EPIC VOYAGE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 15

EPIC VOYAGE

"Shackleton’s Boat Journey,” by Com mnnder F. A. Worsley (London: Hodder and Stoughton).

It seems strange that this should be the first lime a full account of the epic voyage made by Sir Ernest Shackleton and live others from Elephant Island to South Georgia has appeared in print. Yet time has not dimmed nor dulled this splendid story of gallantry and endurance. Tlie voyage made from Elephant Island in a small open boat to bring rescue to tlie 22 men loft on the island will always remain among the must remarkable feats of seamanship that the world has seen. When Shackleton's ship the Endurance was crushed by tlie ice in latitude 69, three small boats were salvaged, the largest the James Caird, 22ft. Gin. long. The party camped on tlie ice for six months and when the ice began to break took to the boats and managed to make a perilous journey to Elephant Island. On this barren and inhospitable coast the majority of the men waited while the James Caird with six men made a desperate effort to bring help. The hardships suffered by the whole party wore unspeakable but probably the six in the James Caird suffered Hie most acutely during the 16 days, storm-tossed, sometimes with ice a foot thick on the gunwales, that the voyage to South Georgia took. During that time they were never dry and had to make strenuous efforts the whole time to keep frost bite at bay. When they got away from the pack ice they suffered tortures from thirst. It was only Sir Ernest Shackleton's unfailing care for his men that prevented at least one or two of them dying from exposure. After the party landed in South Georgia, Shackleton, Worsley (the present author) and Cretin, made a miraculous journey across the unknown mountains of the country to a whaling station, and there obtained the long-sought-for aid. Even then it took 100 days and four attempts to rescue the party on Elephant Island, but providentially all escaped witli their lives.

This stirring tale remains evergreen and it is impossible not to thrill to the courageous spirits which made survival possible.