DEATH OF CAPTAIN SCOTT & PARTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 13 February 1913, Page 5

DEATH OF CAPTAIN SCOTT & PARTY

WORLO Wis£ EXPRESSIONS CF SYMPATHY A NATIONAL FUND OPENED LIEUTENANT CAMPBELL'S THRILLING URMim SCURVY THE PRIMARY G IOSE OF THE DISASTER PROFESSOR DAVID'S DEDUC-1 /■ TIONS. IDEA OF INSUFFICIENT RATIONS DISPROVED.

(Press Association.—Copyright Copy). (Received 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Professor David, interviewed, said that the idea- that Scott had left his party and himself on too reduced rations was quite disproved b}- tne direct statemeat in Scott's diary regarding the deSaiJs of the dash for the Pole working <aot tp perfection. That scurvy was the prims cause of the disaster was obvious from the following facts :—Evans and Atkinson, members of the supporting party of foul*, who were despatched back to the winter quarters when Scot-t was within 170 miles of the Pole, contracted scurvy. The whole party previous to this separation had been subsisting on exactly similar rations, and Scott's party existed on like rations irom January" 3rd until their death. Scurvy was still imperfectly understood. It was connected either with food which was actively deleterious to the human system (as in the case of tainted bacon which, caused scurvy in the southern party of Scott's first- expedition in 1902-3), or with food thai was deficient in some- ingredients absolutely essential to keeping the bcdy in health. That scurvy actually attacked the Polar party seems clear from Scott's diary, although the word scurvy is not expressly used. Professor David, in support, quotes the reference regarding the sickness of Seaman Evans and Oates, and though it is not clear whether Wilson, Bowers and Scott were affected with scurvy, it was more than probable that they had' then, or just previously, light attacks. Even if -they had not had scurvy their health undoubtedly would be weakened by the fact that in the long continuous gales and very low temperatures they would have been unable to perspire. "We found on the Shackleton expedition," said Processor David, "that perspiring very materially helped to keep us in good health.'' Had the party not been weakened by some kind of sickness they wonld surely have won through in spite of all the low temperatures and all the blizzards. Referring to the shortage of fuel at the depots Professor David states that .Bernard Day, who assisted in laying «ome of the depots, assures him that a full allowance of oil fuel was lef:. in all the depots, but the allowance which is officially fixed, viz., one gallon for four men for ten hours, only barely suffices for cooking in warm weather. No doubt in the severe weather encountered by Scott, in the o-reat ice barrier in March this allowance would be insufficient.