MAROONED EXPLORERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16327, 6 September 1916, Page 6

MAROONED EXPLORERS.

FOUR MONTHS ON ISLAND.

ENDURANCE OF PRIVATIONS

NARROW ESCAPE OF PARTY.

WILD'S GOOD LEADERSHIP,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 7 cm.) LONDON. September 4. : Sin Ernest Shackleton, in a despatch to the Daily Chronicle, dated Punta Arenas, September 3, says:— fourth attempt to rescue my comrades on Elephant Island succeeded. All arrived safe and well. On j this occasion I set a course that enabled the steamer Yelcho to approach the island from the north-west, the ice having worked towards the north-east. We reached Lieutenant Wild's camp on August 50. after steering, in a fog, through numerous stranded icebergs. We immediately started on the return journey. "With Lieutenant Wild lies the credit of having kept tho party together, in strength and safety, under the most trying and most difficult conditions. I cannot speak foo highly of Mr. Crcan and Lieutenant Worsley, who have seen things through with me." Several Men Frostbitten. The following is Lieutenant Wild's report, which was cabled by Sir Ernest , !Shackleton:—" On April 25, the day after | the.departure of tho boat, the island was , beset with dense pack ice; and the party [was confined to a narrow spit of land, 1250 yds long by 40yds wide, surrounded by inaccessible cliffs, and ice-laden seas. We were forced to abandon the ice house, owing to the snow making it untenable. Wo theroforo made a dwelling of two boats, supported on rocks, as far as practicable, from tho sea. Tho weather continued appalling, and the vitality of the whole party was lowered by exposure. Messrs. Blackboro, Hudson, Grecnstreet, and Dickinson became ill, and several of ! the others were frost-bitten. A blizzard in May swept much valuable gear into the sea. and we were in danger of being swept | away by the heavy seas, due. to the blizizard, which attained a velocity of 70 miles j lan hour. Fortunately, an ice foot was 'formed on the seashore, and this protcc- ! tion meant the saving of us from total destruction. The adjacent glacier 'calved' ' on several occasions, causing heavy waves. I Onco blocks of ice were hurled within 16fl of our dwelling. One Hot Meal Daily. 'Wo drastically economised our food, and had only one hot meal daily until we strengthened our reserve of blubber. Oar •valuable stock of bovril and other rations were used for two meals weekly. Tho season was late, so wo were kept in anxiety regarding the moat supply, but we periodically replenished it with small penguins. Seals were unable to land, owing to the ice foot. Thero was less wind in Juno onwards, but wo were under a constant fall of fog and snow. Blackboro's tees woro amputated. The three previous attempts at relief synchronised with tho times tbo island was beset by ice. Wo were able to collect seaweed and limpets at the beginning of August, and thc;o provided a valuablo change of diet. Heavy sons and ico prevented fishing. A galo on August 28 drove the pack ico from the island, and through tho lifting fog on August 30 we saw tho Yelcho approaching. I wish to place on record tho good morale of tho I entire party."