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Comments by Fred Alberg - Oct. 21, 2000
I'm also including a scanned
picture of myself with one of the Campbell Island scientists (whose only name I remember is "Kelly") who escorted me on a hunting expedition to help rid the island of it's wild sheep.
They
were considered dangerous to the Royal Albatross,for which Campbell Island was then a refuge. We also ate some of the younger sheep - but mutton was not one of their favorites as I remember it.
Also
included are two digital photos I recently made (with my experimental / low-end camera). One is of a set of rams horns I shot during the hunt that the Campbell Island scientists presented to me the next time we
called at the island. The horns are actually mounted on a dark wood frame which I had to cover with a white cloth in order for the horns to be seen.
By the way the scientists also presented me, when they
came on board the Durant, with three quarts of 180 proof rum, as a remembrance of the times we had during my two week (fortnight) stay there.
We consumed large amounts of this New Zealand Navy issue rum,
provided to them by their government, along with even larger amounts of home brew beer which these scientists took great pride in creating, while on the island. The captain took custody of the rum for the few
days of our final trip to Dunedin. I took them ashore where they were used to celebrate my return to civilization by shipmates, by local friends and by several of Dunedin's finest young nurses.
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The
other photo is of the Durant's Ships Plaque draped with the ship's final Commissioning Pennant. Both of these I was fortunate enough to obtain when the Durant was decommissioned in Bremerton, Washington
about a year after our return from Deepfreeze. The Plaque and Pennant are on display in my home along with the rams horns. I'm sorry to say that none of the rum remains with us.
Another scanned item
included is of the news article covering the Durant's final trip within which is mentioned, ever so briefly, my being "stranded or marooned" on Campbell Island. I have a copy of the paper issued on
that day.
This is just a start. I plan on doing some additional dialogue about Campbell Island, the Deepfreeze cruise, the Dunedin friends, etc., but first thought that I would hasten to send the pictures
and respond to any suggestions that you may have.
Good luck and thank you for everything Fred Alberg
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