A GREAT ATTEMPT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 7

A GREAT ATTEMPT.

; AMIDST ICY PERILS OF THE? • SOUTH.: vi, .!.'..:,■'-,■';■_■ ; WITHIN 150 MILES OP THE % ,;;;;'. ■ ■;>:■;. g0a1.,.■;...-, i-p;..---^;. It; was on April 1 last'tkat the Terra Nova arrived'back at'-Ak'aroa' froin An- ; tarctica, bringing 1 with licr tho story of a™ great attempt, which looked., like "succeed. \ nig. Back with the vessel came; several _'.! of • tho party, and Captain' Scott's" owa- f story, wnich' ran as ioJlowsi— , : ■' .' '

- i HacMurdo Sound, 80th October. . j Shortly alter the departure of tho depot-laying, party frdnuCapo Evans on October 25, the. sea. ico broke at South Cape, and severed' communication with the station... Tho depot party,'consisting ' of twelve men, eight' ponies, and two dog■'.' teams, were occupied till Ootober 30 in' - establishing tho baso' cnmi> on th 6 Bar- V rior, seven inilcs E.S.E. ; of Hut Point. .Owing to tho';heavy', weights to bo '■. ' transported, the main part oftho6upplies were left at this'; camp, and tho "■' party proceeded with singlo loads,E.S.E. " 27 miles to a, spot named Corner Camp, before turning south to. avoid tho cro,'vasses of White Island.' ,'J.'he.6now'sur.v face proved' very-soft,;; making terribly .-.'■ hard work for the ponies'.; Three days' heavy blizzard at Corner Camp was ft. further sovero trial to the aniiualSj which were not in. good condition, ,' i , ; ; , On February: Bwo proceeded : south, V marching b}» night and'.resting, by'day."' • Tho weather was exceptionally'bad, but tho surfaoo improved, .and three .of tho l weakest ponibs'. wore'sent back;' Wit'these '"'■ unfortunately were -caught iu another blizaard, and two .With.the,re- -, mainine ponies and dogs >vo reached lati-' '7 ture 70J degrees. On' February 16 I decided, owing to tho-.', condition of tho weather and. the animals, , to make a depot here and return. Wo loft moro than a ton of stores at this One ■■■ Ton Camp, which should bo a great help to us this, season;'! .'l,'returned to'tho base camp with'the dog teams. Whilst - cutting tho corner of White,lsland,in a" bad light; the wholo of our, dogteaw'fell,V into a crevasse, Lieutenant Mcares, my.! self, and the,sledge were miraculously,, held up on part ot the ridgo of tho ere-' vosse, along., which' wo had -been travel- \ 1ing...." Most of tho 1 dogs "hung by their harness, and .with, great'difficulty we extricated tho animals hi three hours. One was ,badly, injured by the fall of 6ixty feet, rind nfterjvards died. ,': .'■.. ;. ; At the- base camp I found tho single-'' pony, well, and yisitinfr Hut Point I ro-'y coivod'news.from,tho Terra Nova regarding Amundsen's vessel, tho Frnin. t- ';'.•' .On February 24, .with men on ski and ,'.-. a Binglo pony, I started to take; more stores to Corner Camp.on tho outward . journey,' i iid'passed tho returning ponies, : which were going 'well. 7- ■■' ; ,, .- ■? v. ■'.'

' ~ Phenomenal/Storm, -~ ,' , ' On returningfto,,Corner, Camp, I \va*_ held up by a blip.wird on February,, 27, - but reached tho ibasocaiup on-February 28.. I found that tho..'storm had l.cen -.. phenomenal at this placo, raging for threo days, and causing' enormous'- accumulations of .snow, and the, shifting, of; the wind had baffled all efforts to shelter the.--ponies with snow avails., , Tho,animals; > had suffered very badly.'-, I thpn decided to retire to Hut Point'without delay. " Dr, Wilson and Lieutenant Moarcs, driving tho dog teams, reached ITut'Polnt., safely. Captain Oates,. Mr. Gran, and > : I remained in order to try and savis an* I ,' pony which was badly hit by the blimrd.; Lieutenant Bowers and -'Messrs.' ■ 'Cherry-' ■'>• Garrard and l'rcau, : with four of tho bid

ponies, set out to foUow;the dogs, and on Bearing Hut Point they found working crack's. ,pf ,>ea. ice, They .hastily turned and* marched/four'miles to. the southv Thero at. 2 ft.iii;'on March 3 tho tired ponies obliged 1 tho party: to 'camp. At 4.30 a.m. Bowers was awakened by a aoise,.and found that tho ice had broken ill around, the camp; and was moving ■iith a heavy swell. One pony had disappeared .from .tho picketing line, and was never seen'again. '..■■'■., Hastily packing ..tho' sledges, the party decided to try and work to.thoS.W. over the pack. With infinite difficulty ,tho sledges were dragged: and the ponies jumped from floe to flop towards the barrier. About noon tho party neared'the barrier, but,, v found: its ice wall unclimbablo. and tho. swell. was; churning and breaking the heavy, floe's against it. '"' -■--.'. . In this; dilemma,Mr.'Crean was allowed to attempt to obtain help.. He travelled'east.'b'vor the moving.pack,to find : a break in the'.ice wall. Eventually, ho hoisted Mmsolf on the barrier surface,by' ; Wedging.'his'ski-stickin.a'crack..;.,.. . .'

