THE SHIP AND HER COMPANY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13876, 29 October 1910, Page 10

THE SHIP AND HER COMPANY.

INTERVIEW WITH LIEUTENANT EVANS, R.N.

I."c commander of the Terra Nova, Lieutenant E. R. (}. p.. Evans, R.N.] is a splendid example of the British Navy officer. Well-built and of smart appearance, with a determined face and a keen but kindly eye, a man of most j attractive personality, he at once gives the impression that he is the fit and proper man to fill tho important role of second in command of the expedition. Lieutenant Evans is no stranger to New Zealand, as he was second officer ol the Morning, which was relief ship or the Discovery when Cat-tain Scott led tho Antarctic Expedition of the Royal Geographical Society. Although busily engaged on the bridge of the Terra Nova when the pilot boarded her about five or six miles outside Lyttelton Heads this morning, in the work of navigating the vessel and superintending the multifarious duties of bringing a ship into port, Lieutenant Evans very courteously received a representative of "The Press" on the navigating bridge of the vessel. He reported that all on board ivere in splendid health, and ivere looking forward with keen delight to their arrival in Lyttelton. The Terra Nova had had a very fine passage from Melbourne, whence she sailed on tho morning of Monday, October 17th. "With all sail set, she worked her tray out of Port Philip first with a fair wind and later by beating: a little. "We had a decent breeze for the first day out," said Lieutenant Evans, '•but after that tve had to steam most of the Avay, the vessel doing a good six knots an hour. Wo signalled as we passed the Bluff, and our signals Avere replied to. On the way un the coast we met Avith light head winds and head seas, which delayed our progress, and about seven o'clock on Thursday night, when rounding Banks Peninsula, we ran into a dense fos about six miles off shore. As Aye found Aye could not get in at a reasonable hour, we slowed down after sighting Godley Head light. W r o did not wish to bring the pilot staff out too early, and before they had had their breakfasts -. so we cruised about in Pegasus Bay. "W r e are all looking forward,'tremendously to our arrival in Lyttelton," exclaimed Lieutenant Evans enthusiastically. "There are a number of Discovery, Morning, and Nimrod men amongst us, and we look on Lyttelton as a second ''homo port." None of us have ever forgotten to talk about NewZealand, and the wonderfully kind and hospitable treatment we have received during our former visits to the Dominion, and we all have a warmer corner in our hearts for New Zealand than for any other part of the British Empire." Lieutenant Evans's enthusiasm regarding the prospects of Captain Scott's expedition and tne men tvho wero going to the Antarctic in the Terra Nova, was boundless. "Every member of the expedition is so absolutely excellent," he declared, "that I am certain that they are the most loyal, efficient, and happy band I have ever been with. No lot of men ever got together for a venture of this kind had greater confidence in their leader, or aa ere prouder to serve under him. Captain Scott is a splendid judge of men, and those aboard the Terra Nova are the 'pick' of 8000 men who applied to join the expedition, and every one is 'worth his Aveight in gold.' "I really think," said Lieut. Evans, "that the Terra Nova should be renamed Harmony; 'we are all as happy as sand-boys, and the spirit of goodcomradeship is really Avonderful. I have never seen such unity among a ship's company as prevails" on board the Terra Nova. Every man is as keen as mustard, and every order is executed with the very best* grace. The men have Avorked Avillingly and Avholeheartedly, and it has very often been tlio case" that Aye have to stop them from working. They will voluntarily work during their meal hours and during their Avatch below. "Captain Scott is tho right man to lead this expedition. Although he is such a distinguished naval officer and explorer, we really felt on the voyage from Simonstown to Melbourne tnat he was more like a big brother to us. He has a happy knack of getting tne very best work from his subordinates. There is not a man in the Terra Nova's company who Avould not go to—well— through fire and water for his leader. That is the keynote of the whole affair. Captain Scott is the only man who could have got such a crowd of willing and able men together, and we all think the world of him."

