THE POLAR TRAGEDY

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 542, 15 February 1913, Page 5

THE POLAR TRAGEDY

EXCITEMENT, HARDSHIP, AND PERIL. SCOTT'S DIARY PRESERVED. "A VERY BIG SCHEME." Christchurch, Wednesday. Commander Evans and his executive officers met a group of pressmen in the wardroom of the Terra Nova this afternoon, in order to give out such additional particulars as he could of the expedition. Having described the trip from Lyttelton till the Terra Nova reached Cape Evans on January 18th, 1912, commander Evans proceeded:— "We had prepared to give the southern party a great ovation. Accommodation was made ready for them, and luxuries got up from the storeroom. We steamed rapidly towards our winter quarters, and anchored less than a quarter of a mile from the hut, with our colours flying. We could see a large party on the beach waving and gesticulating and as the anchor wai dropped thsy gave us three ringing cheers, which we answered. "I identified Lieut. Campbell, next in command to Captain Scott, there, but could not see Scott, and so shouted: — "Are you all well?' "■' 'After some hesitation, Lieut. Campbell shouted in reply:— " 'The southern party reached the Pole on January 18th last year but were all lost on the way back. We have their records.' "This news, of course, was received in silence. It was a tremendous shock to us. We shall regret the loss of the southern party all our lives. Details of that loss you already have, and I need not further dwell on them. "Our boats were lowered from the ship, and the shore party came on board and told us the history of the past year. It was full of adventure and exciting details. The remainder of the day was given up to reading letters from Home and discussing events. Thereafter the camp was broken up and all material to be removed placed on board. SCOTTS' ROUTE TO THE POLE. After giving an account of the preparatory work of 1911 for the dash to the Pole, Commander Evans said that the total distance to th« Pole and back by Captain Ecott's route was 1834 statute miles, and gauging the speed of the southern party by that of the parties led by himself and by Dr Atkinson, Captain Scott should have returned to Hut Point, 15 miles from the base, on March 10th Some thought he would return before that date, but having five men as against three in the last supporting party, a longer time might be required. "No real anxiety was ever felt for the sledging parties employed on the southern journey," said Commander Evans, "as the organisation and equipment and selection were so excellent, thanks to Captain Scott's experience and remarkable ability. THE PINAL MISFORTUNE. "Captain Scott's last misfortune," continued Commander Evans, "was due to weather conditions, which it was impossible to overcome, as it proved only too clearly by the dreadful hardships which brought about the loss of the southern party." Asked for some particulars concerning the accident which befell Petty Officer Evans, Commander Evans pointed out that the nature of the ice in the vicinity of where the accident occurred was very rough, and it was often necessary for men to climb over steep cliffs of ice which was very slippery. Apparently Petty Officer Evans met a difficult spot to negotiate, and he probably slipped and fell on his head, sustaining concussion of the brain. CAPTAN SCOTTS' DIARY. Commander Evans said that in addition to the recovering of Captain Scott's diary, the rescue party had also found, diaries which were kept by other members of the southern party. None of the diaries, however, had been opened. Commander Evans said he'thought it was right that Captain Scott's diary should be handed to Mrs Scott just as it waß found oy the rescue party, and in the cases of the other diaries he. had decided to hand them to the nearest relatives of their late owners. Consequently none of the information contained in the diaries of the men who reached the Pole would be available for publica tion for some time.

Commander Evans went on to say that every written record of the joruney had been recovered.

Questioned regarding the publica tion of the story of the expedition, which, in the ordinary course of events, would have been compiled by Captain Scott, Commander Evans said he would arrange to publish a book in conjunction with the other members of the expedition who had different portions of the story to record. Captain Scott had arranged to

publish the history of the expedition now brought to a close, and he dasired to carry out Captain Scott's plans in their entirety. VALUABLE SURVEY WORK.

Referring to the extensive ground that will be covered in th D book, Commander Evans said ttiat there were 60 men in the expedition, and Captain Scott had a very big scheme in hand. In addition to Captain Scott's journey to the Pole, other exploration parties were led by Lieut. Campbell and Mr Griffiths Taylor, while a great deal of survey work was done around New Zealand and in the Antarctic regions by the Terra Nova while shore parties were fully dealt with. The Terra Nova will remain at Lyttelton for a month, when she will sail for Cardiff. A number of members of the expedition and officers of the Terra Nova, including Commander Evan will leave in about a week's time for England, and the Terra Nova will sail Home under the command of Lieut. Pennell.