:,';Hiirried'iand Anxious Retreat. : " Ignorant''of these events, and after fail- /. ing to save tlio sick pony, my .parry had Teached the barrier edge by the, forenoon Wo tound thatthe sea ice'had gorie.and ■that the .barijicr was breaking "under-foot, : forcing us to retreat-hurriedly, with gravest anxiety: ■ My.iears were confirmed ..', ,when Dr'. ! ' Wilson, who had travelled .cut :-.' overian'd,"'reported-having seen;with -his. ■ : glasses..tho-ppmesfldrift,on tlio.sea ice. ' 'An'.liflnr' Inter'Miv.Crcari'-'.was seen proachmg. - '•■ On' learning'his news',, Cap-' tain Gates, Mr/. Crcah, and I set off im- : .roediately//.to ! the west. ronn'd. " ,tho'bay,'we approached the harrier'edge at 6p.m. : :By .good'fp'rtune J" discovered :-, <the missing;party in :tho pack, which had ' bee'tfdrifting slowly, and niv had twnpbr- ; :arily. stopped. The"swell was; subsiding, 'and, with .an alpine rope, the mtn wtro ■'rescuedHvifhoiit.'difficulty. '■■'-'•'■,'; '.

efforts-to Save : the Ponies. . Working onth'rougki the night; we 6uc-c?etfed,-:ih. .sulv ing" the '.sledges', loads, • but cquld ,'do. nothing, for;",thb" ponies, which .were.: qhly; 30yds: .'away.;..... v: >:'■'■:; ■.'»'■ At i a.m. the' pack began to move, and welpft.the pbnir\s with-full nosebags;: At- : thojpn'ck -igdin''.becamo stationary,' and we ,niarched. north. We found.tho'. ponies, and nlado desperate efforts to save .theni.j- Bowers,'andoCaptain Oates risked a long, detour over the pack ■ and led the iniiioiuls'■ ovsr„'inany jumps, whilst tho .remainder dug.a'trench in the lower part of .tho.lxirrieivedge'.. 'The ttocswera-high abpve;the' water, and .Very : uneven.'-'Killer, whales, hutig /about within a few/.yards, and. the ponies failing at a jump were inevitably lost. Ono pony/only Iwon;' through. ■'.■'.-, ? :\ : .-':.'•':■' .Tho'-pack: was moving' again as we"le'ff. It drifted clear,to-tho..north; ..;'.

-• !On./Mtvrch: 1 .w'pn.'icemleii fhe'liills at East -C.a.-tlo/Rock,., and on ;tho, sth, the party, with' the'-.-two'.''remaining'' ponies and: dog'team?; Jwas'.safely/hbuse'd al< Hut Point.-:: ,»:. '■■'■'• V-'.-' '■v , vr ,!, :V: ;f .'".' ' ,: ~/By. this incident .weilbst ithree of ; bur strongest.ponies, which'was : a : severe'blow to the expedition; but-not erioujjh-towreck, its plajis tif. the '■ remaining cdiild be preserved. The'heavy swell ,which caused this.disaster broke more than ten miles of fast sea ice, large' 'fragments of the Barrier, and two miles 1 of a glacier tongue," a feature ■ otherwiso" unchanged 6in08„1902.'->: :•/ ••;;.•;'.;;, ■■~ (''-■■■ .;■■■-.,<-.•:'..•*■ ■■