While unwilling to say anything regarding himself, Lieut. Evans very kindly gave the reporter much interesting information regarding the members of the ship's company. Speaking of the leader of the expedition, Lieut. Evans said that Captain Scott has had a distinguished record of service in the

1 .Navy since he had completed tno Avorn. !of the Discovery Expedition. He had been in command of the first-class cruiser Essex, _nd later of the battleships Albemarle, Victorious, and BulAvark, and had also rendered much valuable service at Home at the Admiralty. Lieut. Evans, speaking modestly of his own career, said he had specialised in navigation. He had been navigating lieutenant of H.M.S. Talbot for two years, and had served in a similar capacity on board of H.M.S. London, attached to the Home fleet. For some time he Avas in command of the gunboat Dryad, and after that he Avas on the staff of the Navigation School at Portsmouth. For the last, year Lieut. Evans has been connected ivith Capt. Scott's Expedition, and was Arith the Terra Nova during the whole of the time she %vas fitting out in London and preparing for the voyage to New Zealand.

c Lieut. V. L. A. Campbell, of the Terra No\a, will form one of the shore party in the Antarctic, and will be the ■j leader of the Eastern party. Ho has t . done a very considerable amount of t .ki-''ng and sledge travelling OA-er the „ ire fields of Norway, and the experience „ thus gained will stand him in good ™ stead in his capacity as leader of one * of the most important branches of the j Expedition. Lieutenant Campbell has seen considerable service in the Royal ' Navy, from which he recently retired ' after many year's experience. j Lieut. Evans explained that as he will n be second in command of the. Western „ party in the Antarctic, he will hand " over the command of the Terra Nova, when she is ready to return to Lvtt. I[j ton to Lieut. H. L. L. Pennell. * The latter is a very distinguished navigat- . ing officer in the Royal NaA-y. In his examination for a Lieutenant's com- [ mission. Lieut. Pennell obtained fivo I first-class certificates, and also promo- ' tion marks. He has had a very successful career in the Navy, and has had considerable experience in magnetic and meteorological work, of which 1 hranch of the Expedition's operations in . the Southern Ocean (apart from tho \ Antarctic Avork) he Avill havo chargo. 1 Lieutenant H. E. dc P. Ronhick, , R.N., who Avill bo a member of tho T Western Antarctic party, is also a first- * class navigator, with a" good record of , service in tho Navy. He is a specialist in navigation, and has also had very j considerable experience in ocean bitrvey work, in which branch of the service he has had a number of years' service. I Lieut. 11. R. BoAvcrs conies from the n Royal Indian Marine. Avhich is con- \ trolled by the Indian Government. " m Prior to joining the Indian Marino, " Lieut. Bowers Avas an officer in the British Mercantile Marino. When only J 21 years of age, he was chief officer of j the' famous clipper four-masted barque, ' Loch Torridon, otvued by the Loch Line of Glasgow, and engaged in the Lou- ; don-Melbourne trade. Lieut. Bowers 1 saw about six years service in the Indian Marino, nnd a.as for some time on board H.M.S. Fox, engased in service in the Persian Gulf. He will bo in charge of the stores; of the Western Antarctic party. Other naval officers on hoard the Terra Nova are Surgeons G. M. Levick and E. L. Atkinson. The former Avill accompany Lieut. Victor Campbell, leader of the Eastern party, as medical officer, photographer and zoologist, and Surgeon Atkinson Avill be attached to the Western party as medical officer, bacteriologist and parasitologist. Mr Francis Drake, R.N., bearer of a famous name, is attached to the expedition ns secretary to Captain Scott. He has seen many years' service in the NaA-y, principally on the staff of Prince Louis of Battenburg. Dr. Wilson, avlio is chief of tho . ciontific staff, was also a member of the Discovery expedition, and accompanied Captain Scott and Lieut. Shackleton on the great Southern journey. The only military man in the party. Captain L. E. G. Oates. of the Inniskilling Dragoons, will assist Mr C. li. Meares in keeping charge of the ponies and doge, and Avill be attached to tho Western party. He is a very popular and hard Avorking member of the chip's company. Mr W. Williams, chief engine-room artificer, R.N., is cec-md engineer of tho Terra Nova, and the remainder of the creAV, with a few exceptions, are all specially chosen Royal Navy firstclass petty officers Avho have signed on as able seamen or stokers. All have J naval ratings borne on tho books of J H.M.S. President. The chief stoker, W. Lashley, Avho ' ( is to be assistant to th© motor eledge , engineer of tho Western party, tvas a member of the Discovery expedition, as was also E. Evans, who ie senior v P.O. of tho Terra Nova. Both Lashley t and Evans accompanied Captain Scotb * ou his great Western journey in tho - Antarctic in 1903. t T. Feather, who is' boatswain of the c Terra Nova, and Avill have chargo of the sledging outfit and gear, ivas boat- * swain of tho Discovery. a Alfred Cheetham, avlio is second boat- 5 swain, is Quite an Antarctic veteran, t. He was boatswain on the Morning, and a also the Nimrod, and accompanied those I: vessels throughout the Avhole of their j; Antarctic voyages. a J "Scotty" Paton, belonging to Lyt- 0 ! telton, one of the able seamen of the 1 Terra Nova, also served in the Morn- I ing and the Ximrod, Avhile T. Crenn, r< T. S. Williamson, W. Smythe, and- W. v Heaid, all A.B.s on the Terra Nova, i» Avere members of the crew of the I. is- dC 0A T ery. tl Lieut. Evans stated that tho Terra t( Nova behaA'ed splendidly in bad Avea- a ther. She is an infinitely better vessel " than either the Morning or tho Niin- *' rod, and compares very favourably with n the Discovery, -which Aras specially de- P. 1 signed and built for tlie Royal Geo- \\ graphical Society's expedition. Since v , eh© mado her first voyage out to tho t \ Antarctic as relief ship to the Dis- j, covery, the Terra Nova has been en- f 0 gaged in sealing on the Newfoundland jo ooast, except for an Arctic Aoyage, ay Avhen she \yas fitted out and sent as f.< a relief ship to tho Baldwin Zeigler -> Arctic expedition. *ca

