H.—46

3

of the two missing men. this being the only locality that has not been searched. The vessel then proceeded to Cape Royds, where some fresh water was obtained from a berg, and a visit paid to the 1907 hut for the purpose of leaving the following record : — " S.s. 'Aurora,' McMurdo Sound, 11th January, 1917. " The Government Relief Expedition under my command arrived here all well on 10th January, and relieved the surviving members of the Shackleton Expedition —namely, A. Stevens, E. Joyce, J. L. Cope, H. E. Wild, R. W. Richards, I. 0. Gaze, and A. K. Jack —who were found all well. We learned on arrival that Rev. A. P. Spencer-Smith died of scurvy on the Barrier on 9th March, 1916. Captain Mackintosh and V. G. Hayward perished on Bth May, L 916, in a blizzard while attempting to cross the sea ice from Hut Point to Cape Evans. The ' Aurora ' will leave McMurdo Sound during this week for Wellington, proceeding northwards past and in sight of Cape Adare, if ice conditions permit.—John Kino Davis, Commanding Relief Expedition." 16th January, 1917. —At 10 a.m. the ship arrived at the fast ice about 1J miles south of Cape Evans and embarked the search-party, which consisted of Sir E. Shackleton, Joyce, Wild, and Jack. The following report as to the work of this party was received : — " Dear Sir, — " McMurdo Sound, LGtli January, 1917. " Please receive the following report on search for the bodies of Lieutenant Mackintosh and Mr. V. G. Hayward : — " Saturday, 13th.—Arrived Cape Evans hut 1.30 p.m. Joyce and 1 left at 3 p.m. for the Razorbacks. We conducted a search round both islands, returning to the hut 7 p.m.; search fruitless. "Sunday, J4th. Started with Joyce at 10 a.m. to search the north side of Glacier Tongue, but the surface drift, with wind from S.E., decided me not to continue, as the ice was moving rapidly at the end of Cape Evans, and the pool between the hut and Inaccessible Island growing larger. The wind increased in the afternoon. " Monday, 15th. —Blowing south-east blizzard, with drift half up the islands. I considered unsafe to sledge that day, especially as ice was breaking away from south side of Cape Evans into the pool. Spent day putting hut in order. " Tuesday, 16th.—Got up at 3 a.m. Weather fine, calm. Started 4.20 with Joyce to the south at greatest possible speed; reached Glacier Tongue about 1J miles from seaward end. Wherever there were not precipitous cliffs there was an even snow slope to the top. We arrived about 7 a.m. From the top we searched with glasses; there was nothing to be seen but blue ice, crevassed, showing no protuberances. We came down and, half running, half walking, worked about 3 miles towards the root of the glacier; but I could see there was not the slightest chance of finding any remains owing to the enormous snow-drifts wherever the cliffs were accessible; also, the base of the steep cliffs had drifts 10 ft. to 15 ft. high. I arrived back at the hut at 9.40, and left almost immediately for the ship. " I consider that all places likely to hold the bodies of Lieutenant Mackintosh and Mr. Hayward have now been searched, and now there is no doubt to my mind that they met their deaths on the breaking of the thin ice when the blizzard arose on Bth May, 1916. " I am, &c, " E. H. Shackleton. " Captain J. K. Davis, Commander Ross Sea Relief Expedition, s.y. ' Aurora.' " P.S. —Messrs. Jack and Wild were busily employed throughout in squaring up the hut and erecting the cross to the memory of the three men who lost their lives in the service of the Expedition.—E. H. S." We remained alongside the ice at ('ape Evans throughout this day, waiting for a change of wind to open up the ice we were surrounded with towards the northward. 17th January, 1917. —At noon to-day, the ice having set out of the sound to the north, we proceeded in that direction with a view to examining the ice-conditions. We stood northward toward the Nordenskiold Barrier, when heavy pack obliged us to turn back south at 4 a.m. on 18th January. We now followed the edge of the pack as far as Beaufort Island, and during the evening of 19th January, the weather having cleared, we stood over to the western coast towards Dunlop Island, following it up till midnight, when we arrived at Granite Harbour, being at this time distant 2 miles from Cape Roberts. The weather was remarkably clear, objects being visible at a great distance. No mark or depot of any kind was seen. I now decided that we could accomplish nothing further by remaining here, and therefore gave orders for our departure. A course was set to the eastward with the object of getting out of the pack which surrounded us, and proceeding to Wellington. We continued northward till 22nd January against fresh northerly winds. At noon on this day we reached the main pack again, about 60 miles from ('ape Adare. A very marked blink extended all round the northern horizon, the winds from that; direction having evidently closed the pack. I considered that it would be advisable not to try and force our way round Cape Adare, and decided to return to the southward through the open water. It appeared to me that it would be at least a week before we could hope for better conditions. 25th January.—On this day we were off Beaufort Island again, and proceeded up the sound toward Cape Royds. Five miles north of this, however, we arrived at the edge of the pack, which