent a message to him on this anniversary -- because he spent seven years in the army, and she should greet him on this day. There have been radio tapes broadcast from Family and friends today. It’s very nice for the men to hear their voices. Fedorenka says that he was a partisan fighting near Moscow when he was 17 years old during the last war. He was left with a maimed hand. He was also a sailor (radio operator) and visited the east coast of U.S.A. ports during the war and thereafter. The tractor train left Komsomolskaya for Pionerskaya. The aerology pavilion at Sovietskaya was finished today. The ionosphere pavilion at Vostok was finished today. 24 February ПОНЕДЕЛЬНИК Many seals came out onto the sea ice to the east of the station -- about 2 km -- and what looks like a sea elephant (from a distance of 2 - 3 kms) is on the ice near Morton J.