After sho Avas purchased by Captain Scott, the Terra Nova underwent a very' extensive overhaul and re-fit in London, Avhcrc many alterations, and additions Avere mado to her to fit her for the requirements of the present expedition. She is now an cxccptionally well-found ship, and is in perfect tvorking order.

After leaving England she sailed most of the way to Capetown, and from that port to New Zealand, via Melbourne, sho has used both her engines and her sails. She proved a very fine sea boat, and is a specially handy vessel to work. Tlie whole of her company are exceedingly proud of her, and have conceived a great affection for her.

On the passage from Capetown her c-D;cer_ and the members of the scientific party oftentimes went into her coal bunkers and ivorked at trimming the coal. 0n c of the biologists of the expedition has gained considerable experience in the engine-room on the ivav out. Lieut. Evans stated that ho made an excellent fourth engineer, and kept his morning watch when the Terra >ova Avas approaching Lvttelton Harbour yesterday morning. "We are afl very anxious to start out from Lyttelton for the Antarctic," said Lieut. Evans, 'and wo expect to bo southward bound in less than a month s time. As soon as we have discharged the stores, th 0 Terra Noam Avill be dry docked for an overhaul. She has been at sea since Juno Ist, and naturally is now somewhat foul cv the bcttom. There are various matters to be attended to while the vessel is in dock as there are always slight defects which are common in every long voyage ship, which will havo to be renn-diSl before sho re-loads her stores and tbe general equipment of the expedition. "We -hall be a full ship Avhen Aye leave Lyttelton, and every available inch of space -will be valuable. Thi stores and gear, which are indispens-

able for a long voyage such as we havo just completed, Avill not be required for our voyage to the Ant-arctic, and these will be left behind and stored at Lyttelton. The light tveat-her sails, and some of the spare spars and other gear ivill not be taken for the Antarctic voyage. '••Accomodation has to be provided or the already limited deck space for the ponies and dogs, and room will have to bo found for the motor sledges, a large quantity of other gear, and snace provided for tho fresh provisions which "have been purchased in New Zealand. Some of the stores brought out for tho shore parties Avill be left ■behind this timo, but will be taken south Avhen the Terra Nova makes her lecnnd voyage to the Antarctic next year."