'.':'; The'. Discovery; hut',.0f,.,1903 was-found. .;, '■ '.almost .'completely'filled .with hard snow.' ' 'The;windows jwere :fc'rbke'n : arid' the 'doors .;•;.cleared' artdi-repaired.'" -It then/afforded ; .-goqd.shelter.-^Whilst-iwe' were•forced i-lp ;:wait for the ..sea. to.freozo over, wosettled. : j down to a,very primitive life.;',: ■',•■•■ '■;'• .. V'Ori."' 'JlarchV,ls . the V.vreste'rn 'geological party■retuirne'd, bring:ng.'a;totnl of. sixteen' v persons.' The- parly '.had ■spent six .weeks ■ ""■.:making I :,^''.close : survey /o^'.theldry-.'.vrilloy,'. ; , Messrs.■-.'Bowers/ li'errar; '-.and:' ivqettli lz, - in:.the i an im- .-.-:• pprtant.part of our;plan' for.a geological '„. Burv^of;,the''cqa : st.-';. /■,■:.'- ...;.■ ■.■.•: ;-.,:,.:>; Caught .in'Andther;''Storm;;.' 7 /■;■ ';,. ; After'; March .25 ;the.'ice,, reiuairied.fast■'' sheltered bays, but continued to drive ' out'bf-.the s6nrid.".Hu2e;;iahd. ice falls: slope of .Erebus^,proverited ... :any/ ! pb"ssibnity-;;bf- retiirriing'" tbV'.Capb '■:■'. Evaris',by;land,' ; but tfritKlfreezing,' days' ;. r'dccided.tp piako ■\ ". the' station' partly -by, land and partly;' by' .. jsea'uce.. Myself and _eight companions '..;■; started on' April 11,-; : ;-ah'd- though caught ''.in a storm on the'sea-ice, we reached "t Cape.Evans.early on the 13th. -Wo found '■ tho station.Swhich had been.left in Dr. '■'.'> ".Simpson's,thaige, in excellent order. Arrangements -for comfort wero, I, emarkably; ■"..' periect,-'and numerous-self-recording iri- ;... Btrumerits- were'in -full/'swirig. '.'All' .the records',,'.,were ;complete-to .'date,; arid,.all .;:•'■ news good'except the loss-of ioneof the nine remaining ponies; arid 'one' dbg.u'Dur- : i'Jing our' absence.th,ere';.had, been,""much: , wind."'-The mean velocity for ; : the two, '•; "'vriidnthS; had 'been ;21-jiiiieii," an"hoiir.; : - Tor: '*'; 19 per'-ceritrof;the,'whole time.the wind -•''. h'aa'been'-'overVgalo,streu'sth,' AH'the nbsbrVations':''pointeU to; an .exceptionally, <~ tevbre l seakm." v "',•.■■' V' ■ |.-.,- .: ~, : '.'/.On April 17.1 fe.tiirned-.to'.Hut Poirit : .'•■>-. with a v frc3h'. sledge ".party,":; carrying.' a ~' 'supply'of;stores','-' as it'.wiis impossible fbr ; the animals to travel on the route taken 1 .

.". 1/ left Menres ami -five others-in-,charge 'of those' at' Hilt' Point;; and'again: 'returned to'Capa Evans on' AVril '30..'.Tho'.sen; ice' ■ 'continued to drivooui.of tho Sound until - tho'fir'st.:week ill Mayy'three;week's after j. ..tho siin had gohei: that: the men and animals left at Hut Point safely returned ~ to tho'niain.station..:.".,'.''■' '" ',"Y..'.'

/(The Sound .'froze solid in, May, and Mater, in. the .winter, .the'fust ico ■extended ■ to an unprecedented distance tt.-'thainorth,'-despitp^ : mi^|ir.o,usVgateV.".''.'. i ','.';'•■'!:.'■'■:'-( •■'.'-. a ... -After' the "return- of. the, absentees "we Be£tted.rdo*a;,very,.''c'6rafortably .'.in '.the , winter, hut. i '■■''~,;'-■■.';■•.< ■:..j. .'. Everyone was-; very fully occupied with ; station and'scientific ;wbrk\- exercising the '■;; animal v-etc. - -A series'-. of -'lectures --.-was organised, arid football was played to " : within "a -lrionth. of midwinter. visits were, made (o Cape Koyds" arid Hut ■' Point.' During the winter the animals steadily■ improved -.in'-.condition. -• ' .-",: ' On.'Jline, 27, in tho. middle of winter, •'• Dr...Wilson, Lieutenant jWers,- and Air. PheiTyTGarra.nl started ni a .sledgo. jbur- ■ ricy.-.to Cape, Ci-ozierto observo the incubation of .tho.'Eiuperor . penguins'at their i'ODKery.-IThern vns a heavy surfaco on the barrier, which forced- tho. party to -.'do .relay wqrk'.'.'During.'.the^-inairi'ip'ai-t \ of,.flici,. fortnight; taken''- on. .tho outward .joiirriey, the-, tompsratur.e.-... wns,. v -seldom above minus arid ;'often' : betoy ■ . '■ -VOileg.. Tho'lbwesti reading observed with i he sling thermometer was minus 77dcg, .■behind a land r;dgo. on tho .slopes "of Mount Terror.-' : . ".,'•':'■ ■' The'same/.night a'violent .'galo com- ,' menccd, from tho forco of which.the ridge proved nn'itiadec'iiiato'shelter. Hurricane -.. Rusts'.whirlcd .down on the hut, and the tent, and otlier carefully secured articles were blbwn;-away.''After straining for ~fourteen hours'tlie.rcof of the hut flew .'. to ribbons. ;dnd for thirty hours or more , the travellers 'were . confined .'in their \ frozen-Sleeping bogs, half-buried in snow arid rofrk "debi'ls." Forty-eight.; hours ' elapsed before tho wind , decreased, arid they were able to get a meal. In searching for the lost-atticles they were for- : tunato in finding, the tent amongst some nibrrainic boulders practically uninjured. .' Tho state e pf the party's'equipment now forced them'-to turn return'journey, they'-.wera held ur> for'two days by another,-storm, after :which: the temperatnro' fell_ and remained' below ... minus 60di:g, '■', "V."''.'.--■'"■''■'■-".-• Tho party; returned after - five_ weeks' absence encased in ice and suffering from the want of'sleep, but otherwise well, .Sunless Season. . . ~.-..'-, Having regard.to the darkness and.the extreme .'temperature this;-first wintei journey in'trie Antarctic remains a re. • :'nmrkablo' : feat of endurance. If. als'c shows the extraordinary severo condition: -'that obtain-on tho great snow plain, or " ' tho barrier during the. sunless season. Silica the return of tho sun in Augusl n considerable increase of wind has beer recorded, and temperatures have rcniain ed moderate, in the spring ' as; ;in >'thi On "Mr. Meare3, with thi dig learns, made, his headquarters: at Hu Point, the dogs leaving in splendid form .-■' At intervals since our arrival, hdwever ; '"' oomo obscuro diseaso has robbed us' o ffinr excellent dbg's.--'!.'>ln- every-Case', th dog attacked appeared to bo vigorous]; healthy, but has died in-n, few hours. I is thought that theCbaiiso may bo s'onn .■'•;. minute thread-worms entering the brain At the.end of tho month tcleplion< • communication was established with Hu . Point 'through '15 miles of bare wire ThM telephone has. already proved ex trcmely useful for reporting tho move • ments of oartics and pending, changes 11 t'lo woithcr. On September 0, Lieutennn Kvnn-. ami Messr?, -Gran and l;onl travelled to Corner Camp to rebuild Ih

