DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES

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

DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES

CAIRN AND CROSS ERECTED. The search party found the tent on November 10th. 1912. half covered with snow. The sledges with the gear was completely covered. The tent was well spread, and the inner tent in place on poles. • The bodies were identified, the inner tent placed over them, and a large cairn cf snr.w erected, with a cross placed on top. and the following record left : "This cross and cairn is erected over the remains of Captain ]?.. V. Scctt. C.V.U.. R.N. : E. A. Wilson, and Lieutenant 11. R. Bowers. R.1.M., as a slight token to perpetuate their gallant and. successful „attempt to reach the Pole. This th-y -did on the 17th January, 1912, after th e Norwegians had already done so on 15th December, 1911. Also to commemorate their two gallant comrades Captain L. E. G. Oates, of the Inniskilling Dragoons, who walked to his death in a iil zzarcl willingly, about 20 miles south of this place, to try and save his comrades beset by hardship. Also cf Petty-Officer Edgar Evans, R.N., who died at the foot of the Beardmore glacier. 'The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name cf the Lord." " SEARCH FOR CAPTAIN OATES' BODY. Dr. Atkinson states that no symptoms of scurvy existed. All the records were collected, and the whole «sarch party proceeded 25 miles south to search for Captain Oates' body. No trace of it was found. Near the site of his departure from his comrades a cross and cairn was erected. and the following record left on the cairn : "Hereabouts died a very gallant gentleman, Captain L. E. G. Oates, Inniskilli-ng Dragoons, who. on their return from the Pole in March. 1912, willingly walked to his death in a blizzard to try and save his comrades beset by hardships.'' HOW THE SEARCH TARTY TRAVELLED. Seven mules, supplied by the Indian Government, were used by the search party. Their rations consisted of lllbs of oilcake and two of oats. The speed of their march on an average was better than that of the ponies of the previous year. and from the start the daily marches averaged 14 miles. The surfaces en the outward journey were exceptionally good, and the mules made good progress without sinking deeply in the deep snow encountered. On the return the men had a. much heavier -task. Their difficulty in connection with the mules was that they would' eat anything except the rations. The food of some of. them consisted of rope, corn, tea leaves, man biscuits, and dog biscuits, and tobacco ash. The weights hauled by the mules were much, heavier than those hauled by the ponies, the highest weights at one time being 760 pounds. Their gear, -which had been supplied by the Indian Government, showed great forethought, and. only had to be altered in very slight ways. "Their snow goggles were especially useful, and a comfort to the animals. * The harness was breast harness. Two mules. were shot on the Barrier, and five returned after doing 350 miles of hard pulling in a temperature falling to 29 degrees below zero. There were two teams of dogs, 11 in each team, and 18 of the 22-were brought down in the first year. All the stores were brought back to the depot at Hut, Point.

Tlu> care of the mules devolved on Chief-Stoker Lashiev. and his constant attention kept them in good order. De*ail?d records have b£on kept showing 'he performance of each mule during Ui fi winter, and the travelling season. These will };:-• sent to the Supplv and Transport Department of the Indian Government, who trained the mules for the expedition.

The health of the search party was xcellent throughout.