"A DREADFUL SHOCK"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1913, Page 7

"A DREADFUL SHOCK"

THE NEWS IN CHRISTCHURCH. (BT TELEGRAPH— PBEB9 ASSOCIATION.) v CHRISTCHURCH, Thie Day. Not even the barest hint of disaster was allowed to leak out yesterday, and the news this morning came an a dreadful shock to hosts of fi lends made by members of the expedition in Christchurch. Indeed, the earliest rumours were received with flat incredulity, it being assumed that if such a great calamity had befallen the expedition those concerned were sure to have mentioned it when tho vessel called _at Oamaru. That eecrecy could be so jea* lously maintained was, iv the circumstances, incredible. The persistence of the rumours carried conviction, and the fact that the Star office flag was halfmaeted showed people arriving in town at 9 a.m. that cad news «f some sort had been received. The Cathedral bell tolled shortly afterwards, and the tragedy soon took on tho appearance of a national disaster, 60 far as this city is concerned. As Alt. Kinscy and Lieutenant Pennell wero unablo to eeo visitors, the

and the public refused to believe that no information was obtainable locally. Mr. Kineeyßtates that a full report) of the expedition will probably be sent to the New Zealand papers to-night, and in the meantime only euch brief message a« are fsent from London-, will be available SECRECY 77 OAMARU OAMARU, Thia Day. V Captain Ramsay, harbourmaster, who was interviewed yesterday by Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. Atkinson, expressed ( dor-prise when he heard news of the late Captain Scott's party. Captain Ram> say Dtates that the officers eftid nothing a* to the success or otherwise of the expedition, or to lead anyone , to believe bo dreadful a calamity had* happened. They intimated that, in pursuance of their mission ashore, they were bound to secrecy, afid this being the case, the harbourmaster made no effort to «eeure information. Flags have been half* masted, as a token of respect to the gal* lant officer and his men.