CAPTAIN C. A. LARSEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 4

CAPTAIN C. A. LARSEN.

NOTED EXPLORER’S DEATH. Newg was received in Dunedin yesterday morning of the sudden death of Captain C. A. Larson, master of the Sir James Clark Ross, the mother ship of the Norwegian whaling expedition, now operating in the Ross Sea. The news was received in the form of a wireless message by Mrs Larsen (who is. residing temporarily with friends at Port Chalmers) from her son on board the Sir James Clark Ross. Dr Borrie, of Port Chalmers, also received a similar message from the ship’s surgeon. The receipt of these messages came as a shock to Captain Larsen's many friends at this port. The cause of death was heart trouble, the deceased having been subjected to seizures recently. The Sir James Clark Ross was 15deg from the South Pole when the wireless messages were despatched. The message to Dr Borrie stated that Captain Larsen’s body would be embalmed and conveyed to Norway for burial when the expedition returns early next year. Death occurred on Sunday night. The deceased leaves a family of five, daughters and. two sons. One son is a junior officer -on the Sir James Clark Ross. Mrs Larsen and a niece Miss Thorsen, came out from Norway to Port Chalmers by the vessel. Tho late Captain Larsen was 63 years of age, and was manager of tho mother ship and officer in charge of the expedition. Ho was a noted Norwegian explorer, having led several expeditions to South Georgia, and was decorated by the King of Norway for his services. He was considered a paramount authority on whaling and all matters pertaining to the industry in Norway. He was distinguished by being tho first person to develop the whaling industry in ‘South Georgia, the result of which was the development of the whaling enterprise in the South Shetlands to its present enormous dimensions. He was a clever and active Norwegian gentleman, artd conversed freely in English. Ho piloted the expedition to tho Antarctic for the first time last season. The Sir James Clark Rosa arrived at Bluff on November 10 from Norway, via Suez and Hobart. She then came to Port Chalmers, where she arrived on November 12, and after taking in 2500 tons of .coal and 1500 tons of fresh water, sailed on November 18 for Stewart Island and the Ross Sea.