ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1913, Page 35

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

DEATH OF CAPTAIN SCOTT AND FOUR COMPANIONS The Antarctic exploration vessel, the Terra Nova, called at Oamaru on Monday morning and landed two of its officers, who cabled Home a report of Captain Scott's expedition. On, Tuesday forenoon came the sad news that Captain Scott had reached the Pole, but that on the return journey the leader of the expedition and four of his companions had perished in a blizzard. The Terra Nova arrived at Cape Evans on January 18 this year, and obtained the following information from the shore party there : Captain Scott reached the South Pole on January 18, 1912, and found Captain Amundsen's tent and his records. On the return journey the whole of the southern party perished. Captain Scott, Dr. Wilson, and Lieut. Bowers died from exposure during a blizzard about March 29, 1912, at the last camp, 11 miles south of the one ten depot, or 155 miles from the hut at Cape Evans. Captain Oates died from exposure on March 17, and a seaman named Edgar Evans died from concussion of the brain on February 17. '-' It appears that a" search party left Cape Evans after the winter on October 30, organised by Dr. Atkinson, and consisting of two divisions, Dr. Atkinson taking the dog team with Mr. Garrard and Mr Demetri, and Mr Wright being in charge of the other party, including Messrs. Nelson, Gran, Lashley, Crean, Williamson, Keohane, and Hooper, with seven Indian mules. They were provisioned for three months, expecting an extended search. One Ton Camp was found .n order and well provisioned. Proceeding along the old southern route, on November 12 Mr. Wright's party sighted Captain Scott's tent. Within it were Found the Bodies of Captain R. F. Scott (Royal Navy), Dr. E. A. Wilson (chief of the scientific staff), and Lieut. H. R. Bowers (Royal Indian Marine). From their records the following information was gleaned: —The first death was that of Seaman Edgar Evans, a petty officer in the Royal Navy, official number 160,225, who died on February 17 at the foot of the Beardmore Glacier. His death was accelerated by concussion of the brain sustained while travelling over rough ice some time before. Captain L. E. G. Oates (6th Inniskilling Dragoons) was next lost. His feet and hands were badly frostbitten, and although he struggled on heroically, on March 16 his comrades knew his end was approaching. He had borne intense suffering for a week without complaint, and he did not give up hope until the very end. Captain Scott writes: —'He was a brave soul.' He slept through the night, hoping not to wake, but he awoke in the morning. It was blowing a blizzard. Captain Oates said, ' I am just going outside, and may be some time.' He went out into the blizzard, and w have not seen him since.'. Captain Scott adds: 'We knew that Oakes was walking to his death, but though we tried to dissuade him we knew it was the act of" a brave man and an English gentleman.'

On March 16 Captain Oates was really unable to travel, but the others could not leave him. After his gallant death Captain Scott, Dr. Wilson, and Lieut. Bowers pushed northward when the abnormally bad weather would let them, but they were forced to camp on March 21 in lat. 79deg 40min south, longitude 169 deg 23min east—ll miles south of the big depot at One Ton camp. This they never reached owing to a blizzard, which is known from records to have lasted nine days, overtaking them and their food and fuel giving out. It is needless to say that when the full extent of the dreadful disaster became known in New Zealand it created a profound sensation. Captain Scott's Message to the Public. In Captain Scott's diary Dr. Atkinson found the following, which is quoted verbatim: The causes of this disaster are not due to faulty organisation, but to misfortune in all risks which had to be undertaken. 1. The loss of pony transport in March, 1911, obliged me to start later than I had intended, and obliged the limits of stuff transported to be narrowed. 2. The weather throughout the outward journey, and especially the long gale in 83 degrees south, stopped us. 3. The soft snow in the lower reaches of the glacier again reduced pace. We fought these untoward events with a will and conquered, but it ate into our provision reserve. Every detail of our food supplies, clothing, and depots made on the interior ice sheets and on that long stretch of 700 miles to the Pole and back worked out to perfection. The advance party would Lave returned to the glacier in fine form and with surplus of food but for the astonishing failure of the man whom we had least expected to fail. Seaman Edgar Evans was thought to be the strongest man of the party. The Beardmore Glacier is not difficult in fine weather, but on our return we did not get a single completely fine day. This with a sick companion enormously increased our anxieties. As I have said elsewhere, we got into frightfully rough ice, and Edgar Evans received concussion of the brain. He died a natural death, but left us a shaken party, with the season unduly advanced. But all the facts enumerated above were as nothing to the surprise which awaited us on the barrier. I maintain that our arrangements for returning were quite adequate, and that no one in the world would have expected the temperatures and surfaces which we encountered at this time of the year. On the summit, in latitude 85deg to 86deg, we had minus 20deg to minus 30deg on the barrier, and in latitude 82deg, 10,000 ft lower, we had minus 30deg in the day, and minus 47deg at night pretty regularly, with a continuous head wind during our day marches. It is clear that these circumstances came on very suddenly, and our wreck is certainly due to this sudden advent of severe weather, which does not seem to have any satisfactory cause. I do not think human beings ever came through such a month as we have come through, and we should have got through in spite of the weather but for the sickening of a second companion—Captain Oates and a shortage of fuel in our depots, for which I cannot account, and, finally, but for the storm which had fallen on us within 11 miles of this depot at which we hoped to secure the final supplies. Surely misfortune could scarcely have exceeded this last blow. We arrived within 11 miles of our old One Ton Camp, with fuel for one hot meal and food for two days. For four days we have been unable to leave the tent, owing to the gale howling about us. We are weak, and writing is difficult, but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown ■ taat Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks. We knew we took .them. Things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last. But if we have been willing to give our lives to this enterprise, which is for the honor of our country, I appeal to our countrymen to see that those that depend

on us are properly cared for. Had we.lived I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. : v These rough, notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those wno are dependent on us are properly provided for. R. Scott, 25th March, 1912. A National Disaster. The news that came to us this morning like a thunderbolt tells of a national disaster (said his Lordship Bishop Grimes). Captain Scott must have had a call that was far deeper and far greater than that which usually come t-> men in the navy, and like a brave man he obeyed the call of duty. He lived like a hero and died like a hero. I met Captain Scott while he was in Christchurch, and I was struck by the childish simplicity of the man— true sign of greatness. His was a lovable disposition, and yet one could not help marking the intensity of purpose, the indomitable resolve, and the quiet confidence -that characterised him. The world has lost a great man in Captain Scott, but it has gained by his heroic example, by his heroic faithfulness to duty, and his heroic death.''