cairns. They; experienced ■ temperatures between minus CO and 70deg. Mr. Forde's hand was badly frost-bitten, but ho is now recovering'rapidly; With Lieutenant Bowers, Dr. Simpson, and Petty-Officer Evans, I travelled west on September. 15. Ascending Ferrar Glacier wo'found by slakes planted by Mr. Wright, that the ico stream had moved thirty feet 'seven months later. Forty-five miles N.W. of. our station we found part of tho glacier tongue broken. Owing'to work,.at tho station and th* noed of increasing exercise for tho ponies, wo had been unable to undertake further spring journeys. .■':'.' '. ," . , ' Tho western geological party, consisting .of Messrs. Taylor, Debenhom, Gran, and For'de, was delayed by an accident to' Mr. Forde, and, will leave in a fow dnvs for Granite' Harbour.' •.'. " , All plans- and preparations for the southern journey aro now complete. Despite the accident last, season, we 'nave •great hops of success, and ■ the necessity of getting the.utmost out of'our remaining ponies has decided me not to expose them to great cold. We shall, therefore, start later than originally intended.

■ ': Motor and Ponies. A motor-sledge party; consisting of Lieutenant Evans: Mr. B. C. Day (motor engineer),.Mrl' W. Lashley (assistant engineer), and Mr.F. Hoober (steward) started five days ago. with two motor sledges dragging-fuel,, forage, and motors. .They experienced unexpected difficulty on .tho" sea ice',/where it was.very, thinly covered with snow, but. were last seen voing well on the .surface' of the birrier beyond the ba c a of; the damp of last season. They ; have, therefore* already nlaced the possibilities of motor traction b?ybnd question. 'A ponv party, consisting of-'Jmywlf, Dr. Wilson/, (the-chief of. the scientific staff),' Captain L. E: G. Oates (in charge of ponies and dogs). Lieutenant Bnwe'r.?, Mr. .A. Cherry-Garrard. - Surgeon Atkinson, "Mr..C. 5..-' Wright, -Lieutenant Evans, ;nn'd Messrs. T. : Crenn nnd.K. Keohaneiwill start about/November 1..

. .Independently-of th». success", nf the motors, tho ponies will bo worked with light loads in easy marches to the Corner Camp,, with ifull loads rind easy marches, to the One Ton. Cainp,'' and '.; with such, nressuro : os, necessary thereafter. .Tho

dog. foams, starting'.later,-- will rejoin nt One Ton- Camp,- and help .to advance the Ineds. .. Bv'.-tb»sn:.means wo hone .'to irict thirty units of-food .'.'to the foot' of the Benrdmoro.Glacier, 'aunit. being a-week's provision for four men. .Then, with three (iivisipri of foiir and twentv-ono units, of provisions, I. hope to extend the advanca to the required distance' if tho weather conditions are not wholly. . unfavorable. ; • ,:.'.. ■, -" ■

h Of tl\n" ten Monies one is unreliable and brie ddubtful. The -remainder : are in very ' fine form/' The officers and men are in splendid health Wirt:PaK'er to. pro, forward. . '■

