NORTHERN PARTY'S PRIVATIONS

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

NORTHERN PARTY'S PRIVATIONS

NEARLY ANOTHER TRAGEDY FACING SIX MONTHS IN AN IGLOO"WITH PROVISIONS FOR ONLY A MONTH. CHRISTCHimCH, Feb. 12. The Terra Nova berthed at Lyttelton at 11 o'clock this morning. The crew are all well. A story of a journey which was brhrful of harships, privations, and which very nearly ended in another tragedy, was told by Lieutenant Campbell, who led the Northern paTty. The paity consisted of Lieutenant Campbell, Surgeon Levick. Mr. Priestly (geologist), seamen Abbott, Browning, and Dickason. Returning- from their journey the party Teached Terra Nova Bay on February 16th. They anticipated "that the TerraNova would -be ther e to meet them, the vessel being expected there about the 17th. On reaching Terra Nova Bay, however, they found that the vessel was iiot there,, and, while they were keenlv disappointed, they thought that the TerraNova must have encountered bad weather. It" transpired, however, that it * was not_ bad weather but unfavourable ice conditions that had prevented the vessel reaching Terra Nova Bay. Lieutenant Campbell audi his party were now faced with a journey over ice of 200 miles to Cape Evans, but it was impossible to undertake the journey at this time, as the sea- \yas not properly frozen over*. "There wsr-e six of us in the party, and we had to irake up our ixiinds to winter there in a snow* drift," continued Lieutenant Campbell. "I n the snow drift we cut an igloo, which was to be our home for six months. We only . bad about a month's provisions, and we were not clothed, to spend the winter in aii igloo, but- there was nothing else for it. and we proceeded to make the best of our position." Continuing, Lieutenant Camobell said that they decided to kill as manv seals as possible, and during their sta'y here the party secured 17 seals. "Was that air the seals you caught?" asked a pressman. "Well." answered Lieutenant Campbell. with a smile, "ycu can get a lot of meat off 17 seals if von eat it carefully." The party were in absolute darkness in the igloo, but they succeeded in making some lamps with the aid of seal blubber, and so obtained light to brighten their surroundings. Then a small blubber stove was arranged, and this added to the comfort of the men. At the mencement of their six months' ment ;n the ijrloo the members of the party were supriied with one biscuit a day each, but the small supply of biscuits scon ran out ,and for the greater portion of the time their daily' meals consisted of one unchanging meal secured from seals. The company also rah out of their supply of tobacco, and this served to add to their discomforts. Asked how they managed to pass the six months in the igloo in the snowdrift, Lieutenant Campbell smilingly remarked : "Bv sleep, and occasional sing songs." He also said tbat some members of the narty gave interesting lectures on various subjects which served t-c' while awav the long dark hours. .Eventually the winter came 1o an end, and they were able to leave their camp on September 30th for Cape Evans. Two of their iren—Browning and Dickason — were ill when they left, and for the first few days they were able to make only afew miles a day. After three daysBrcvnins imrroved, but Dickason' suf- ' fered longer, and during the journey to

| Cape Evans he had occasionally ttt he j placed upon i> Oh their way to J the basa the members of the party made collections of geological specimens. At one spot they found a small depot of specimens loft by Professor Davici, who f was with Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition. The 2emainder of the journey was carried out without further incident, and the Cape Evans camp was gained on. November 7th. There better food., of tvhich tliey had been so long deprived, effected a speedy restoration of their condition. Lieutenant Campbell paused in his discourji. and Commander Evans observed that one could have ito co'nrention of the hardships uhich Lieutenant Campbell and his companions had <:one through. It is extraordinary that thev ever surS vived." ho said.