THE DASH FOR THE POLE.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13649, 14 February 1913, Page 5

THE DASH FOR THE POLE.

STORY FROM CAPTAIN SCOTT'S

DIAILY

VALUABLE SPEOIS•T.N'S SECURED

HOW EVANb DIED

[United Press Association.] (Copyright Report.)

Wellington, Fob. 13. The following facts will bo of further interest to the public:— On January 4th, 1912, Commander; Evans left Captain Scott and his'party to, continue their" journey to " the I'olc. They marched on an average of twelve miles a day right xip to the Pole, and reached the Pole on January 18th, about 156 statute miles from the spot where Commander Evans*turned back — in 87 degrees. 35 mimites. ■

. The first day. at the' Polo was cloudy, with a mock sun. The •second day, rhe 18th January, was clearer, and the fiiin tvas viaiblo. Sights were, then taken, Qaptain Scott using a. four inch theodolite, while Captain Amundsen had used a- sextant, with an artificial horizon. The fixing of the Pole by the two explorers differed by only half a mile, thus practically locating the same spot. Captain Sc/att'jfe. observations cave latitude 89 degrees 59i , minutss. The party marched on an. extra, half mile by sledge meter, and there planted the Union Jack.

In latitude 88 they had previously picked iip the Norwegian's clods' tracks and followed these to the Norwegian camp within three miles of the. Pole. The track was obliterated by drift snow at intervals. The party found all tiie records and gear left by Captain -Amundsen. Mr. Sastrugi". from two directions marked out ithePblo; .There was evidence of a slight blizzard since Captain Amundsen erected his tent. The temperature was about 20 degrees

below zero, and the surface, unlik^-thu barrier, was ©oft, and had no crust. It was found that Bnow collected from any, depth, on melting, also /unlike the Barrier snow, gave very little water. Ten photographs of Captain Scott's party at the, Polo were taken, and the filme were recovered and developed at Cape Evan©; also two photographs of the Norwegian tent, with Captain Scott's party around it. , The return,journey, overvthe plateau was marked by a series of good in sue has and medium weather, the temperature*' 'a\o.rngmy; between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. The marches varied up \o eighteen iiu!<?e a day to the top of *he Beardmor© glacier. Both depots on tho plateau, one in 37 degrees south, and one close ..under /Mt,. Darwin, 85 7 degrees south, were secured. Before descending the./. Beardmore glacier Doctor Wilson and Lieutenant Bowers visited Buckley Island, a large nunatak at the top of the glacier, Hero they spent some time making a largo collection of fo&sil-bearing sandstones; and also coal in quantity. These fossils should finally settle the age of the latest sedimentary deposits yet found m Victoria Land, and are certainly tho best yet obtained in this quadrant. Leaving Buckley's Island, and cmi g down the glacier, the party passed Sit Kinsey, a: magnificent dolerite peak 11,000 feet high—anI'admirable' oomt tr> steer by. They reached the email depot underneath the C.oudmaker, and an other; halt /wae* made, for-geological investigation. From th© side of the Cloudmaker fossil^ of much greater age were found in the limestone. In all thirty-five pounds of geological specimens were collected, carefully packed, and taken forward by the party/ right up to its last camp, , and«cai#.;now • in^ the1 pos&j&sibn of tin© expedition. From the .Cloudmaker to the foot of the Beardmore glacier on the surfaces they encountered the same deep enow 6uriaces as were found on the way up, which, with the bad weath©r 4 fcovere'.j hampered their march. Throughout the ..descent ( .the, weather -was-, abuprmaliy thick', with siiow cryetals falling, ami the surrounding land only occasionally seen

Captain Scott dates th© beginning oi Petty Otncer ilklgar Evana' failure-from th© time of reselling the Pole. He: wss a great anxiety to them on the• plateau-.■ In their deecent of the glacier they 'j,bt ainong«Q V^y rough ice, and EVau* fell, .injuring his head, and sustaining a serious concussion. During the whole descent hu> condition delayed the party, and the surplus food gradually, dimin idied.

On February 17th, while on march, hig foot worked out of a tiki shoe, and he was compelled to fall out and remain behind to readjust,,his foot gear.' The party moved along, and Boeing that ho .was not-following., they camped, and cooked a ineai. anticipating thatEvanfi would reach tho tent wheii the meal was ready. As he was not up at thai: time, they went, back for aim, and found that iie had collaj»sed. He bravely tried .tft-MA-J; iorwardy .but-had?'; to-be" rplac<>d oh'a sledge. He died a natural death within two hours'of l-eaching the tchf. ' x ; :

This delay, as Scott stated, greatly weakened the party, made an inroad into the 6urplu« provisions; and unduly advanced tlie season.