SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON DEAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2386, 31 January 1922, Page 3

SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON DEAD.

HEART DISEASE AT SEA. Monte Video, Jan. 29. Sir Ernest Shaekleton died aboard the Quest, of agina pectoris, on the sth January. Sir Ernest Shaekleton, avlio Avas born at Kilkee, Ireland, in 1874, began his polar exploration experiences in 1901, when he sailed Avitli the late Captain Scott as third lieutenant in the National Antarctic Expedition. In 1907-09 he conducted the British Antarctic Expedition (his ship being the Nimrod), and succeeded in getting further south than any other explorer to that time, reaching a point only 97 miles from the South Pole. For this expedition lie established his headquarters at Lyttelton, and during his stay in Ncav Zealand he made many friends, who held and hold him in high esteem.

Sir Ernest set out again in 1914 to make another Antarctic voyage. Just as he Avas leaving the Avar began, and he offered the services of himself and his men, bub Avas told to devote himself to the Avork of the expedition. The expedtiion attained only a partial success, and a party were left marooned. The project Avas to cross the Antarctic Continent from the Weddell Sea, via the Pole, to the Ross Sea. He left South Georgia in the Endurance on 6th December, 1914, sighting Coats Land on 10th January, 1915, and tracing 200 miles of neAV coast-line to the south. But the abnormal cold of the season made it impossible even to land, and the ship drifted in the ice through the ensuing Avinter at the mercy of the currents of the Weddell Sea. Finally the ship Avas crushed in the ice, and fiad to be abandoned on 27th October, 1915. On Bth April, 1916, the party had to take to their boats, and finally reached Elephant Island, in the South Shetlands. Leaving 22 men in a precarious position here, the leader, with five volunteers, started on the forlorn hope of -reaching South Georgia across 700 miles of stormy sea in order to obtain succour. The venture Avas successful, and finally the party on Elephant Island Avere rescued by a ship sent out by the Chilian Government.

Meanwhile the Aurora, which had been sent to the Ross Sea, Avas driA r en aAvay in a gale, after landing ten men on Ross Island. She drifted helplessly for a long time, but. finally reached Ngav Zealand on 3rd April, 1916. The Aurora Avas refitted and sent back at the end of 1916, and rescued the survivors of the party. On his return to England Sir Ernest, Shaekleton avus engaged in special Avar duties in Spitsbergen 'and the north of Russia. Recently the explorer set out on another expedition, Avhicli Avas to be only partially conducted in the Antarctic. The objects were, to make a comprehensive scientific study of a large area of the Southern Atlantic and Pacific .oceans. The ship used, the Quest, is a small auxiliary sailing vessel of about 200 tons. She left England in September, and almost immediately encountered terrific Aveather, .Avhieh was so severe in its handling of the little vessel that some members of the expedition Avere compelled to leave her and return to England. The Quest Avas damaged, and put into Lisbon for repairs.

Angina pectoris, to Avhicli Sir Srnest’s death is attributed, is a form of heart, disease, notable for the extreme pain of the recurrent attacks.