POLAR HEROES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 14 February 1913, Page 5

POLAR HEROES

CAPTAM 3COTVS DIARY THE t'ARTY AT TH& POLE PLANTING OF THE UNION JACK. (Copyright Report.) WELLINGTON. Feb. 13. The following facts will -be of further interest to the public : On January 4th, 1912, Commander Evans left Captain Scott and his party to continue their journey to the Pole. Thev marched on an average of 12 miles a, dav right up to the Pole, and reached the "Pole on January 18th, about 156 statute miles from the spot where Commander Evans turned back—;n 87 degrees 35 minutes. The first day at the Pole was cloudy, with a mock sun. The second day was clearer, and the sun was visible. Sights were Captain Scott using'a four-inch theodolite, while Captain Amundsen had used a sextant, with an artificial horizon. The fixing of the Pole bv the two explorers differed by onlv half a mile, thus practically locating the same spot. -Contain Scott's observations gave latitude" 89 degrees 5°4 minutes. The partv marched on an extra half mile by sledge meter, and there planted the Union Jack. AMUNDSEN RECORDS FOUND. In latitude 88 they had previously picked uo the Norwegian's dogs' tracks and followed, these to the Norwegian camp within three miles of the Pole. The track was obliterated by drift snow at intervals. The party found all the records and gear left by Captain Amundsen. Mr. Sastrugi, from two directions marked out the "Pole. There was evidence of a slight blizzard since Captain Amundsen erected his tent. The temperature was about 20 degrees below zero, and the surface, unlike the Barrier, was soft, and had no crust. It was found that snow collected from any depth. on melting, also unlike the Barrier snow, gave very little water. Ten pho--tographs of Captain Scott's party at the Pole were taken, and the films were recovered and developed at Cape Evans: also two photographs of the Norwegian tent, with Captain Scott's party around it. START ON THE. RETURN JOURNEY" The return journey over the plateau was marked by a series of good marches and medium weather, the temperatures averaging between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. The marches varied up to 18 miles a day to the top cf the Beardmore glacier. Both depots on the plateau,' one in 87 degrees south, and. one close under Mt. Darwin. 85.7 degrees south, were secured. GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. Before descending the Beardmore Glacier Doctor Wilson and Lieutenant Bowers visited Buckley Island, a large nunatak.at the top of the glacier. Here they spent some time making a large collection of fossil-bearing sandstones, and also coal in quantity . These ,fossils should finally settle the age of the latest sedimentary deposits yet- found in Victoria Land, and are certainlj- the best yet obtained in this quadrant. Leaving Buckley's Island, and going down the glacier, the party passed Mt. Kinsey, z magnificent dolerite peak, 11,000 feet high—an admirable point to steer by. They reached the small depot underneath the Cloudmaker, and another halt was made io r geological investigation. , From the side of the Cloudmaker fossils of much greater age were found in the limestone. In all 35 of geological specimens were collected, carefully packed, and taken forward by the party, rizht up to its last camp, and are now- in the possession of th ? expedition. From the Cloudmaker to the foot of the Beardmore Glacier on the surfaces they encountered the same deep snowsurfaces as were found on the way up. which, with the bad weather, severely hampered their march. Throughout the descent the weather was abnormally thick, with snow crystals falling, and the surrounding land only occasionally seen. PETTY-OFFICER EVANS' ILLNESS AND DEATH. Captain Scott dates the beginning of Petty-Officer Edgar Evans' failure irom the time of reaching the Pole. He was a great anxiety to them on the plateau. In their descent of the glacier they got amongst very rough ice, and Evans fell. injuring his head, and sustaining a- serious concussion. During 'itfhe whole descent his condition delayed the party, and the surplus food gradually diminished. On February 17th, while on march, his -foot worked out of a ski shoe, and he was compelled to fall out and remain behind to readjust his foot gear. The party moved along, and seeing that he was not following, they camped, and cooked a meal, anticipating that Evans -would reach the tent when the meal was ready. As he was not up at that time, they went back for him, and found thai he had collapsed. He bravely tried t< go forward,, but had to be placed on s sledge. He died a natural death withir two hours of reaching the tent. This delay, as Scott stated, greatlj weakened the party, made an inroad intc the surplus provisions, and unduly ad vanced the season. CROSSING Tltk BARRIER—SLOW PROGRESS. Owing to the lateness of the season and the consequent fall in temperature the surface becanie like sand.. It i: well known in Polar climates that ic< crystals, which melt under the frictioi of the sledges when running over then at a high, temperature, cease to do s< when the thermometer falls to 30 belov zero, and become cutting, edges. Thes' low temperatures complained of by Cap tain Scott account for the slowness o his party's progress over the Barrier The average distance between the depot was 65 miles, which, not allowing fo bad weather, meant that the party mus average over nine miles a day. The iod and fuel ,in each depot gave full ration at this speed for a week. THE PARTY WEAKENING. The fcest march of the southern part on tiie"Barrier approximately nin miles, failing in later stages to as low a three miles. This failure to maintai a bieger speeVl was undoubtedly due t . poor Oates' failing, condition. The cor stant tax on the energies of the part was rapidly weakening them, and. whe they had to face persistent winds, anfrequent blizzards, the' hopeless natur of the outlook was forced up° n . tn€ir but they never relinquished their ga lant struggle, and fought on heroicall to the bitter end, as recorded in th previous despatch