, Owing to. my decision ,to postpone ,'th'i, date, of.departure-; tnerp is the obvious' chance • that the. (Most -advanced; southern ,narty ; will be unable 'to catch the Torra 'Nova "■ before '.she., is .for.ced "to * qiiit'the. sound. '. Under- these conditions, .having regard to the important-scientific work to; ■lbs .'done, and .the, facilities.offered.', for' further work; I.decided- to.maintain a stefipn; for the second.year., ' -The,majority of the shore party will probably remain/but tho_ details.'depend on 'tho' dates of/returning." from the journeys arid.'ori.tho homo news as to. the extent of fresh i transport provided. I .shall greatly .resrrot,the .'departure of any member,, as we have lived in the happiest .social,'accord.' .''■' . .■,,:•.. :,.-. '■ Mr.,lT.' : Q. Ponting -probably /returns ■with'a'large riiass. "of:photographic,material,. whereto a 'second year might" add Tit+To of : importance. Owing to' Mr. Pouring's .'photographic work, the results of the expedition are' most rcmarHble. A large'seriesof kinemotopraph filny.eive a enmprf-herisiye record of. our Polar life. . The;,.nlsins" ,ar'rane;cd - for the. scientific, work of the expedition have Hen carried -..out so far.almost in their,entirety. ''•:

'" J: ' Motors Abandoned, ..'*'", ■■■' '; ' ' " . November 24, ''■ {-.'.:.; ;.:'•■:;'' .. Lai'Bl.ls'South. We left' Hut Point on. the evening of ;Nbve'mber'2,'having decided to march 'by night arid rest during the day, to'give the ponies the'benefit of the warmer day. temperatures;'!,;'"'. , , ,-'.,.- ' Wo reached Corner Camp this morning. For sixty miles .-'we' followed the tracks of the motors; then found .the machines abandoned.'' The party-had proceeded onward as directed. They were delayed !by a blizzard on tho Bth, but reached : One Ton Camp on the morning of the. ■IGth..' The-dog teams had caught ns up, 6on)» days earlier. Tho whole' party then jproceeded in company. -.. A day's rest, was given tho animals'at Ono Ton Camp, which ■we left in tho evening of the 17th. Having regard to <tho. weight of the loads, the heavy surfaces, and / the United number of animals, ' I decided ;to march fifteen miles only every night. This distance had been niaiutnincd.fov eight nights, arid as far as ; we.can foresee- it should bo con.tinued.'■:•.' ■. ... ■'■.;■

'.. The ponies are going Tory steadily and keeping.'their, condition remarkably well. The .first-pony. was now' shot-for expediency, but it could'have travelled further. iTha animals,havo,,loll. of oats arid'3lb. ;pf ; .oir:cak6^daily;..'.' .-, •: ;--.-'/ .:'•-

•: We.faro'hopeful of getting, the men's !foqd 'supply to: .tho . ; gla'eier. according to programme .without great difficulty, but shall bo'.n'ultiy 'or two later than antici-' pated.■'•'■'■We found 'flio motor party waiting in latitude 80}. Two of their* number now • leave ",us. The ,sole'causa of the abandonment of motors, was owing to the .oyorheating'.of the air in tho cooled' en.gincs. '.'Timet- did. ? 0 ' '-permit.' of, defects iboing.taken,in hand;, ;; .-. M ';'. We .are .building-snow- cairns at internals' of fpiir niileslo guide the homeward, 'parties,' leaving, a. week's, provisions .at 1 every degree of latitude.; '... ' The/Barrier's: top. surface'was extremely ,'bad : and trying 1 to up to Oho .Tori Cainp/'but lias been comparatively, good, since.' ' The greater ;riumber of ponies'hiivo been dragging over 6501b.

A Sove'rj Storm. -' December 10, .'. , Lat. 83.37. After.tho return of the rnotor'party in ' latitude 81.15' we pushed steadily south,' 'hopeful of bettor conditions.: The'second; ponyjwas destroyed iu latitude-82.10, the •third in latitude'B2.4s, aiyl two more' near ' 'the' S3i'd': : paf'nllel. "'Neither M these'-ani-mals was exhausted, but each-.was' sacri-, 'ficed; r ori"account-of the.lightening of tho ; loads, as 'food for the'dbgs.'" .'' • As wo approached tho weather grew worse;■.-Snowstorms' were 'frequent, and the.sky was continually overcast, the land beihg'vory rarely visible. Under these circumstances.it was most difficult to keep a straight course and maintain steady marches. • . ■..-:.' Tho ponies continued'to pull splendidly. The-excellent condition they retained under severe- work I attribute entirely to tho management of Caplain>Oates. • In spite of delays, we reached latitude 83.21, : within 12 miles of,. Mount Hope. We could!have reached the glacier with 'five ponies'the-following.day, but for the intervention of a .southerly .gale, which lasted four days, during which; we did not sight land, although it was only a few miles away. Tho wind was very violent at times, and a prodigious amount of, snow fell. AA'e had to. continually dig -out the ponies and tents. .'. ■";!; The/temperature rose to;plus 35. The -snow melting on the equipment completely soaked every thing with water. N,o such prolonged 'storm. had .hitherto been recorded 'in these TCgions in December. On the 9th, after the storm, 18 inches, of wet enow covered tho originally soft surface. W could not have advanced nt all had not the leading pony,worn snow shoes. It'took fourteen hours without a meal .to do'eight miles. , ';,- 'At the'first bait the ponies were des- . troyed,- as wo had no more forage for , them. To-day wo have come through tho Pas 9, desoended on Beardmoro Glacier, but only with infinito difficulty. After twelvo hours' work in tho soft 1 snow brought by the storm; we continued '. over tho Pass. • Tho men on foot sink to j their knees; and the sledges sink to their > crossbars" continually. Tho do?s kpvo , givei somo help, but could only 1* light- ■'■ ly laden on such a surface. \ ' I sond this, note by tho returning Mims. ' All in tho party are very fit, but wo enn- ; not keep up the hours which we had been >"" working.'-. ■'The storm.lias already cost us r five days'. ' Its effects may yet delay ns t- further, which ia a serious matter. Other--5 wise-'everything'has worked as planned. \ AVo hope to find better conditions ns we j advance up the glacier. AVo are uecest sai ib dependent on tho weather, and the . season so far has been very unpromising. December 21. Latitude 85.7 South. Longitude i . lßJU.east. t Height, nbont- GBOO feet. Four o miles South. 30 West of Mt. o ] Darwin.

