THE ANTARCTIC.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15608, 5 June 1916, Page 5

THE ANTARCTIC.

SHACKLETON'tS NOTABLE BOAT VOYAGE. ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE WILD FAILS. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, June 2. Sir Ernest Shackleton, in describing the boat voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, says: "Only thrice during the voyage we sighted for observations. "On the sixth day we were forced to jettison much of our equipment to relieve top weight, because the boat was heavily iced up. "Our entire equipment and sleeping gear were soaked through. "Everybody was superficially frostbitten and we were never idle breaking ice from the sides and rudder, baling water, and scraping ice out of the boat all day and all night. "I. wish to record the cheerful attitude of my companions. t "We lost our sea anchor op. the eighth day through the ice cutting the rope. "We sighted .the cliffs of South Georgia during a break in the snow storm, and stood in towards them till we observed seas spouting on uncharted reefs, and hauled off for tho night. "The wind increased to a hurricane on May 9th, with enormous seas. "Running on the lead, we saw nothing until the afternoon, when between squalls we found we -were drifting towards the cliffs. "One more chance remained. We set reefg in our sails, and fortunately the boat stood the strain. _ She was kept afloat by continuous baling. . . "The wind shifted at tho very crisis, enabling us to clear the land. "In view of the condition of - _ th© party, we decided on the 10th inst. not to attempt to go round the island, but to land on a beach and try to cross to the east coast. "Wo managed to beach, the boat at dusk in.s a small cove, but were too weak to haul her up, so hung on all night. "We cut away her top sides on the lltli, and were then able to haul her up to a bay filled with ice. "On tho 12th we launched a boat, and on the 15th reached the head of King Haakon Bay, and started across the unknown interior of th.© island with thrco days' provisions, and a cooking stove. "In thirty-six hours' continuous marching we oovered thirty miles over glaciers, mountain ridges, and snow fields. "We made good progress, assisted by moonlight. 'Tor the first time South Georgia was crossed. "I wish to record the practical sympathy of Messrs Sorlee, Hanson, Bernj sen, and Jacobs, managers of the four ! whaling stations on South Georgia. "Realising tho urgency of the case, they hastened to equip tho -whaler, which Captain Thom volunteered to command, and obtained a volunteer crew. "Hard work enabled the whaler to be got ready for sea on tjie morning of the 23rd, and we started south on the 26th. We entered a large area of pancake ice, and owing to the unprotected oondition of the whaler, we were compelled to stand northward, but renewed our attempt on the 27th further westward, finding streams of pack ice south-east and south. We again got northward to clear them, and made a final attempt to get southward on the 28th, but found the ice too formidable for the little 80-ton whaler. "Wc reluctantly decided to turn northward and seek assistance at the Falklan.de. "This decision greatly disappointed our generous Norwegian friends." A WONDERFUL' FEAT. Mr Hugh Robert Mill, in an interview,- said: "The retreat of Sir Ernest Shaciileton is only oomparable to the boat voyages of William Barentz from Nova Zembla and Leigh Smith from Franz Joseph Land. Even if Shackleton fails to force a way to Elephant Island before the Antarctic spring, there is hope, as Wild, is the most experienced of all Antarctic explorers, and is best equipped for finding food and fuel in the Antarctic fishes, beast 6, and birds." Mossiman, a member of Scott's expedition, considers the prospects of relieving Wild hopeful. It is unlikely that ice will be found far north of Elephant Island. If it approaches tho north-west, it wDI be because northeasterly winds scatter the pack. The whalers of Falkland Islands may be suited foi* relief purposes. The corvette, Uruguay, which rescued Nordenskjold in 1903, might malce an attempt. If sh© were ready to start from Buenos Ayres immediately, th© voyage would take a fortnight.