ARCTIC STORY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 46, 22 August 1913, Page 3

ARCTIC STORY

THE SCOTT EXPEDITION BAD WEATHER SHORTAGE OF FOOD. (By Telegraph.— Press Asseciation.-Copyright.) LONDON, 21st August. The third instalment of Captain Scott's narrative of his fatal dash for the Pole appears in the new issue of the Strand Magazine. It states that, with the breakdown of the motor sledges, the ponies received the full load of the equipment early in the journey, and they responded splendidly. The weather improved as the party left the windy northern regions. One Ton Camp was reached on 15tli November. After this the weather became bad, and five days were exceptional. The ponies grew very tired by Ist December, when the weakest were killed. Their duties were to draw the supplies across the Barrier as long as the voyage lasted, and finally to provide food for the dogs. "Our luck in weather," says Captain Scott, "is preposterous. Really it is time our luck changed. One has a horrid feeling in this really bad season." From the gateway of the Glacier came ominous wind pnffs, followed by a howling, raining blizzard for four days until Bth December. The temperature, meanwhile, was so high that tbe snow melted as it fell and soaked the tents, clothes, and sleeping bags. Twelve miles from the Glacier the party had to use the rations which were calculated to carry them forward from the more advanced depot. The margin allowed for bad weather was ample according to calculations, but this stormy December was a thing that the most cautious orgahiser might not be prepared to encounter. EVANS TO THE RESCUE. Petty-Officer Evans managed to save the situation by fitting a pony with snow-shoes, enabling it to form a track for the others. "Thus," writes Captain Scott, "we moved forward through the soft snow. Our forage, however, was already spent, and at Shambles Camp, a mile below the Glacier's gateway, the beasts were shot. It was hard to have to kill them so early." On 10th December the first stage, 424 miles, over the Barrier ice, ended, and on the fortieth day out (a week behind the scheduled time) the second stage of the ascent of the Glacier began. This occupied twelve days of strenuous ! exertion. The surface was appalling, and the party sank in places to the knees. Commander Evans's party i found it difficnlt to keep up, "but," says , Captain Scott, "I was never fitter, and [my party was easily able to hold its own. Petty-Officer Evans was a tower of strength. Dr. Wilson and Captain ! Oates were doing splendidly. Hereabouts it was that Sir Ernest Shackletcn found the hard blue ice. It . seems extraordinary the difference of fortune, and Shackleton's luck 'becomes more evident." / ' , . AWFUL TOIL. One team had a man hampered by a touch of snow-blindness. Scott's own team got bogged frequently. He says that the toil was simply awful. Indigestion and ,wet clothes in a. camp after such labour produced a bad night. They got rid of the soft snow on 14th December, and thereafter made splendid marches. -"Everyone," says Captain Scott, "was fit except poor Wilson, whose eyes were very bad. I told off those who 'were to return. I dreaded the necessity for choosing. I had calculated to start from 85 degrees with twelve tinits of food and eight men, and expected to be at the point on the morrow less on© day's food." On the. 21st the party reached the upper basin of the glacier, and took an atfecting farewell of Atkinson's party. Scott experienced great difficulties on the plateau from the rugged surface and crevasses. The weather was again unkind, while the anxiety of pitting their efforts against a time of measuring, hard*wrung endurance, against known and unknown tasks, was almost as wearing as the physical fatigue.' The huge pressure of the ridges barred the southward journey after passing the summit of the glacier. "GOAL SEEMS REALLY IN SIGHT." Scott says:— "l feel very cheerful. The goal seems really in sight. I only nray for a fair share of good weather." ITie 24th December was a glorious day The 6un shone and there was a cloudless, sky. "The wind rises and falls, and about us," says Scott, "is a scene of wildest desolation, but we are cheerful, and to-morrow is Christmas." On Christmas Day the party had extra rations. On the last day of the year, the 87th degree was crossed. There was still much soft snow. On 3rd January the party was 150 miles from its goal, and on the next day the Evans party returned northward. Commander Evans was terribly disappointed, but took it like a man. Captain Scott concludes: —"A month's provisions should see us through. If we can march well with a full. load, we Bhall be practically safe." The balance of the article described Commander Evans's journey when he nearly died of scurvy.