EXPLORER IN GAMP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 7

EXPLORER IN GAMP

SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON AT . TRENTHAM .

LECTURE TO SOLDIERS

, Sir Ernest Shackleton addressed ieveral hundred soldiers in the Church of England Institute at Treutham last inight on his experiences during his voyage in tho Endurance, and tho relief of "tho men on Elephant Island, Ids story Ibeing illustrated by a number of excellent limelight views, which "wore 'shown by Mr. A. A. Whitelaw. CapXain Worsley and Lieut. .Stenhouso "were in tho hall, and thoso present included the Camp Commandant, Lieut.Colonol H. R. Potter, tho Camp Adjutant, Captain N. G. Bell, Chaplain- ■ Colonel Tracy, Chaplain-Captaiu MulJincaus, and members of tho Camp Headquarters, Medical and Nursing Staffs of tho R-einforcoments in camp. 1-Licutt-Colonel H. R. Potter briefly introduced Sir Ernest, who was loudly cheered.

"A whiter and a braver man does not exist in the Empire to-day," said •Colonel Potter, "and I want to say this: Sir Ernest is keen, to go to tho :war, but the King requested him to continue his work, and aftor ho has rescued tho men in Ross Sea, he is ■going to enlist."

. Sir Ernest Shackleton said that ho was going to tell tho story of an Antarctic expedition which is not yet ;"fiuished. He proceeded.to give an outlino of tho voyage in tho Endurance, ■and of tho disaster which overtook her. Keen interest was shown by the iaudienco in tho stories and pictures of [tho natural features and fauna of tho [Frozen South, and in tho work of-the 'dog teams among the hummocks of ico. ■The story of the. fate of tho Endurance 'in the ico was also listened to with toloso attention. Commenting on tho ■fact that there arc no land animals .in Itho south, Sir Ernest said that; tho .German Emperor askod him what tho Sco-bears wero like. On being told that there was none, tho Emperor asked impatiently : • "Why not?" Sir Ernest told a story of two young Esquimaux, a man and a girl, who were in love, but the- girl's father objected to tho marriage. The young man planned to creep up to tho hut in which tho girl's family slept, drag her out in her sleeping-bag, and by breaking down a snow bridge to prevent pursuit, to escape with her. .The young •man carried out his plan, and all went well till after ho had smashed, the bridge behind him. Then to examined the sleeping-bag and found he had got tho old man by mistake. Aa an example of tho good humour of his men. when drifting' north on the floes, the lecturer told that every timo they caught a seal, the banjo, which had heen saved, was brought out, and struck up in cheerful airs. The stovo "that was made out of tho ship's ashcbuto was another interesting item pictufed, while a picture _ showing Sir Ernest sitting outside his'.tent after having gone without a wash for many -weeks, provoked laughter. A thrilling picture was that showing tho departure of Shackleton's boat from Elephant Island on tho 750-milc voyage to South 'America. Tho boat was seen clearing the surf,.whilo Frank Wild and his party were- cheering her from the slioTe. "Tho first sounds we had hoard of tho outside world and tie best;, music 1 had heard in my life," was Sir' Ernest's summing up of the noiso of tho whistle of the whaling stations in South Georgia, which he and his party heard at 7 o'clock the morning after landing on and crossing tho ice*lad island. Their first question was; "When was tho war over?" For "the first timo they heard of the 'lAnzacs—they did not know what tho name meant—and of tho Lusitania trims and other happenings. "And I know you men here will uphold tho name of Anzac, and keep it clean and untarnished," added Sir Ernest. A brief and graphic account of tho rescue of the marooned- men, and the accompanying views, evoked a storm of applause. Sir Ernest spoke with feeling of the high courags of Frank .Wild. "No one knows hotter than I do how -much I owo to tho men who went with Wo. Now they are scattering far and iwidc. Some of the Aurora,mon havo gone to the war, and some of the Enduranco men are going. I want Captain Worsley to stand up presently and show himself, and thoro is also hero present Lieut. Stenhouse, who brought the Aurora to the welcome shores of New Zealand. It was a great piece of seamanship. These two officers then stood up; and a- storm of applause and cheering greeted them. "The short one, Captain Worsley, is a New Zealander," said Sir Ernest naively. "The taller ono is Lieut. Stenhouse, and he is a Scotchman." Lieut.-Coloncl - Potter, in thanking Sir Ernest for his lecture, said ther ■ had all listened with pleasuro and in- ' terest to his fine story, and appreciated .•what fine stuff the men of the British !Nayy. were made> of. He called for three hearty Trentham .cheers for Sir Ernest Shackleton,and his party, and these wero given heartily by the men in the thronged hall.