SUICIDE OF AN EXPLORER.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 64, 17 March 1910, Page 6

SUICIDE OF AN EXPLORER.

The late Mr Armytagc, who committed suicide at Melbourne last week, joined the Antarctic expedition for general work. He was born in Australia in 1869. He served several years with the Victoria Militia, and one year with the Victoria Permanent Artillery, after which he was appointed to the Carrabineers when on active service in South Africa. During the winter sojourn of the Antarctic expedition at the base hut, Mr Armytage took over the entire responsibility of the stables and the ponies. .Early in the spring, ho started with Sir Ernest Shackleton and Professor David on a preliminary journey on the Harrier surface, in order to gain an idea of the conditions likely to be encountered by the party making the southern dash towards the Pole. In December Mr Armytage set out in a westerly direction with Mr Priestly and Sir Philip Brocklehurst to lay a depot at Butter Point for Professor David's party, which was expected to reach that point on its return from the Magnetic Pole. Then the three men ■were to secure what stores they required for their own purpose and proceed up the Ferrar Glacier as far as .Nunatah depot, in order that Mr Priestly might search for fossils in the sandstones of the western mountains. They were to get back to •Butter Point early in January, in order to meet Professor David, Messrs Mawson and Mackay. This programme (Sir Ernest Shackleton relates in his book "The Heart" of the Antarctic") was duly put into operation, and the party arrived back at Butter Point on January 14. On January 24 and 25 they had a very narrow escape from disaster. They had camped on the sea ice at the foot of Butter Point, and intended to move off on their return journey on the 25th". On the morning of the 24th it was discovered that the ice r.pon which they were camped had broken away, and was drifting northwards to the open sea. There were then two miles of open water 'between them and the shore. Finding no means of escape, the men returned to their camp and had breakfast. A council of war was held, and it was agreed that the only thing to do was to remain where they were for the time being, in the hope of the .Nimrod picking them up, or of the floe touching the shore by a change of current. Most of their food was on the mainland at Butter Point, and the outlook assumed a very gloomy aspect. During the night the movement of the floe appeared to decrease, and finally the ice was found to be moving toward the land. A little alter midnight the floe struck the fast ice, with about six of its edge. The men rushed ashore, and had only just got across into safety when the floe moved away again, and this time it went north

to the open sea. The only point that touched was that at which Mr Armytage chanced to go when he was on the look-out. If he had happened to go to any other spot the party would not have escaped. They were picked up by the rVimi'od on the following day.

Sir Ernest Shackleton, on his return from the Antarctic, spoke in the highest terms of Mr Armytage's pluck and energy. He joined the expedition from a sheer love of adventure, this being the crowning point of his life as a sportsman and explorer. He endeared himself to all the other members of the expedition by his genial good nature, his willingness to tackle the hardest as well as the most menial tasks, and his tireless energ3 r throughout the arduous sojourn in the Southern wilds.