THE SCOTT EXPEDITION

West Coast Times, 31 July 1913, Page 3

THE SCOTT EXPEDITION

PRESENTATION' ()!•' MEDALS. I"H PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIOHT. ■ LONDON. July 27. Ki»S George, :>t Unekiiigham Pabuv, pinned I’nlar medals on oil members of the Scott expedition. including Lady Scott. Airs Wilson. and Mrs Edgar Kvans, and the niotllers of Lieitt. Rowers and Captain Oates. He also gave Allicrt Medals to Chief-Stoker 'William I.ishlv and Petly-Ofticer Thomas Clean. Silver I’olar medals were civen ln these who had made more than one voyage. and bronze medals 'to the rest-

THE ALBERT MEDAL. WHY LASH LEV AXI) CREAN RECEIVD IT. ‘ The news that the King has persntiallv decorated the memlierK of te Rri•rish 'Ahtar.-tie Expedition, and flic mothers ami wives of those who lost their lives in doing its work, will be received witb satisfaction in Xew Zealand. That Chief-Stoker William La-hlv and P.O. Thomas Cavan have been awarded tbe Albert medal by tinKing is particularly pleasing, as it is a s;iecial recognition of their magnificent braverv and theii nnllincliing devotion to dnlv.

Win n Commander Evans, H.N. (then Lieutenant) parted from Captain I!. •Seott ami his little party of four men fl)r. Wilson. Captain Oates. Lieut. Bowers, IM.M-. and Chief P.O. Edgar Kvans, H.X.). about I‘.o miles from tile Smith Pole ill Kehrnary, 1012, lie was accompanied by (.ashly ami Crean on tin- long journey to tin- main base. A fortnight later Commander Kvans felt that he was heenming .too weak from the attack of scurvy to “carry on” much further, ami finally he became tillable to walk. He ordered the two men to go on and leave him, as he. felt he was too great a drag on them and was imperilling their lives. A\ itli tears in their eyes Lashley and Crean said they had never disobeyed orders before, hut they were going to do so on that occasion. They flatly refused to leave their leader, and he, lieiug weak and almost unconscious, was lashed on the sledge and man-hauled by these magnificent men for many weary days over frightful country and through terrific weather. At last, thirty-five miles from Hut Point. Lasley and Crean, weak from the strain of continued travel and the hauling of the sledge, were in a had way. Their food was well nig exhausted—only a few biscuits remained —and desperate measures were necessary. Lash’v stood by the sledge on which Lieut. Kvans was in a dying condition, and Crean set off alone to get help. With nothing hut a distant hill to guide him, Crean did a marvellous feat. He covered the thirty-five mile stretch as fast as he poor weal: legs would let him. A howling storm overtook him, hut still he struggled on with desperation, and in the blackness of the blinding blizzard he reached the goal and fell into the arms of Dr Atkinson, who had gone to Hut Point in the hope of helping the returning supporting party. He told his story in a few words, and a forced sledge journey hy Dr. Atkinson and his men found hastily waiting by the- side of Lieut. Evans. They were taken to the rase and Kvans nursed beck to life. Lashlv and C re.n remain, d in tit, Antarctic for another vear. but Limit. Evans went to England. He was sent for by the King and promoted to the rank of Commander. He told the King and Queen the story, and suggested that I«nhlv and Crean should ge; the Al-l-'n M.dal,