Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1919, Page 4

staggerer, but fortunately the blizzard still continued, and for the first time in the annals of. polar-sledging the party blessed the blizzard. A Sail was set on the sledge, and the dogs, knowing that they were homeward bound, went off at a great pace. *

They proceeded day after day, tending their sick companions as well as they could, the temperature being down to 40 degrees below zero. It was not easy to work, but as long as the wind continued they could do a mile an hour, but unfortunately, the wind dropped, and for the first time for weeks the sun appeared. Then came the real struggle. After five hours’ travelling ODly 1150 yards were registered. Joyce, Richards, and Wild were getting weaker, and scurvy signs were showing. They carried on for two days in that condition, when it was decided, that one man would have to stay behind for,at least three weeks. Mackintosh volunteered. So three Aveeks’ provisions were left him in a tent, and the party proceeded on with Smith and Hayward. When within 19 miles of the base hut the Rev Spencer Smith died. He had been ill jfor 54 days, and had been dragged on a sledge for 44 days in temperature that (ranged to 50 degrees below zero! He nvas buried, and a bamboo cross was erected over his grave. It was hard to have dragged him so far, to die within sight of the hut. Hayward was then dragged on, the others getting weaker and weaker. Bits of bamboo had to he lashed to the knees to prevent them doubling up in the night. Had that been allowed to occur they would stay in that position. Hayward’s legs Avere bent- double. After a tremendous struggle the base hut was reached. Throughout that journey the dogs were superhuman, but at the end they Avere so done up that one could not get a hark out of them—scurvy had attacked them, too. On arrival at the hut seals Avere killed and the fresh meat acted like electricity on everyone. The dogs speedily lost their lassitude, and their welcome barks cheered everyone up. MACKINTOSH RESCUED.

After a respite of 36 hours, Joyce, Wild, and Richards started back to get Mackintosh, Avith the temperature 40 degrees beloAV zero, and, after a severe struggle, he Avas brought in. It has to be remembered, in consider- 1 ing this epic in Polar travel, tlini, the party had been out since September, and had travelled 1800 miles to lay the depots for Shackleton, who Avas to have come across the South Polar continent, The clothes they AA'ere Avearing had been on for over tAvelve months, and Avere in rags. Their socks Avere tied up in canvas, and the fur boots Avere full of holes. The scurvy, which overtook them, was caused through their being out so long and away from fresh food of any kind. The symptoms and effects of scurvy were blackening of the gums and their protrusion from the mouth; dilation of the whites of the eyes; limbs from the ankles black and swollen ; doubling of the knees, blackening and SAvelling of the elbows, and indentations on (the nails of the hands.

Joyce and Wild were naval men. The latter gave his life for his country \Avhilst employed on a mine-SAveeper in the Mediterranean. Both men could not give enough praise to Richards, whose optimism and . cheerfulness Avere as a tonic.