TRAGIC ANTARCTIC STORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 55, 6 March 1913, Page 5

TRAGIC ANTARCTIC STORY.

HIS COMRADES DIE. A SERIES OF MISFORTUNES. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Sydney, March 5. Professor David to-day received the following wireless message from Dr. Mawson; — “The Aurora arrived on January 12. All the sledge parties returned to the hut by January 17th, excepting my party—Lieutenant Ninnis, Dr. Mertz and myself. “On December 4, whilst exploring a new coast line of 300 miles south of the east winter quarters, Lieutenant Ninnis, with one dog team and almost all the food, disappeared in an unfathomable crevasse. “Dr. Mertz and myself, with inadequate provisions and six starving dogs struck out over the plateau lor the hut, encountering unexpectedly bad weather, retarding oiir progress. We subsisted chiefly on the dogs. “On January 17 Dr. Mertz died from causes arising from malnutrition.

“On February 7 J alone arrived at tli© hut, having travelled through snow and fogs, miraculously guided by Providence, through heavily crevassod areas. “Captain Davis had waited until it was no longer safe, and is now proceeding to our western base. Ho left a few hours before my arrival at the hut.” PROFESSOR DAVID’S VIEWS. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Sydney, March o. Professor David surmises that the accident to Mawson’s companions* happened while they were carrying out their intention of tracing the unexplored coast from their headquarters to the bay discovered by the Terra Nova eighteen months ago. Professor David is hopeful that when the Aurora returns from Wild’s basei, she will bo able to take off Mawson and his six companions.