Largely as the result of tho storm reported in my Inst dispatch, tho lower reaches of the glacier were filled with terribly soft snow. The men on foot sank to the knees each step! It would havo been quite impossible to advance had we not pulled on tho ski. As it was, tho runner surface- of tho sledges proved inadequate They frequently sank to tho cross-lmrs, requiring to be extricated with standing pulls. For tour days wo struggled in this morass, scarcely advancing five miles a day, although; working ten to .eleven hours. It was' difficult to pitch camp and load sledges on such a surface: On'the fifth day the surface grew a little harder, and wo wero able to push on, still pulling oh the ski. We did not get to Cloudmaker "Mountain till tho seventeenth, so that storm cost us a week's advance.

Sinco the sixteenth we have been able to make very good marches, working up from 13 to 23 statute miles' a day. ■By programme I- arranged^to push on from tho 85th parallel with eight men and twelve units of provisions, but I hoped to resorvo a margin over this. As we stand we, are' only half a day's food short on the ■ programme, and we should have a good chanco of. getting through. The weather continues unsatisfactory. We had to. march without sight of land on occasions. We aro getting intermittent fog'in this most crevnssed part of the glacier. ■' ■" '' '..

Everybody is in the best of. health and high spirits. It has been most difficult to select the returning party of f:ur which carries this note. This position constitutes our.upper glacier depot.. Complete depots have been established on the homeward route. Tho. track .on-' the barrier is well'marked by*snow-cairns. The members: going forward are' Scott, Lieutenant Evans, Wilson, Bowers, Oales, Lashlcy, Petty-Officer Evans, and Crean.

.. The Final Dash. 'January 3, 1912. .- ! , ■■■ I Latitude' 87.32. .'■ . , . ..--.Height.about 9800 ft. ■' After leaving the upper glacier depot, south of Mount Darwin,l ( stecred southwest for two days. This did not keep lis clear of the pressure, of the ridges and crevasses, which" occurred frequently. At first this gave same trouble, but we rose rapidly in altitude. Probably the difficult places 'were/more snow-covered than further .eastward. '.- ■', .

The advantage of this course was main-, ly felt on the third and : fourth days, when, owing -to our altitude, we got a splendid iView of the distribution oMhe land masses' fringing the ice-sheet, and the'arrangement of the.-ice-falls. . \ v Since leaving/the depot our inarches have' averaged oyer fifteen. statute miles' a day. On Christmas Day we were close up to the.'B6th parallel..' The, prospect of Christmas fare gave us an excellent march .of seventeen miles, ; .-but the .effect was riot so happy oh the following day. The surface grew wore difficult 1 as wo approached the 87tU parallel, i-' On New Year's Evo, in '.latitude 86.5G, we fixed a'.depot of 'two' units of provisions and' rebuilt bur' .sledges with new short runners,, which wns. a' remarkable piece of work, /performed',by 'the 'seamen of thoparty under the mbst adverse Conditions. ■'; 'Although it .'cost us nearly a day's march, the chance amply repaid us, and we have been able to keep up, our average. ; '

'"" "I am' Going Forward." ' Tho latest story of the doings of-Scott's party,' in : the : south '■' related : that the last; supporting party had left Scott and his Pole '■ party 150 miles from the Polo. -■■ ' .' -,' . ■:•; '• • ' "I'am -going forward with a party of'five men, :and nin ,sending thrco back'under Lieutenant Evans with ■'• this note. 'The. names and descrip- . .tipns of the advance party are: ■ ' "Captain, Scott, Royal Navv..-. . ■"' "Dr. "Chief of the' Scientist Staff.- ■■:•;"". "Captain Oatos, Inniskillen Dragoons, in charge "of ponies rnd mules of expedition. . ' "Lieutenant Bowers, Eoyal Indian Marine, Commissariat Officer. "Petty Officer -Evans, '• Royal Navy; in charge, of sledges ii:id equipment. ' "The advance party-goes forwaitl with a month's' provisions. The .;. prospect of success seems good, providing,the weather holds and, no un. , foreseen obstacles ari6o.' . •-

