WHEN SCOTT PACED HIS DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 7

WHEN SCOTT PACED HIS DEATH.

POLAR HERO'S JOURNAL.

PATHETIC LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS,

MEANS TO A QUIET END.

By Telegraph Press Aesooifitilon- C/epyrlcht London, November 5. Captain Scott's diary has been published. Writing to his mother while the end was approaching, he said: "The great God lias called .mo; but tako comfort. I die in peace with tho world and myself, and am not afraid," There is a pathetic letter to tho captain's wife regarding their son, in which Scott says: "Make him a strenuous man." ,

Alt entry on March 11 narrates a discussion regarding Captain Oates, and concludes: "-Uno satisfactory result was that I practically ordered Dr. Wilson to hand over the means of ending our troubles, so any one of us /nay know what to do. So Wilson had no choice between doing so aad bur ransacking his medicine case." ' Wo had thirty opium tabloids apiece, and Wilson a tube of morphine. So much for the tragical side of tlso story! Later, writing to Sir J. M. Barrie, the novelist, Captain Setftt adds: "Wo did intend to perish ourselves when thmgs proved like this, but have deemed to die naturally in tho track." (Rec. November 6, 8.25 p.m.)

. London, November 6. beeing tho end inevitable, Scott wroteletters of comfort to the wives of the members of his party, and also to his friends, 'including Sir Edgar Spoyer, Sir >\ iliiam Maeartney (Governor of TasSir Lewis Beaumont, and Mr. Reginald Smith, K.C. Writing to his wife, lie said: "Make tlio boy interested in natural history if you can. It is better than games. They encourago it in some schools. I kimw you will keep him in the open air. Above all, lie must guard, and you must guard mm, against indolence. I had to force myself into being strenuous aiid always had an inclination to be idle." Tho letter concludes: "What lots and lots I could tell you of my journey. How much better it has been than lounging in too great comfort at home. What tales you would have had for iho boy- 1 — but what a prieo to pay! Tell Sir Clements Matklmin that j never regretted mm putting mo in command of the Discovery. My mind is peaceful with the satisfaction of his faith in me." Regarding himself as '.'part of a great schema of the Almighty," he adds*. "I can do no more to comfort you than toll you that I died as I lived—a brave and true man, with tho best of com, rades, and the stauncliest of frioiids. %y wholo heart goes out to \oti in pity," 41

Writing to Admiral Bridgeman, Scott *>1 1 ,^ a ? i to tol:1 J' o<l that I was not too old for this job. The '.oi.mger men .went under first. We could have come through had we neglected the SICK.'

Writing to Sir J. M. Barrio, Iris eon's frodtijtlicr, he said; W W© are out m a very comfortless spot. I am not afraid of the end, but I have had to miss many humble pleasures I had planned for the future, on other long marches. I may not have proved a ftic&t explorer, hut h«ivo mail© ilia greatest marcl-i that, ever was made, and eamo very near to scoring a great success. As a dying man,, my good h® good te my wifo and child, uive t«e hoy a chaiioo in life, if the State won't da it. Ho ought io have good stuff in him."

Writing to Mrs. Wilson, Scott said: ' If this roaches you, Bill and I will have fiona out together. I should like you to know how splendid ho was at iho <md. He was oyorlastingly cheerful mid ready to sacrifice himself with never a word to blame _mo for leading him into this moss, Hi 3 eyes havo a comfortable blue look of nope." The entries after reaching the Pole occasionally suggest something like resentment at being forestalled. On January 17 ho writes. 5 "The Pole—yes,.hut tinder very different circumstances from tiioso I expected. Wo have nad a horrible day. Great God I this ia an awful place; and it is terrible enough for us to havis laboured to got to it without tho reward of priority. Well, it is something to have got here." The entry concludes: "Now for tho run liome-*-if we can do it."

Another entry runs: "Wo bnflt a cairn, and put rip our poor slighted Lmoh Jack. I'hon ive photographed ourselves. It; was mighty cold frtirk, all of it. No doubt the Norwegians niatlo thoroughly sure of their mark, and fully carried out their programme. Well, Wo turned owr backs upon the goal of our ambition. • We must faoo 800 miles' solid dragging, and good-bye to most of our day dreams."

™.rF r^'ttg ilarch 21: "Forlorn hope! Wilson and Bowers are going to Ono Ton Camp for fuel."

Entry March 22 and 23: "Blizzard, as bad as evfer. Wilson and Bowers will be unable to start to-morrow. Our last ohaiico. Wo have decided that tho end Shall ho natural. We shall march for tho depot with or without our offccts and dio in our tracks." 1

The next entry, March 25, runs: "Since the 21st, wo liavo had a continuous sou'-west gale. We havo ftml to male© two mips of tea apiece, and bare food for two days," Then: "Every day Wo lmvo been ready to start for tho depot, hut outside the door of tho tent- remains ;a scene of whirling drift. I don't think we ca.n hops for any better tilings now. We shall stick it out to the end, hut we are getting weaker. The «\itl ennnot be far. It seems it pity, btit I don't think I can write any more." -\

(Signed) "R. SCOTT." Then follows tho In/st entry: "For God's sake look after our people."