The Scott Tradgedy.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 February 1913, Page 3

The Scott Tradgedy.

+ iBI ELIOXBIC XBLBQUAra-Oyi-TBieHT.] IPBK PRESS ASSOCIATION.} LONDON, February 16. A sum of nearly thirty-thousand pounds is required to meet tho expedition's outstanding liabilities and to relievo tho Scott estate. Scott largely pledged his own and wife's fortune to carry out tho expedition. Lord Curzon, writing to the press, says that ho has the highest authority for stating that tho Government will mako provision for the dependants of the lost heroes from tho national funds. SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS. News was received in Onristchurch -on Friday, states jiho Lyttelton times, that New York journals had published sensational statements. with large "black headlines, dealing with incidents connected with the southern party. The statements were that Petty Officer Edgar Evans, the first member of the party to succumb, went out of his mind, and that there was great bitterness of feeling amongst the survivors because the relief party was not sent out in time to save Captain Scott and the two other members of the southern party. These statements, apparently, Avere published simultaneously in several of the daily newspapers of New York, -and created a tremendous excitement there. Later on, probably, theyi were sent by cable messages to newspapers in other parts of the world.' They were brought under tho notico of Commander Evans during the afternoon, and he gave omphalic denials to both of them. Ho did not say much in regard to Petty Officer Evan's condition. He simply said: "1 can give a clear denial to tho statement that ho went mad." Ho was asked if lie was speaking with a knowledge of tho circumstances, and lie replied: "I have absolute information that he was not mad." He added that he was glad to have sin opportunity to express appreciation of Evan's pluck and endurance. Ho went further into details on the other point. He began by expressing surprise and indignation at the publication of statements which might reflect upon Dr. Atkinson, tho leader of the relief party. He was quite satisfied, he said, that Ik. Atkinson had behaved admirably if* tho most trying circumstances, and that no man could have done movr than that officer had done. 'flint wias the feeling of all members of the expedition. The very idea of bitterness having boon engendered against Dr. Atkinson was (jiiitp a'b» surd. As a matter of fact, the best possible feeling always !hnd existed in the expedition, and it continued. There was neither bitterness nor dissension.