ANTARCTIC VOYAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 853, 30 March 1903, Page 3

ANTARCTIC VOYAGE.

TIMES STATES REQUIRED SUM .WILL BE FORTHCOMING.

.THE BAD FOOD

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. Received fi. 17 p.m., March 28. LONDON, March 27. The Times stales that twelve thousand pounds arc required to enable Captain Scott’s expedition lo remain another year in the Antarctic. The Times states that the sum will certainly he forthcoming. Much surprise is expressed at the Discovery’s supplies being had. Sir Clement Markham declares that the supplies were subjected to the closest inspection by experts, including the City of London Health Officer.

THE MORNING’S RETURN,

INTERESTING INCIDENTS.

CHATS WITH THE MEN

Christchurch, March 27,

A party of three under Lieutenant Shackloton mado reconnaissance southwards in February, 1902, to soe whether tbero was a clear road in that direction boyond tho islands which blockod the outlook; and having discovered that the way was clear, thoy established a depot boforo turning back to regain the ship. Another party started out at tho beginning of September, consisting of Captain Scott, Dr Wilson, Lioutonant Shackloton, and several men, to exploro tho islands to tho southwards. The expedition iastod five days. Afterwards Capt. Scott, Lieut. Shackleton, and tho boatswain went south with

dogs and sledges, to lay out a depot in preparation for tho long journoy which has beon already described. They started on September 30, and between then and Octobor 9, the date of their return, they covered 150 miles.

According to the story told by ono of tho Morning’s company, there was great oxcitoment on board when, on January 23, tho mastheads of the Morning wero seen. Shortly aftorwards they saw ono of the Discovery’s mon running down a point to announce the vessel’s arrival. The glad tidings wore communicatod by tho hoisting of a flag on a pole provided for tho purpose. Tho man on the look-out was ono of the koonest-sighted on the Discovery. A sledge party was soon soen setting out from tho Discovery, and Captain Colbeck set off to moot them. Ono of tho first things tho Diacovory men did was to sample tho fresh provisions brought by the Morning. Some oggs sent by a Chrißtehurcb lady, and carefully preserved, appear to have particularly tickled the palates of the Antarctic hermits, while tho prime Canterbury mutton called forth almost equal expressions of satisfaction. Of the potatoes shipped by the Morning only one bag was found suitable for human consumption. Interest concentrated on the heavy mail brought by the Morning, and all and sundry on the Discovery were soon preoccupied with the latest news from home, and after private letters had been porused and reporused, the newspapers wero devoured. Every day there was continuous communication between the two ships, and tho utmost good feeling and comradeship sprang up between the respective crews. Tho mon of the Morning wore kept busy convoyiDg stores half-way to the Discovery, whore they wore met by the Discovery mon, who transported them the other half of the distance. The Discovery men were at the time living on board their ship, and were very happy and cheerful, and enjoying good health. Indeed, no serious eases of

illness had occurred on board. Tho men of tho Morning worked well and cheerfully, despite the arduous nature of their labours, for sometimes, owing to the softness of tho snow, thoy wero unable to use their ski runners.

Like all wooden ships, the Morning leaks somewhat, and to-day, for a brief period, tho mon were engaged pumping her, lightening their labors, according to the custom of tho sailor, with song. At the mid-day respite opportunity was taken by a representative of Truth to chat with the men, and from them he obtained a few further details regarding their voyage into the mysterious regions round the South Pole.

Whon about a weok out from Lyttelton a heavy sea carried away ono of the boats, tho whaleboat, and those on board tho relief ship have until recently been on tenderhooks lest it should have been picked up, and that tho worst possible conjectures had beon arrived at by their friends at home; they were greatly relieved on reaching port to find that no word had been heard of tho boat.

Sailing through pack ice appears to bo a rather exciting experience ; but when what is described as pan ice is met with things become even more exciting. Pan ice is floating ice, circular in shape, and the bumping of the vessel against it is not a pleasant sensation. On the voyago from Lyttelton tho Morning bumped into an iceberg, but luckily it was a small one, and but little darnago was done. The danger from this source was, however, an everpresent ono as soon as tho Antarctic circle was crossed. A very keon outlook had to bo kept. The statement has been made that some of tho crow of the Discovery suffored j from scurvy. Very searching questions wore put to different members of the Morning’s crow on this subject, but from all sides he was assured that no outbreak of the disease had occurred. Captain Colbeck absolutely and definitely denied that there had been any scurvy amongst the men of tho Discovery; but stated that on some of the sledge journeys symptoms of scurvy were developed by some of the men. On their return to tho ship, however, theso completely disappeared. _ Life in Antarctica is not conducive to the renewal of youth—in fact, it has the opposite effect, and the Discovery’s men have palpably aged. Very touching appears to have been the scono when tho morning left Antarctica for Lyttelton. Captain Scott and his crew saw the relief ship off from the shore, and ono of the Morning’s crew, >n referring to tho occasion, said that never before in his life had he wept as he did then. Many whales were seen by those on tho Morning, but the majority were narwhals, which have practically no blubber, and aro valueless from a commercial point of view, Only one flr two sperm whales were seen. One of" the mountains discovered by Captain Scott has named Mount Discovery. With regard to the frozen mutton taken by the Morning from Lyttelton, it appears that soma of it, when it reached the Discovery, was unfit for human consumption. This seems to have been due to tho fact that proper care was not takon to keep tho refrigerating chamber at equal temperature. Although no estimate could be obtained as to how much had been con- j doomed, it would appear that tho quantity was not large, because sorno of the meat was used on the Morning almost the timo she reached New Zealand. The mutton supplied to the Discovery by the Canterbury farners was highly appreciated by tho men. It was a special treat on Sundays, and when tho men woro served with their toddy, the toast of the Canterbury farmers war regularly drunk. During the Antarctic winter all animal life migrates to comparatively warmer zones. Seals, penguins, and skua gualls all leave tho land of perpetual ice. At presont it is anticipated that tho Discovery’s men are busy laying up a store of fcod for tho winter. They will bo killing and skinning seals and burying thorn in the ico. All speak highly of tho palatabloness of seal flesh as food, whilo cooked skua guall was found almost equal to ordinary fowl ornhicken. Of gold there appears to have been only vory indirect traces. Mica, which is calculated to deceive almost tho very elect, has been found, and amongst miners its presence is usually taken to indicate tho possibility of the existence in the locality of tho precious motal. According to ono of tho Morning’s crew, Captain Scott’s work has been of such a thorough nature that it has shown that Borcbgrevinck was at tho best a very cursory observer. On the long 90 days’ sledge journoy, when tho furthest south Wfts°l'eacljed, the latter half was done by

Captain Scott, Dr. Wilson, and Lieutenant Shaekleton alono, the men who accompanied them in the early part of tho journey being left in charge of a depot. Captain Scott was lowered 200 ft down tho great ico barrier at the ultimate point reached by tho explorers. The Morning’s future movements have not beon definitely settled upon, but she will probably remain at Lyttelton for five or six weeks. There is a possibility that she will visit other ports in tho colony, and may visit some of tho Australian ports. At present Captain Colbeck is awaiting orders from headquarters. The Morning, on her return voyago to tho Discovery, will make Lyttelton her port of departure, and will leave later than she did last year, it having been found that she left too early on that occasion.