■. "It has been very diffieult'to choosl the advance party, as everyone is. fitand able to go forward. 'I hose who return are naturally much disappoint ed. Everyone has worked his hardest. "The weather- on tho plateau has been good on tho whole. The sun has never deserted us, but the temperatures are low (now about minus twenty degrees) -,the wind pretty constant. However,.,wo are'excellently equipped for such conditions. Tho wind undoubtedly improves the surface. So far all arrangements have worked out most satisfactorily. "It is more than probable that no further news' will bo received from us this year, as our return must necessarily, bo'late. ■

."(Signed) E. SCOTT." '■;.'..:■ ; A Terrible .Return., ... The last supporting party; had an ex..citing time. Their report states: During ■ the forenoon of January, i the party, consisting 'of Lieutenant, Evans, Mr; W.; Lashloy, and Petty Officer Crean, march' ed threo miles south with; Scott's advance party, then bidding their leader ami,'his comrades farewell, ' turned northward in latitude 87.35, .and commenced the homeward march. Tho southern party were travelling ; rapidly, yet easily, and tho members appeared to bo exceptionally lit. Tho -last' returning' party, retraced their steps, "confident that Captain Scott would reach tho South Pole/ They' covered .oyer .18.miles ,a. day nntil January when ; a blizzard of .moderate severity blew ifrom the,'south, lasting three days, and severely hampering the party." Accordingly, to. .ensure :full rations, for the .early part ,of.-.th.e.;homewasd' march, a-course was shaped direct'for the depot near .Mount, Darwin., O V '•' This .took (them across'Shnckleton's ice' falls'-at' : tho,head of Bennlmdro Glacier, 'but. saved "at least a. play's march. ■ Thev descended many iiuhdrcd feet, .mostly riding a sledge wi&'little difficulty beyonfl frequent capsizes,, find arrived Undaro•agedlph comparatively flat-surface at the foot of .the falls on v January 17.. :Nearly half-jivay downtho:glacie'r thislittle party, •was embarrassed 'by getting into a maze ;qf .icefalls and'a pressure pf the. ridges and'preyasses during thick weather. They extricated : themselves from this precarious, position on the 18th,: after two very Imrd days of climbing and tobOeanning, being bruised: ; Their sledges -were also considerably damaged. The next 300 miles of tbo journey'wore uneventful..

Dragging-Their Sick Comrade. In latitude. 80deg. 30min. Lieutenant Evans was found to bo suffering from scurvy. Owing -to the party being one man short, a fourth member of tho unit having been taken to support tho sputhorn party,; Evans . wns compelled -to continue dragging 1 , his sledge. Lnshley 'and Crean did all in their power to help their tent mato. forward. His-condition, howover, became serious daily. At One Ton Camp, 13G miles from Discovery Hut, ho was unablo to stand without the support of his ski sticks.' His legs wero very much swollen and discoloured, and other symptoms of advanced scurvy wero in evidence.

After struggling onward on a,ski in great pain for four days, during which they covered 53 miles, Evans was unablo to move further. His companions, therefore, made a depot of uvory item of their equipment not absolutely necessary for their existence, and placing the sick man on a sledge in a fur sleeping bag, made a gallant effort to drag him to safety. For four days, helped by tho southerly wind air progress possible was made. The party arrived at Corner Camp on ths ovomng of February 17. Incessant snowfalls during tho next twelvo hours rendered tho surface hopeless for travelling. The two men could barely move tho sledge. On the 18th; Evans's condition was serious, food was running short, and drastic measures were necessary. Therefore, Crean set out to walk to Discovery Hut, thirty- miles away. Lashley remained to nurso Evans, and by his extraordinary enro and excellent nursing ho undoubtedly saved tho lieutenant's life. Crean arrived at the hut after an eighteen hours''march, much fatigued and numb with cold. Fortunately Doctor Atkinson and Dimitri were there with two dog teams. A severe blizzard broke within half-an-hour of Crean's arrival, but as soon as it had sufficiently abated. Dr. Atkinson and Dimitri set out with tho dogs to succour Lieutenant Evans and Lashley. They travelled in driving snow all night, and eventually reached Evans, A tent and fresh food had been brought.' out. Aftor resting too dog 3 /: Doctor Atkinson

deci<lcd to tako the invalid to Discovery Hut in a singlo march. Tho dogs covered 31 miles in about five hours. Dr. Atkinson allowed Evans to bo moved on the sledge to the Terra Nova after a week's rest at the hut, and attended him for another week, when he considered tho patient out of danger. LieUt. Evans had an exceptional amount of man-haulage, owing to the motor.slcdgo breaking down, which accident did- not affect any members of Scott's present party. Tho southern party, having five men to pull their sledge, will return very easily.- compared to .tho last supporting party of three men. They will also bo mot and supported ,by two dog teams, driven by Cherry-Garrard «nd Dimitri, who were left at Discovery Hut for that purpose on February 26.

