THE POLAR HEROES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 7

THE POLAR HEROES.

SCOH'S LAST JOURNEY SOUTH. ARRIVAL AT THE GOAL. TERRIBLE HARDSHIPS OF THE HOMEWARD MARCH. By Teleirrapli—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. September 23, 10.20 p.m.) London, September 23. Tho "Strand Magazine" lias published a further instalment of tho late Captain Scott's story of the f.ttal journey to the Polo. Scott states that when tho southern party passed beyond Shackleton>'s Farthest South, on January 9, they encountered a blizzard. "Two days later," ho wrote, "wo wero within So miles of the Pole. Tho pulling was heavy, and the sledgo was rasping and creaking. AVe covered six miles. None of us had ever had such hard work before. With four more marches, of double figures, wo ought to get through, but it is going to be a aloso thing. "On January 15 we made the last depot of four days' food. We were then 27 miles from tho Polo, and had 1 nino days' provisions. The Coal at Last. "On January 16 Bowers's sharp eyes detected wliat seemed to be a cairn, then a blaok spec, which before long wo found to bo a blaok flag tied' to a sledgo bearer. We then found sledgo trades, ski tracks, and many traces of dogs' paws. This told us tho tfhole story. Tho Norwegians had _ arrived first. It was a terrible disappointment, and I was very sorry for my loyal companions. But they aro determined to carry out tho compact to march next to tlio actual Polo and then hasten home with all speed.. "Certainly," continues Scott, "the Norwegians had found, ail easier way Up than wo did. On January 17 we mad© our sixty-ninth camp at the Pole, in a headwind, and a temperaturo of. —22. 'Jliero was a curious damp feeling which chilled us to tho bono. Meanwhile tho indefatigable Dowers was laying himself out to get his sights, under difficult circumstances." Forestalled. On January 18 Bowers saw a littlo tent, two miles from tho Norwegian camp, and in it'wero found tho records and tho names of fivo Norwegians who had boon there on December IB of 1911. Mitts and warm things had been left in tho tent as though the weather had been warmer than had bijou expected." There v,as also a note from Amundsen, asking Scott to send a letter to King Haakon of Norway. Tho party then built a cairn at Polo Cainp, and hoisted tho Union Jack, and photographecT themselves. "Wo found an' old underrunuer of a sledge, and commandeered it, as a yard for our sail. Finally wo tied the Union Jack to tho stickas near to tho true position of the Polo as wo could fix it. Northward Again. On January 19 tho party started homewards. Jfc was heavy dragging, notwithstanding the use of the sail. Tho surface was'bad, drifting snbw clung to tho ski, and tho pulling was really awful. "There was hefivy pulling before us, for a hundred miles, where the going had been difficult enough dragging the load downhill. "Four days later wo encountered blizzards, which raged for threo days, the guiding eairns being only visiblo half a milo away. Wo repeatedly lost tlio track. Evans was badly frostbitten in tho hand, whilo Oatos was suffering from cold. All are getting pretty tlun, though jiiono aro feeling worn out with resting in 'tho wet sleeping-bags. "On February 4 Scott and Evans fell into a crevasse. Tho latter sustained another fall, when ho must have struck his head and received a concussion. "On February (date missing) the return to tho Summit ended. Wo had been caught in a rnazo of crevassos and hugo unbridged chasms. Food was running low, but at length wo discovered tho long-looked for depot. From the Summit to tho Polo occupied 27 days, and tho return journey 21—nearly seven weeks of low temperatures and almost incessant wind. ; "Tho dcscontto tlio Glacier took eleven days, being out of tho 'wind. We devoted part of a day to geology work, and found vcritablo coal seams. The Last Meal in the Bag. "February 11 was tho worst day of tho trip. Turning cast, out of tho area of the ice-pressure, we became entangled in a regular trap of irregular crevasses. Tho horrible lights made everything look fantastic. 'Wo went short of supper, and thero is only one meal remaining .in tho bag. Pray God we "have fine weather to-morrow." On February 13 they slept well, and after tea and one biscuit, they pushed, ahead. Wilson suddenly saw the depot flag at 84 dog. 24 mill. Next day was spent at Shambles Camp, whero they had plenty of horso meat. New life seemed to come with the greater supply of food, but the weather was against thorn, and tho tracks were faint. The party frequently went astray in the dim light. "Evans was getting worse," wroto Scott, "and could givo little help."- ' Death of Evans. On February 17 Evans lagged behind, nnd the others stopped for lunch. As Evans did'not appear, the other four skied back to him. He showed signs .of collapse, and said ho thought ho must have fainted. Bv the time the sledge' had fetched Evans, he was unconscious, and died in the tent after midnight—a swift ending for a gallant sailor. "A chapter of accidents had converted tho strongest man and the handiest artificer into a drag on the nnrty bo had done so 1 much to helo. Wilson is suffering from snow-blindness, and cold-feet. n . "Bv March 5 the fuel had run low, nnd Oatos was nearly done up. His feet worn wretched. Wilson's feet also gnvo trouble."