SIR E. SHACKLETON

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1921, Page 3

SIR E. SHACKLETON

GOES SOUTH AGAIN, ANTARCTIC MYSTERIES. LONDON. June 30. Another great voyage of discovery is to be added to the stirring history of the exploration of the world organised and commanded by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous Antarctic explorer. Supported by a small staff" of picked men. some of whom sailed with him in his famous Polar expeditions in the Nimrod and the Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton is to start out about the end of August on a 30,000-miles voyage of discovery among little-known islands of the Atlantic and the Pacific and the uncharted seas of the cjoutli Pole. The Quest, as liis new ship is called a little vessel of sonic 200 tons net. will he manned hy men of science, and the sea and equipped for every branch of scientific research, and, with th«> aid of the most modern instruments and methods, will Ik- fully prepared to combat the forces of nature in those “stark and sullen solitudes that sentinel the Pole,” The exoeditioh, which Itas hr?n made possible hy the generosity of Mr John Quiller Rowett. of Ely Place, Frant. Sussex, who endowed the Rowett Institute for Agricultural Research, wi'l he called the Shackleton Rowell Oceanographical and Antarctic Expedition. Sir Ernest Shackleton lias also received a generous donation towards the cost of the expedition from Mr End rick Becker, the well-known paper matyifacturer. The Quest will sail from the port of London and, faring southward, will carry out a full hydro-graphical survey, sounding the depth of the ocean, touching as she goes various oceanie islands, some but little known, others not at all. 'The animal and bird life of these islands and the marine life adjacent to their shores will he investigated by the zoologist and biologist of the expedition, their geological structure bv the geologist, while the magnetioian will take the necessary observations, and the kinema and still camera will record every phase of the work. To aid the navigators and surveyors a specially constructed seaplane is to he carried hy the expedition, and from the moment the Quest leaves England the charting of the air currents will be undertaken iust as "the ocean currents are charted. From London, the Quest will make for the Salvages, near Madeira, and thence for St. Paul’s Rocks, a little’ known island on the Equator, and so to Trinidad, where Sir Ernest ,Shackleton landed from Captain Scott’s ship Discovery in 1901 and saw a great petrified ffjrest which the present; expedition "imposes to ox "lore. Tristan da Onnhu the lonely islet in the Atlantic where letters are delivered once in three years, 'will he visited and also Goindi Island, eight miles long 4,000 ft. high, rising in mid-ocean from the Atlanta . This island has been visited hy only one scientific expedition. Some me>"-l".--s of the Bruce Fvnoditian in 190 * went ashore for a few hours and in that time observed four hitherto unknown secies of birds. Soundings will be taken on the ocean plateau about Gough Island to prove or disrvnve anv surmaes regarding nil ■■ndo-wn*-• "U • “meetion ) -...1 ' "'erP* Ft-"" rtoi.'vli TA-" 1 ihn O'-e-t will owing eastward to the Cape of Good Hope and at

Capetown make ready for the stormiest and most dangerous portion of her voy-age-—the exploration of the Antarctic - south of the Cape. ANTARCTIC MYSTERY. The recent explorations of the late Captain Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton, and Sir Douglas Mawson have widened our knowledge of the great Antarctic continent, both south of New Zealand and south of South America; but it is about 90 years since any keel has been in the ice-laden waters south of Smith Africa AH that is known of these unvisited tracts is one small land-mass Knderbv Land, which may be part (.t the great Antarctic continent or may he an island. . The limits of the continent here ate unknown for « distance of over 3 000 miles New seas may bo found oi new gulfs' may indent the unknown coast Here lies in great part the my. .. of the cruise of the Quest; for it is not known whether an ice-oound coast will bar the voyagers from achieving a very high latitude; whether . active volcanoes will nse a love the lion as the ship works south; or whether (sir Ernest Shackleton and his companions will sa.l into open s°iith eni sons after the. combat with tne '''wii'oii'the Quest emerges front the H,p,retie near the Weddell Sea slw moves north to the South Islands and South Georgia. and searching for suitable, harbours m whaling Then after refitting ift South Georgia, her hows will turn east once more? and as she runs her easting down landim's will be made on various l are.A seen and little known sub-Antarctic oceanic islands such as Bouvet Island and Heard Island. Some of these islands may still harbour the southern fur seal, which has disappeared Irom the better known islands ow ing to wanton slaughter nearly » hundred In due time the QutAt will reach Ne Zealand, whence she will work into the Pacific, and a search will he made >y dicdoiii.r and sounding for the lost isInmUrf Timnaki, which is mentioned in missionary records and native legeilt and old nautical epitomes, but since .has apparently disappeared from view. Uimi farin'-- south mice more, the expedition .rocs To search for Dougherty Island, whose existence and position are doubtful. If discovered to have an accessible landing-place* it will make an oceanic station for wireless today between New Zealand and South America, and would a | S o serve as a reporting station as to the ice. conditions for ships ehgaged th vova-es on this route. On then to Cape Horn and home hy the Atlantic is the last stage in the long and varied vo\age. THE SHIP AND THE MEN. The little. Quest is now lying : ' Southampton, close to where the giant Aipiitania docks. So small is slm that if her masts and funnel were taken out d-e could lie comfortably hidden in one ~f the funnels of the great Gummier. But. she is well fitted for the work she has to face. Built in Norway lour Tears ago of oak aml pine and fir, and toted in the ire of the north, she m 111 feet long, 23 feet h, am. and 12 loot depth. Her sides arc 2 loot thick; her bows of solid dak sheathed will) steel. Her steaming radius is 9.999 miles, and under sail with a stiff hr coze "■ l( ' l ' a " urdu- 8 knot*. She is now in the hand- ot Messrs Thorny veroft, of Sdu'hniv.pton, undergoing extensive alterations. Her sail meals being increased and slit* ts being rigged as a brigantine. Accommodation for the scientific staff and laboratories is being built above and below decks; platforms are being -erected tor the sounding machines, which will >c capable of testing the ocean depths down to 30,000 feet; winches tor winding in the captive balloons tor testing wind cmreilts are being installed; special accommodation lor the scape'"'’ has boon devised, will he provided w ith a powerful wireless set. The staff of the expedition inoludes six companions of Sir Ernest Slihekletoit on his former oxpediUmis. Commander Frank \\ ild. C the second-in-command of the expedition, has wide Polar experience. He was with Scott in the Discovery (1901-04). with Shackleton in the Nimrod 090'00), with Mawsoii in the Aurora <l9lO- - and with Shackleton in the Endurance (1914-17). He served with the North Russian Force wish Shackleton during the war and was leader of the Spdzhergcn Expedition in 1919. Commander Frank )\ orsley, D-* - • - PI) R N R., was eaptilin of the Endurance with Shackleton. During the war he commanded a “P” boat and also took part in the North Russian campaign. Major A. M. Maeklin, M.( ~ was surgeon and biologist in the Endurance. During tho war -he served wutli the R.A.M.C. in France, Italy, and North Russia. ~ . Liout-Commnnder U P- Stenhouse, D.K.0.. D.S.C.. R.X.R., was captain ot t he Aurora. During the war lie commanded a “mystery ship” and also served in the North Russian camping". Captain L. Hussey, meteorologist m the Endurance, served in the artillei \ in Fiance and in North Russia. 11. Green, who was cook of the Endurance and was wounded in the war, is sailing as cook in the Quest. * The ship w ill he worked by the staff ( j the expedition themselves.