The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1913. THE POLAR TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1913. THE POLAR TRAGEDY.

Thß astonished horror with which tho public learned yesterday of the terrible tragedy in the icy twilight of the Pole will be sharpened u-Oay by an pity for the brave hearts who died'on' their march h-iruc from success. In every part of riio limpire, and, indeed, throughout the ■worldj tho dreadful end of CApfAis Scot! and his heroic companions haß been.productive of a deep grief for which.there is the antidote only of pride in.the valour and steadfastness of the( little party; Although tnly those can''properly know the danger ahd sufferings of Antarctic exploration who have themselves braved them, : yet we all knowthat Without a high-spiritj a.capacity for snarp and 'continuous - self-discipline, a willingness to endure pain and anxiety, uncomplainingly for weeks and months and years,; or,_ indeed, most ni the. positive masculine virtues, rio man can seek, and then endure, the-task'-.of carrying to the Polo the catise of science . and the flag. Most people had hoped, when Captain Scott's dispatches were ssiitl north, just prior to his last dash li.r I the Pole, that nothing stood be!iween| hitn ancl a safe return after- a. euc- [ ccssfiU journey. But an unparalleled series of calamities conspired against him, and there is evidence that' on his return journey he had begun to doubt whother he would ever live to seo his anxiously waiting comrades 'again. One can ;.!most fancy that tne terrible forces'uf l?a----turej Upon which the Norwegian cxplorer ■ had successfully stolen a march, bent themselves to crush the second successful invader of the Polar mysteries. It is 'agony to think of the pangs of hunger and cold which the heroic explorers suffered while, waiting hopelessly for death on the oruel plateau. But the hearts of all men and women will bo warmed by the reflection that L'aptain Scott, in spite of all the horrors of his last situation, found iii inward support ahd comfort in his calmness and fortitude.

His final "message to the aublic" is a document which, it is pleasant in this sordid enough day to be'icve, will stir every man's heart like a trumpet. Thero is pain in it,';-.nd deep regret—as how!could there; not be!—but there is no trace of Hmentation or a .trembling hand in- the strong; plain eloquence of the appeal with which be concludes his cicar and simple, explanation of ihe disinter: ' •;,-' '...' ''".

'.. Wo are Weak, and writing is difficult. But,, for my own. sake,'l do 'not repot this journey, which has'.shown ..-that Englishmen can endure hardships, help oho another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. Wo took ■ risksi.wo.knew we tcok them. Things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cans* for complaint, but howto the Will of "Providence, determined still to do our best to the last; but if wo have been willing to give' our lives/ to this enterprise, which is for the honour" of our country, I appeal to 6ur ; .country-, men to 'see that: those who depend on Us ore properly cared for. Had we lived"l should have had a tale to tell of tho hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions, which' would have stirred the heart of every Englishman.' These rough" notes, and our dead bodies, must tell the tale, but Surely, > surely 0 great rich country like ours will see that those who aro dependent Oh' us are properly provided for. A man with Captain Scott's sound heart and head Would almost su/cjy bo less inclined to think of ois impending death than to meditate upon, and find sustenance in, the happy memories of the endurance, comradeship, and courago of those with whom ho had lived so long in the desolate Polar Circle. We >i! >irn him, the' leader, most of all, but lis comrades who died with him w'll shard the pitying admiration of all the world.' If it is asked whether the attainment of tho Pole: k worth such a sacrjfico of the bravest and hardiest of the Empire's cit'«rs, the only answer that can bo •''stened to is the one which Captain ' Scott would make: that it is worth it. The best'tribute to the, memory of these gallant souls will be an anxious fulfilment of his hope that "a great rich country" will care for these who bear tho main burden of their loss.