ANTARCTIC HERO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 17

ANTARCTIC HERO

Sir, —I have been waiting for an abler pen than mine to take exception to the cabled obituary notice from London that appeared "on July 30 under the above heading, and purporting to give a short account of the life of Thomas Crean, petty officer and member of two or three Antarctic expeditions. To begin with, it savs he went to the South Pole (sic) twice with Scott and once with Shackleton. As Shackleton never reached the Pole, and Scott only reached it once, when Crean was not of his party, it seems a very careless piece of misinformation. With regard to the rest of the it may refer to a journey of which I know nothing; but I rather think it reiers to the following events. When Scott and his Polar party separated from the last supporting party Lieutenant Evans and Petty-Officers Crean and Lashley wore the last to see the Polar party alive, and turned back _ regretfully to commence their long journey to the base on January 4, ]912. The way was long and difficult; heavy crevasses and blizzards made the going slow. On about January 27 Lieutenant Evans began to show signs of developing scurvy. He insisted on pulling his load for as long as he was able, but at last his gallant companions were obliged to strap him on to_ one of the sledges. This meant leaving everything behind that was not absolutely essential. On February 17 tliev fourid themselves 35 miles from Hut Point, but on trying to movo Evans the next morning he collapsed and became so ill that Crean and Lashley decided it was impossible to move him. They had only one day's rations, so it was essential that someone should reach the base and bring back help. This was undertaken by Crean and Lashley remained to nurse and look after Lieutenant Evans. Crean's solitary walk of 35 statute miles alone (an 18-hour journey under those conditions) was made at the end of a journey of three and a-half months, and over ground covered with crevasses. He had three biscuits and a little chocolate to sustain himself. He had several falls on the sea-ice and the weather was getting worse and worse. However, he was just able to climb up to the Discovery Hut, and was thankful to see dogs and sledges on the ice. The sensation ho made when he burst into the hut with his news can be imagined. Fortunately Dr. Atkinson was there, and the man in charge of the dogs, Dimitri. Crean himself needed medical attention and half an hour after a blizzard broke, which delayed them; but as soon as possible the doctor and Dimitri set off with tAvo dog teams, fresh fruit and vegetables and other food. They were able to find the hut, because Lashley had tied a large piece of burberry on some bamboos for a flag, which showed through the storm. Lieutenant Evans was attended to and his life saved and the party brought him to Hut Point as soon as the weather permitted. M.J.