-Terra Nova's Report. The Terra Nova sailed from Lyttelton on December 15 with seven mules, fourteen'dogs, and a further year's svpply\of stores. Exceptionally fine weather was experienced, with light winds, which enabled the mules .to be frequently exercised on the deck during the whole voyage. - This weather also permitted complete lino soundings to be [run from New Zealand to tho.Antarctic. Soundings under 600 fathoms were obtained until 150 miles east-south-east of . Campbell Islands, whereafter deep water was experienced, tho greatest depth' being 3100 fathoms. Many icebergs were met south of Gldeg. Loose pack ice was met in' 64deg. south on December 20, tho main body boing entered on the 27th in Gsdeg. 30min. south. , , ' The ship finally left the pack early in January, after passing through 130 miles and being completely held up from- December 29 to December 31. Whilst in the pack the dogs '■■ were exercised Vlaily on tho large ice-floes. Robertson Bay was reached on January 3, and was found to be completely filled with pack ice : and icebergs, which, together with the swift tidal streams, made the relief of Lieutenant Campbell's party, henceforth called the? Northern party, difficult, the ship being only able to approach the beach at Cape Adnre for two. hours. Both on January 3 and i' the ground swell considerably interfered with the loading of boats ashore; "After embarking the Northern party on January i the ship proceeded dorai.the coast to land them near Wood Bay. Much pack ice met with prevented tho-ship approaching the coast, but eventually they landed at Terra Nova Bay,' north of the Drygalski Barrier,'on January 8. They prooosed to work due north thence, leaving Mount.Melbourne eastward and Mount Nansen Range to the west,' proceeding, as far as the time allowed, with the object of examining' the north-eastern extreme of the inland plateau, both geographically and ■ geologically. The shin then proceeded south to communicate "with .Cape Evans' and relieve the western geological- party at Granite Harbour. She was' again held ;in. the ice for two davs. Leavinsr Terra Nova Bay she finallv arrived off Beaufort Island on January 12. where it was found the heavy nnck 'blocked the whole ' entrance to M'Murdo Sound..and extended across to the-western coast. On the 13th she was able to pohftrato the pack nff.Carie Bird, but found tlie fast ice twenty miles north of ,Caoe Evans. The season was exceptionally late, nnd at no time could the ship apnt-oach nearer than ?.5 miles to Granite' Harbour to relieve the Western Geolnsrical Partv. though repeated attcmnts were made. The pack in this direction' was extremely heavy,/and the ship was caught and detained on several occasions 'for'trco to three, days at' a '■ time, though fortunately without experiencing dangerous pressure. ■ '

Too Dangerous. ;On February 3 the line ofsfast ice was four miles north of Capo Evans, but very rotten at the edge. Tho shore party at Capo Evans were able to ■ communicate •with, the ship by the help of dog sledges, but the ice- was top "dangerous to allow further passage between the ship and the shore. It was not until the 6th that the ice broko : away to Cape Barnc, and allowed tho ship to sectiro alongsido .safe fast ice. She was then, still three miles north of Capo Evans. ' The work of sledging the stores ashoro commenced and continued till .the l«h, with occasional interruptions from the wind. The mules and the new dogs-were landed : in excellent condition, after being aboard for'ss 'days. "Somo of the'latter; were in such good form that they were. put to • the sledges immediately. On the 11th the ice, by breaking'up but not moving out, stopped nil communication with the shore, and tho ship proceeded across the sound to Butter Point, to lay out a depot. A note was found hero from Taylor, reporting the safety of the Western geological party, and their departure from Granite Harbour for Hut Point, via Piedmont Glacier, they having passed Butter' Point tho day before. The ship steamed south along ' the coast,- and found tho geological party at Blue Glacier. ' After embarking them the ship proceeded north to. relieve the Northern party at Terra Nova Bay, but found-'a larjte extent of heavy pack from fort.y-fivomiles south of Drvgalski Barrier , to'the north-of Cape Washington, which baffled all attempts-to penetrate. She was held'iip on-February 23 in ice formed by the new pancake ice, thickened by pressure and made into floes by freezing together. This early formation of ice of sufficient thickness to hold up the ship, even at full speed, foiled all. attempts to reach Terra Nova Bay. After the ;23rd much bad weather and newly-formed ice were encountered, bur, with difficulty, the remainder of the relief stores was landed by boat at Cape Evans, and Lieutenant Evans was picked up at Hut Point. A further endeavour to relieve the Northern party was made, .without success. , ' -,'On February '5 the ship finally -left Cane Evans. ' , • : . Tho following members embarked for .the return:—Simpson,, Meares, Ponting,. Tavlor, Day, and Anton. The following landed for' service ashore:—Williamson and Archer, changing'places with Fordo and Clishold, who wjll how'serve on the Terra Nova. Drake proceeds to. England, returning to the Terra Nova for the next relief voyage..