THE LONG WHITE TRAIL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 123, 20 November 1929, Page 18

THE LONG WHITE TRAIL

ANTARCTIC EXPERIENCES

SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION

Kear-Admiral E. R. G. E. Evans, commander of H.M.A. Squadron, gave a graphic account of his Antarctic experiences over the radio recently, reports the Melbourne "Argus." He gave a powerful word-picture of Captain Scott's last expedition.

"My own connection with » Antarctic exploration dates back to 1902,". said Kear-Admiral Evans. "My introduction to the ice came during a relief expedition in a dirty' 32 years old whaler, the Morning. That first relief expedition was really a great Antarctic paperchase. I' nearly screamed with enthusiasm at' the sight of. our' first iceberg. I made two voyages in the Morning, and these relief voyages to the Great White South were in reality the most important chapters in my life, for my future depended on how I acquitted myself then. On Christmas Day, 1902, an ■unknown island was sighted. We called it after Captain Scott, and this is the only piece of land that bears the name of that great explorer."

Rear-Admiral Evans then told the story of the Long* White Trail, the story of the march of nearly 1800 miles which took Scott and his companions to the South Pole, and almost home again. He said: "Sixteen men took part in the march, and by a system of supporting parties, foodstuffs, fodder, and fuel were taken from our base camp at Cape Evans out on to the Great Ice Barrier. The journey lasted about - five months. On the first stage—nearly 500 miles—we were assisted by motor sledges, Manchurian ponies, and Siberian sledge dogs. Two • supporting parties returned during this advance, and when we had.killed all our ponies, because of a great blizzard which ate into our food reserve, three teams each of four men began the ascent of the Beardmore Glacier, 150 miles in length,' which rose to nearly 6000 ft' above the level of the barrier. In latitude 85 S. the third supporting party turned homeward, ' leaving two teams, one under Captain Scott and the other under my own leadership, to face the final stage to. the Pole. I shall never forget the loneliness of that bitterly cold march. A steady wind blew in • our faces, giving us the sensation of a thousand frozen needle-points jabbing us. Three degrees from the Pole we established the last large depot. Scott,told me that he was quite sure that he could reach the Pole, but he was not sura of oeing able to finish the 900 miles march/ back to Cape Evans. He said that the' only way to avert disaster was to take one of my four, men to give him greater hauling power. I consented. We accompanied Scott's team for a few miles. • We then halted, shook hands all round, and said good-bye. As Scott and his four companions stepped off we gave them three hearty cheers, little realising that those cheers were the last appreciation they would ever know.. We then turned northward, and saved three days of inarching by tobogganing down the great ice-falls at the head of the glacier. This bold step undoubtedly' saved bur lives. I shall never forget that awful descent, and at one time we must have been going at 60 miles an hour, as our sledge sped over blue, slippery ice, and we crashed from mound to mound. We eventually reached the great, ice barrier again, and therejwe dug out the carcass of one of the ponies and ravenously devoured the flesh without even waiting to cook it. The. last i stage—soo miles— across that vast frozen Sahara, nearly spelt death for me, because I developed scurvy.' No wounded man in .the Great War was ever better tended than I was by my two gallant companions. They refused to . leave me when I ordered them. They put me in my sleepingbag, strapped me to the sledge, and then those gallant fellows toiled wearily northward for nearly a week. Thirtyfive miles from the nearest camp Crean and Laslily, my companions, decided that Crean should - attempt the march in. Lashly, remained with me to nurse me until.the end came. Crean, after a fearful march, reached Hut Point and collapsed. He revived and indicated our whereabouts. A party was sent "out to bring us in, and our lives were saved."