THRILLING STORY OF PERIL AND PRIVATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 5

THRILLING STORY OF PERIL AND PRIVATION

SHACKLETON'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT "' " WRECK OF THE ENDURANCE MIRACULOUS ESCAPES FROM DESTRUCTION THREE MONTHS ON A DRIFTING FLOE ShackleJon failed to Teach his ob joctive, but he accomplished that which no one could have believed it possible for a human, being to achieve. His ship was crushed in the ice, and sank. His party drifted for three whole months in the midst of a melee of.crushing and grinding , bergs, encamped on a small floe, Trh ich dwindled down to a space- of 100 yards square, and finally collapsed. They spent a night and a day on a small floe, 100 feet long, wliich opened up under their tent and engulfed a man, who was happily rescued. They dragged their ship's boats over ioo ridges at.the rate of a mile a day, and they rowed 760 miles to a precarious refuge from the Antarctic blizzards and icebergs. This is the marvellous story which Shackleton tells in the subjoined narrative; a story, which adds yet another glorious chap ter to the annals of British Polar exploration,

By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright (Rcc. June 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 1. Sir Ernest Shackloton sends a long and tlirilling narrative of the experiences undergone by his' South Polar Expedition party.. Ho states:— "The party left South Georgia on December 6, 1914, and encountered heavy pack ice off the Sandwich Group on December 8, which forced us to take a devious course of a thousand miles. An iceberg was sighted off' Coats Land on January 10, 1915. The ico was becoming heavier now, being fifty feet thick, nnd there were • many ice floes covering 150 square miles. We decided to land at the oarliest opportunity, and send the Endurance back to civilisation. "We discovered new land, with two hundred miles of coast line, and great glaciers discharging into the sea: We named it Cairo Coast. A series of abnormal circumstanoes commenced; First, we observed a great migration of thousands Df seals northwawl, an unaccountable event at such a time. Then .wo experienced hard, north-eastorly gales, and sheltered behind large bergs, amidst surgiiig pack ice. Eventually we found ourselves closed in by tho ice, never reopened. Summer conditions were nonexistent, and the temperature, contrary to all experience for an Antarctic Februwry, waa below zero. Probably this is the explanation of the migration of tho wiimal life. A Break for Freedom. "There were signs of tho ice opening in tho middle of February; therefore, despite, a. shortage-of coa.l,.we decided to attempt to break out. Forty-nine degrees of frost were . recorded by the end of February. Old and young- ico packs were cemented.: together, and it was impossible either to land or extricate tho ship. The Endurance drifted across the Wedclell Bea, embedded in tho ioe pack,. fearing always that the pressure would . crush her in. Twonty dogs died. When the ice -pressure -increased; in- June and July, tho peril"'increased. "Immense;, blocks'_*<}{:. ice wero thrown about, and great ice ridges lose. We prepared 'for tho " worst. A great crash oamo on August 1, when tho pressuro drove tho Endurance bodily out of the ice, and hurled her before the gale. She stood tho strain, but tho rudder was damaged. • Sho had another sovere crushing in We emerged from the floe-in tho middle of October,' and drifted to New South Greenland, where she was again caught in an ico floe. The ship was leaking badly, and the pumps were kept working. Thrown on Her Beam Ends. "On October 16 the pressure of tho ice threw the Endurance out on her beam ends upon tho ice, and in such a prediondent that all ha«ds camped on. tho ice, three hupdred miles from land. The party left the Endurance, and began a sledge journey .northwards. Only a mile could bo covered in a day, and the journey was abandoned, as .it was full ot dangers. We returned to camp near the fcliip, and"- drifted northward upon, the floe for two months. The Endurance sank on November 20. After travelling northward by sledgo a distance of nine miles in five days, the v broken ice compelled us to establish Patience Camp, and here we remained for three months, and continued to drift to the north upon a small floe. We shot five of the dog-teams, owing to shortage of food. • In Dire Straits. "We crossed the Antarctic Circle, in January, 1 ( J16, in dire straits, and sighted the South Shetlands on Apfil 7. We launched three boats on April 8, when the ice opened, and Towed northward through masses of pack ice. We camped on an ice floe for the night. We reached the open sea on April 10, but a "heavy swell forced ns to retreat to the pack ice. We waited two days, and then rowed'westward." The Landing on Elephant Island. "Several ol' the party were suffering from exposure and shortage of water. It was impossible to warm our food. We' I finally gave up hope of -reaching Deception I Island; and headed northward for Elephant Island, which was sighted on (April 11, forty miles distant. A strong wind hindered our progress, and Hudson and Blackmore -were severely frostbitten. A furious gale blew all night, in which '& boat named tho Dunley docked aud disappeared. We reached Elephant Island on April 15. Our equipment was sodden, and several ol' oar party were on the verge of litiysical and mental collapse. We first lauded at a point, but inacces-, sible dill's forced us to re-embark, and wo pulled westward and landed through the surf. We cut a hole in the ice slope alwve the reach of the waves. "Owing to the seriousness of the situation, the shortage of food, and our inadequate protection against winter, I de-. cided to endeavour to reach South Georgia for help. I left Wild in charge of Elephant Island, called for voluuters, took the largest boat, and departed on April 24, with Worsley, Crean, MacNisli, .Ma'eartliy, and Vincent. We' passed through stream jee day after day, and progressed towards our goal, but constant snowstorms and gales swept over us for a fortnight. The crew were frostbitten, but cheerful, despite their great difficulties. We' were constantly compelled to break : .'r.e ice off the sides of 'he rudder. The Cliffs of South Georgia! "We sighted tho cliffs on the westcof.Fl of South Georgia during a clearance in the snowstorm on May 4. Another Lurricane on May 9 threatened to drive us on to the cliffs, and our'only chance wc.s to set a reefed sail. The wind veered atthe moment of tho most serious ..-risis, enabling us to clear the land. -•'Tho galo re-started on May 10, and the party was by that time in the last extremity of exhaustion. I decided fo land and endeavour to cross' to the whaling station on the east coast. The party was 100 weak to hwil up the boat, and our only course was to hold on to iier all night. We cut off her top sides on May 11, thus enabling us to haul hor up. Vincent and MacNisli were not fit to march. I took Croan and Worslcy, and began to cross on May 19. Tho interior of the island was unknown territory, and wo thereforo took three days' provisions, and a cooking stovo. A Haven of Help. "It was a rough and laborious march over glaciers, ridges, and snowfields, at

