LIFE ON ELEPHANT ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2874, 12 September 1916, Page 6

LIFE ON ELEPHANT ISLAND

GAUNT DAYS BEFORE THE RESCUE SEAWEED AND LIMPETS FOR LUNCHEON!

i Australian-New Zenland. Cable Association. ' New York, September 10. , Tho "New York Herald," iu a dis- , patch from Punta Arenas, gives an interview with Mr. Frank Wild, who says ! that tho surgeon operated on Black- ! burrow's toes by the light of blubber lamps. On August 30, when the party wore eating a seaweed and limpet lunch, someone shouted: "A ship is coming!" .md the Yelco appeared, amid great tcebergs. It seemed as if she was steaming past the camp, and the suspense was terrible, until smoke signals attracted Sir Ernest Shackloton's attention. HOW THE DAYS PASSED (Roe. September 11, 6.-30 p.m.) London, September 10. The "Daily Chronicle" states that the Punta Arenas party are making good recoveries from their privations. They will arrive in England at the end of October. Captain Wild gives a vivid description of life on Elephant Island. Their hut, ho says, was constantly flooded, and bailod out nightly. The only hot meal was served at dawn—penguin fried in blubber. For lunch they had biscuits and raw blubber. Tho after'noon was spent in exercising along a track one hundred yards long. For dinner, psnguins' breast and bovril was greatly, enjoyed. A half-digested fish was found in a seal's stomach. The men smoked grass from the-padding of their boots, in pipes carved from wood and birds' bones. Wild had decided that failing relief by tho end of October he would try to roach Doception Island, where the whalers came during tho summer. Biscuits, sugar, and sledging rations were reserved for this party. They went to' bed at. half-past five and took turns to read aloud from tho Bible, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and leading authors. The first question that was asked of the rescuers was: "When was the war over?" CONGRATULATIONS FROM QUEEN ALEXANDRA. London, September 10. Qu'eea Alexandra has telegraphed to Sir Ernest Shackleton: "It gives me tho greatest possible pleasure to hear of your success in rescuing all your party. I trust my standard, the Union Jack, and my mascot, brought you luck, and that we will soon welcome you home."