PAINFUL SENSATION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13647, 12 February 1913, Page 5

PAINFUL SENSATION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

SURPRISE AT WITHHOLDING THp LIEUT. PENNELITIN SECLUSION^

IBFmted Press Association.j

Chrfstchurch, Fob. 11. A very painful sensation wae caused jiero when the London mossago came through concerning the loss of the bouthern party. The party consisted

Captain Scott. Dr. Wilson. Captain Oatos. Lieutenant Bowers. Potty Officer Evans. An application was immediately made, to Mr J, j. Kinsey, the New Zealand agent for the expedition, for confirmation of the London message. Mr Kinsey, however, was unable to add any details to the. message received from ijondon. He said it was a repetition of j j °mei ne ne *iad himself sent. He> a^ ded *hat a further message should shortly be in the hands of the New Zealand newspapers, but all information at Loda c would taye to come through

Ihe earjy return of the Terra Nova yesterday caused much speculation, a» it was known that Captain: Scott's plans involved full utilisation ■of th© summer months in Antarctica, and the lerra IStova. consequently was expected late in March. It was a very general .suggestion that the early return was duetto some disaster. Lieutenant Pennell is staying with' Mr. Kinsey, he being anxious to remain m seclusion. " Mr Kinsey spent an arduous, sleepless night. When seen- this morning to had a, pile of cablegrams on hie desk! iie _ is unable ■: to see people who are anxious for details of the disaster Not even the barest Ihint of the disaster, was allowed to leak out yesterday, and Jhe. news this morning came as a ■areadful shock to ,the hosts of friends mado.bjrthe members ofithe expedition 14 Christohurch. Indeed, the Earliest j rumours were received ■ with fiat incredulity,, it being assumed that if such agreat calamity, had befallen th© expedition, those concerned would surely Jiave^mentioned it when the vessel call-ed-at Gamaru. That secrecy was so jealously maintained' was. ih the circumetanceis,: incredible. ;: i /The persistence."^ the;,rumourscar/^l^ nvf the •. Star office'flag was. half-inasied showed the:.people arriving in, iowri at 9 a.m. 'that* sad news' of some sort ■ had been received; v: ■; v •, ■

j, The Cathedral bell tolled shortly af-terwards,.-and the iragedy'sobri took on the_ : appearance of & national; disaster 80» ias tll^. '^7 w^s coricerned:" As'Mr. .Eiisey and Lieut." Penaell were unable;' to see visitors/the newspaper 'offices had ,to answer queries, and the public refused to believe that no .prol^laoi■■^^as^obliaiola^l©'■:]ocally.