a height of four thousand feet. Wo reached Stromness whaling station on the afternoon of May 20—the first, time the island of South Georgia has been crossed —and received every assistance from tiio manager, who dispatched a whaler (lie same night to bring lound the remainder of our party. These generous Norwejian whalers obtained a volunteer crew, equipped the -whaler, and started for Elephant Island on May 26, in the hope of rescuing my crew. Repeated attempts to get to the southward -were frustrated by the ico. A larger vessel could have succeeded, but oying to a shortage of coal fhoy were -unable to do more, and we reluctantly ..turned .northward to seek assistance at tlie Falklands."' A SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT THE ORDEAL IN THE WEDDELL SEA (Kec. June 2, 6.55 p.m.) London, June 1. A supplementary report states that Sir Ernest Shackleton had prepared to winter 'in the middle of February. It was u. mild winter, with the usual blizzards. The lowest temperature recorded was 67 degrees of frost. The Enduranoo drifted south-westward. The most southerly point reached was 77 degrees south latitude, by 35 degrees west longitude. They continued their zigzag drift across tho Weddell Sea north-westward, immovably fixed in tha ico pack, meanwhile carrying out general . scientific work. In view of the. possibility of ice pressure, they placed sledging stores on deck, and trained tho doga for emergencies. Twenty of the dogs sickened. Some of the dogs on April 1-1 disappeared, but returned after an absence, of 109 days. A Narrow Escape. There was a moment of grave anxiety (n tho middle, of April, when the ice pack drovo tho ship, towards a stranded 'berg. "Wo were only saved by a sudden change in tho drift." The menace of tlitrico pressure began in June, tho ice rafting up to a height of twenty feet, closo to tho ship. The pressure became more intense in July, and there were ominous signs that the ship would not escape. .The,ice,,jose.„in,ridges -of forty Jeet,. ■grinding into floes ahead.' Ice blocks •weighing twenty tons were thrown about, communicating shocks to the ship. . -"Preparations for the worst were eventually completed on August 1. While examining the floes during a blizzard the ico split under my feet, and we had just 'time to rush the dogs on board when, tho pressure took us. With a great grinding crash the Endurance was hove bodily out of the ioft, and flung before the gale against .massos of piled ice. The vessel atood the strain, fortunately, and the pressure oeascd. At midday tho -ship heeled over, half out of the water, showing -her split- ruddor. Thenceforth tho Endurance was the focus of active pressure.; A bad nip caught us in September, bonding the sides and buckling the beams'. Eventually the ship rose clear, and wo broke free from tho floe in tlie middle of October, distant water and the state of the sky giving u6 hope of ultimate safety. We were now drifting across what was reputed to be New South Greenland, but our soundings showed 1900 fathoms.

