THE NIMROD EXPEDITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 98, 24 April 1908, Page 3

THE NIMROD EXPEDITION.

CAPTAIN ENGLAND'S RESIGNATION.

Captain E. England, recently, master of the British Antarctic expedition's Vessel, the Niiiirod, ; and Mrs. England, returned to Christchurch yesterday. Captain and Mrs. England intend" leaving for Wellington next week to join the Ayrshire, by which steamer, they voyage to Great Britain.

The following , was published in the "Sydney Morning Herald" last week as a telegram from Melbourne:—

The Nimrod was in 13 fathoms. "Please go further in," said Lieutenant Shackleton: "It is impossible," said Captain England. After some argument the Lieutenant made towards the telegraph, as if intending to signal "Full speed ahead," but the Captain got in ahead of him, and said, "I am master of this ship. It is not possible to take her nearer land with safety." Then they had some more talk, and went below.

This statement made on Saturday by Mr. H. B. Bull, one of the crew of the Nimrod, just arrived in Melbourne on furlough, affords commentary on a cablegram published on March 10. "Interviewed at Lyttelton yesterday Captain England said, "You may announce my resignation as commander of the Nimrod on the ground of ill-health.'" Mr. Bull was at the wheel at the time of the reported misunderstanding. "Nothing was us men about it," he stated, "until we got back to Lyttelton. Then one night before we made port the skipper called us aft, complimented us on tne way in -which wo had worked the ship, and hoped we should enjoy ourselves during our nine months' stay in port. We got in on ■Sunday or Monday night. He called the men again, aid said, "I have to say goodbye. The unexpected has happened since I saw you ]ast; and he did not say much more, for his feelings got too touch for him. I could see he was nigh crying , . We men were very much troubled about this, and when we got forward several said they'd leave with the Captain, and nine out of the crew of 17 have left. The boatswain, carpenter, and several others told the 'old man' so at once. He advised them to wait and see how things turned out, but by now I think all nine have resigned—one engineer, one sailmaker, two firemen, four seamen, and the carpenter."