SCIENTISTS PERISH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 221, 18 September 1936, Page 7

SCIENTISTS PERISH

TRAGEDY IN ARCTIC BARQUE LOST IN STORM ONLY ONE SURVIVOR FRENCH “SHACKLETON” DEAD [By Telegraph—Pres? Association—Copyright] Received Sept. 17, 6.10 p.m. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 16. Dr. J. B. Charcot, leader of a French Polar expedition aboard the wooden barque Pourquoi-pas (449 tons), and all except one member of the crew, were drowned when the vessel sank in a storm off the Iceland coast, on which 30 bodies were washed up. Dr. Charcot sailed for Angmagsalik, Greenland, this summer to bring back to France Robert Gessai and Michel Perez, who, with Paulemile Victor, Intended to cross Greenland by sleigh and carry out scientific investigations. Victor remained in Greenland, and it is understood that Gessai and Perez were aboard the Pourquoi-pas. The Pourquoi-pas sailed from Raykjavik on the night of September 15. She immediately encountered a fierce storm and was wrecked while apparently striving to return. Rescue vessels found only the masts above water. Aboard were Dr. Charcot, seven French scientists, and 26 of a crew, all French. The only survivor, Eugene Gonedec, saved his life by clinging to a piece of wreckage on which he was washed ashore unconscious four miles from the wreck and after nearly five hours in the icy water.

Gonedec stated: "The vessel ran aground at 5 a.m. and immediately sprang a leak. The engines stopped soon afterwards and the boiler burst. Terrific seas broke over the decks, preventing the launching of the lifeboats. I managed to swim ashore because I seized a piece of wreckage. The others were either washed overboard or trapped.” Dr. Charcot is known as the French Shackleton.