THE "QUEST" IN THE THAMES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 86, 8 October 1921, Page 5

THE "QUEST" IN THE THAMES

TWO SCOUTS SELECTED

CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE

PRINCE.

(FROM OUR OWN COHRBBPONDINT.) LONDON, 21th August.

: Probably before a fortnight has paused the good ship Quest, in whioh Sir Ernest Shackleton proposes to carry out his next great adventure, will be steaming down the Thames, and bo on to the lonely seas of the Antarctic. She will steam," but there is nothing imposing in her engines. It will not be long before her sails'are" unfurled to the wind, and she will go into the unknown much in the same way as Sir Hugh Willoughby'g three little ships went out in 1653 '.'for the discovery of regions, dominions, islands, and places unknown/ and as Maritin Frqbjsher's three ships, whose united burden anioTlnted only to 75 tpnß, went on their quest of the northWest passage. lie Quest is a tiny vessel of iZS tons, a topsail schooner. One does not expect the latest comforts on board, and no one is disappointed in this. She is a sturdy little vessel, and has already been tried in the whaling grounds of the North. Her bows, shod with steel, stand high out of the water. Possibly this may afford some protection from the lash of heavy seas, but it needs no great imagination to foretell the discomfort of those on board in "the angry seas of the south. In the New Zealanderj Captain F. A. Worsley, Sir Francis Shackleton has a master mariner who has brought more than one small vessel through hazardous experiences. The Prime Minister of New Zealand has more than once during his stay in England stressed the fact that the people of the Dominion are a maritime race, and must always remain so. Surely there is no better proof of this than the fact that among this small body of explorers two at least are New Zealanders. Three were chosen to go, though one for private reasons had to refuse. Thus the mariners of the larger Britain join hands with* those qf the Britain of the South in their attempt to add further to the accomplishments of British seamen.

It has fallen to the lot of Major C. R. Carr, a young New Zealand flying man, to "be in. charge <5t the aerial department of the expedition. Great things are expected from this branch of the work, for mapping and the exploration of islands mil thus be made easy. Major Carr has tried the Baby Avro, which is to be taken on board, in Southampton Waters, and pronounoes it a good machine. Its maximum speed is 87 miles per hpur and its minimum 43. It has a climbing speed of 60 miles per hour, and can climb. 5000 feet in 15 minutes, and carried a maximum useful load of BOOiLbs. It is also fitted with a revolving "clear view" screen for work in the rain and anow of the Antarctic. On leaving the docks at Southampton Waters the Que9t immediately became the object of courtesies from the ships passing up and down the roads. Even warships, old and new, like the Antrim and the Malaya, gave the Quest as she bucketed by, the seamen's God-speed. In due course the Quest arrived in. the Thames, and since her arrival the public have taken a very great interest in her. The most noticeable features of the Quest are' the deckhouse in front of the bri<k», where the cabin-cum-offlces of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the experts of the expecfitioTi tore looated, and the two stout lifeboats and a gracefully curved surfboat aft. The forecabin is to be used as biological and photographic department, and two of the experts will have bunks among their apparatus. The first dcci of the hold is,to be used not only for stores by for the wireless machinery. Two sets are to be taken, one with a radius of 400 miles, another which will carry 1200 miles by day and 2500 miles by night, and up to' 3000 miles with, the,aid of a kite. The receiving apparatus will carry over a distance of 4000 miles, and a similar model had done 6000 miles- ' There is a useful little bridge covered in with triplex glass, and above it a flying bridge looking out over the flat roof of the deok-house, whence the Quest* tiny seaplane will take off on her patrols of, the air. The seaplane, with its planes diamantted, will be Btow«d on the deck. A gyroscope compass is also being fitted for the delicate reading in low latitudes. Aft by a hatchway ones gains access to the messroom, where in tropical heat as in the rigours of th,e Antarctic the members of •the expedition will Uve long days together. This, even now,., is cosy and well fitted. It is large considering the size of the vessel, and when one remember* that at least ten of the members of the expedition will have their sleeping' accommodation in this compartment, one realises that the strictest of tidiness and compactness will be necessary. Moreover, there will be no reason for such things as deck games. There are other small cabins and compartments, a little igallery opening on. to^the deck, wjiere Green, the expedition's cook, will hold office. Two lifeboats and a surfboat are carried. When all is stowed and ready there.will not be a spare yard of room in her.

Sir Ernest Shackleton has now chogfen the " crew "'6t the expedition. ,It was intended that the crew should consist ,of one Boy Scout, but in making the final choice from JOOQ applicants Sir Ernest found it impossible to discriminate between the two leading applicants, and eventually chose Patrol Leader J. W. S. Marr, of Aberdeen^/and Patrol Leader N. E. Mooney, of Jkirkwall, Orkney, "So you see," said Sir Ernest afterwards, "I have had to go furtherest north to-go furthest south. They are /both boys with character," he added, " and -it is certain < they have ability. So there are two boys going with the expedition instead of one." jv Patrol Leader Marr's eighteen years have been spent in the keen air that makes his so firm and virile. He has played Rugby football and tennis nearly all his life. He has also worked hard at Aberdeen University,, and passed in Greek, natural philosophy, chemistry, and geology. There are certain things that Patrol Leader ]S.arr declined to speak of, very politely but firmly]; when he was interviewed. One -was an accir' dent that occurred an Banff--tyro-years ago, when he saved a young girl from drowning. Immediately afterwards he made another, though vain, effort tq B»T8 a second girl and a boy who were also in difficulties. Thjg bit 9* gallantry is the secret of the blue ribbon which is' almost hidden among the score of Scout orders on his shirt. It'is the ribbon of the silver cross of the Royal Humane Society. • ' . Patrol-Leader Mqoney is. a very silent -boy, a year younger than his comrade in the adventure. He rarely speaks, but there is something . about his reserve which must have impressed the leader of the expedition. He is the sort of boy who would undergo severe trials wjthout. flinohing. He had never seen a train before, and what his day in London meant to him lie alone knows. There came a time at lfist wheiuho sinijllv could not take in any more. Marr was soing to bell farmer like 3iis father. "But I 'don't-think I sliall now," he said. "I shall go on expeditions with Sir Ernest Shackluton if he will have me the next time, us well! I have waited-.for this always."

[Cable messages last month reported that the Quest had jailed on her voyage,]