The Crisis—Wreck of the Endurance. "Then oame renewed pressure, damaging the ship's sternposl. The Endurance tvus now leaking dangerously, su we got steam up in the maiu engine, and all the pumps were kept working continuously. A heavy pressure caught us 011 October 18, and in the space oi' ten seconds the • Kndnrauce was thrown out of the ice on her beam • ends. • The temperature then was below' zero, and the pumps were freezing. The ice Does commenced screw, ing the ship on October 26, causing her sides to open, so 'we lowered boats, sledges, and provisions on to the ice. "The end came 011 October 27, when the. terrific,ice pressure culminated, tearing out the ship's stern and rudder-posts. The main deck broke upwards, icebergs pierced the ship, the water gained the mastery over the pumps, and extinguished tlie fires, i ordered all hands out upon the ice. The pressure continued near tho ship, and I therefore moved'tho equipment away. I must here record the excellent morale of everybody.' .A crack opened through our camp at midnight, while the pressure I continued, with a cold wind blowiug, and the glass registering IS degrees of frost. J moved the cainp on October-28, the ship being theii submorged to the uppor deck, licr foremast and mainmast twisted and cut by the ice pressure. The party's! position was serious.

"Wo were then B9J degrees south latitude by 51S- degrees west, from the nearest laud, and with the prospect of obtaining food 021 Paulet Inland, 34G miles distant, I reorganised the equipment, saved all the scientific records, photographs, and films, and started on October 30, relaying northwards, seven dog teams dragging the provisions and sledges, and the men hauling- tho boats in half-mile relays. Our progress was one mile a day. New ico cracks and high pressure from the ice ridges impeded our progress. The danger ot' crossing the open cracks increased, and added ,to that was the presence of killer-whales, which did not hesitate to attack anyone who might fall into the water.

"After the fullest consideration, finding it impossible to move a large party across tho working ice, I decided to camp in tho vicinity of tho wreck, and salved the stores, determined to depend on the northerly drift, and the advent of sum. mor breaking the ice. We reached a heavy floe on October 31, and there made Ocean Camp. Wo salved more stores, cutting through the main deck of tlie ship, and prepared three boats for a sea journey.

."Tim Endurance sank on November 21). Wo drifted during November a distance of sixty miles northward. The December drift was equally disappointing, northerly gales frequently driving us back after good progress had been made. We left Ocean Camp on December 23, and marched all night and all day in deep snow, hauling tho boats. It was necessary to cut through tho pressure ridges. • The party with the boats advanced nine miles in five days.

Three. Months on a Small Floe. "Tho rotten ico made it impossible for us to furthor prooeod. Sometimes various units of • tho nartj would be isolated

on separate floes, and so we were forced to retreat, and est^lislr.PatimcOiUawp, wliere we passed January, February, and i March, slowly drilling north. . Our ic# ' , floe grew smaller, un'tfeft tJie 'attack of a. /' neighbouring iceberg; aiid"gales"'fi:nally re-., duced its siy.e to one hundred yards square, We .shot five dog teams in J ami- j ary, uwing to the shortage of food, and it was also necessary ta, put <t)ir party : on stringent rations 6f;tKo*.deartli of seals and limited hunting radftis. Wo crossed the Antarctic circle in January, and passed I'ebrunry/'.without any hope ; of escape. "Winter commenced, .inthe ,middle of «v March, with low temperatures, long nights, and heavy blizzards. Our tents were : worn out, there was .'a shortage of fuel, and the possibility.'/.'of reaching • I'aulet Island had disappeared. We were drifting rapidly northward, and on March. 23 we sighted the distant peaks of-Join-viilo Island, the iiortKern extremity of West Antarcticus. Ali..J}npcnetrab]<? /icebelt precluded any atra. crossing landward. We sighted Clarence ... Island, tho most easterly of.'the.SoutK Shetlands, on April 7,, and .here we had a narrow escape. A great berg. missed us by two hundred yards.; "A swell on April 8 caused the floe oil which we were camped to split'to pieces, and as the ice opened we, launched our three boats. The tide.rip and-driving ice almost finished tho expedition. We mado northward, rowing; through masses i of tho ice'pack, and pulling the boats .! up on an ice floe at.,night.-..Jl heavy ■ ' swell sot in at midnight,.'out.-,floe split under our.tent, and-we pulled one-of-our men out of the water ■before tho floes closed'again. The .whale, party awaited the daylight, rockingon.an ice-floe 'that ■ was only a. hundred 'feet long.;;"We made westward, on April 10, and ■ reached' the open sea, but met ,a high ; swell which forced us to retreat to the pack-ice. I then drastically reduced our equipment, because the sea was too heavy for deeply-laden open boats.,. ,I'lie berg we were, on began to split during the night, and dawn showed that it had been, undermined. We were surrounded by surging pack-ice, and . "aii' undulating heavy swell. Our opportunity came- at .' noon on April 11, when the ice opened suddenly. We flung the Wats''into the . sua and proceeded westward,- rowing i throughout April 12.

