A 26-year-old Monroe man, Carl Disch, working as a government scientist, disappeared on May 7, 1965 in Antarctica, and his disappearance remains one of the most mysterious legends of the modern explorers of the south pole. A 1957 graduate of Monroe High School, Disch was regarded as one of the most brilliant scientists ever to visit Antarctica. He was operating an above-the-snow station, investigating radio noises.
According to reports, he and three other men walked in the dimming evening light to the conjugate station of the Environmental Science Services Administration. Disch said he had to get back early and told the Byrd station via radio that he was on his way back to the station. When he failed to check back in within 45 minutes, an alarm was sounded and searchers were dispatched. Men began working their way along a handline marking the path to Byrd station, while another turned on the floodlights. There was no trace of Disch. Vehicles finally located Disch’s footprints on the ice, a few feet from the handline. Eventually it was determined that his tracks continued for about nine miles before vanishing. Search teams continued for three days in blowing snow with temperatures dipping to -35 degrees.
Theories to why he disappeared are he may have stumbled, hit his head and wandered away in a daze, he was caught in a sudden “whiteout” and either didn’t have hold of the handline or dropped it, or knowing standing still could make him freeze, he may have walked in the direction he thought the station was.
Nevertheless, he was never found and the search was given up years ago. It is still an unsolved mystery.
This photo and story are from Monroe Evening Times in October 1973 and from the archives of the Green County Historical Society (GCHS).
The Historical Museum will be opening for the season on Saturday, June 7, from 1-4 p.m. Always new history and displays are being updated/added. The lower level is handicap accessible. GCHS is currently working on a “Gas Stations in Monroe” display. They are looking for any old photos of Monroe’s old gas stations. Stop in to see this historical display.