A Run For Elephant Island,

"Our position. became anxious, because our observations showed that .despite.ou< , efforts to makewestward since April 9, . the current was drifting us eastward/ Several of-the party-were suffering froic , exposure, and. so we decided, on April' i 13, to run-northwards and strike Elephlui! Island, l>ecause it.was.then hopeless t( ' make for Deception Island. "When -passing-tho open pack-ice ons of our boats was lioled above the wateM line. A gale was blowing, and tlio boati were weighted down by frozen spray. Th< ' i crew of the boot named Stencombe Willi! s were, suffering greatly.- Not having ivatet . • it was impossible to warm, our food. "We sighted Ulephaut-Island on April li, in a high cross sea, driving gale, and snow,, with particularly, low- temperatures. Then adverse, circumstances impeded- our ' progress. The larger boat took the smaller. boat in tow, and we succeeded in landing-on the morning of April 15, on a ' small beaoh at the north end of tho island under , inaccessible, cliffs. An , immediate ' ( landing was to the ex- I hau'steu condition of 'tKe!party, which had ' 5 neither had water nor'hot food for two days. An inspection of the beach'showed . ! \ that it was .covered at high; spring tides, and that it would therefore be impossible to Toinain, so I. sent Prank Wild, on April 16, to search for a safer landing. The party proceeded westward* on.-April 17, and was nearly blown to-seaward by strong winds and their own weakness. i Tho party landed again through tho heavy surf and found a beach. It was. unten- ' \ able owing to the heavy'gales, but-wo cut a hole' in the ico slope above the reach y' of the waves. I ' Plight of Elephant Islanders;"I had no hesitation'in leaving Wild ia chargo of the main, party on Elephant Island. His judgment, ability, anil ex-, porieuco have been-a valuable asset to tha I expedition. The weather, was appallingly ' \ bad—a constant blizzard. The carpenter covered the boat James Card with sled? - runners,- box-..lids, and canvas, in prepiiratioirfor her' 7UO miies' voyage from J-Jle-phaut_ Island to South Georgia, duringwhicluthe South Antarctic maintained its evil winter reputation. After a hazardous landing we made our way across the is-. , ; land, and reached the Norwegian whalers' statiou'at Stromness" on May 26. On that! day, and the two succeeding davs, tho -iWhalers-rmade. attempts.io Bat..tile ship Li through'to the relief-of the men on Ele- | pliant Island, but the ice prevented them, and I decided to proceed to the Falklanda to. obtain assistances The party on Elephant Island had-ffiyoi weeks'" * on full rations, /eiiliisive of- thevpossibil itics of obtaining, seals." - 1 FRUITS OF THE: EXPEDITION 200- MILES OF-'NEW C.oast ■ (Bee. June 2, 10,15" p.m.) v London, June 2. ' ; Shackleton's'. expeditionary work in- ; eludes the discovery-of- two hundred miles of new coast line,' a" 1 tompleto hydrographical survey. oCthe-Wddell Sea, the elimination of New South Greenland <: from the map, continuous magnetio'and .meteorological observation J ant geological records, up . to October 30, and .pliptpgrapliia-iiocords throughout.- • - i------:-j. ia.'it.-. ~ !. • 'RELIEF FOR ELipACT,.ISpND . ;','j WIOTER' ' (Kec. June 2," 10.'1S'•' . Melbourne, June 2. . Professor Ormo Masson consolers'- that ' - Sir'.Ernest'Shackletpn '. has/ achieved a . feat' that lie did 'W : contemplate could • have been possible. He expects that i Shackletoii' will lead r a relief party to. Elephant Island; but is not certain whe- Jther the. island will be approachable in ' winter. ,j'/3 • '