CAPTAIN SCOTT AND PARTY PERISH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 7

CAPTAIN SCOTT AND PARTY PERISH

STIRRING STORY, OF HARDSHIPS BRAVELY BORNE LEADER’S PATHETIC MESSAGE TO BRITISH PEOPLE (By Telegraph—Extraordinary—Copyright.) LONDON, February 10. News Scott party perished blizzard after reaching Pole January 18th caused sensation. This brief message, received yesterday morning, announced the fate of Captain Scott’s polar party, concerning which much speculation had been rife since the arrival of the Terra Nova in New Zealand waters twenty-four hours earlier. During the day further messages came to hand as follow; “FAREWELL TO A BAND OF HEROES 1” LONDON, February 10The Royal Geographical Society convened a special meeting of the council to consider the disaster. Mr Douglas Freshfield, M.A., ex-President of the society, presided in Lord Curzon’s absence. Ho said they met in the shadow of a great calamity. Captain Scott had reached the Pole on January 18th and found Captain Amundsen’s records. Returning, the party was caught in an overpowering blizzard on March 29th Captain Scott, Lieutenant Bowers, and Dr. Wilson died on that date, and Captain Oates some time later. A seaman (Petty Officer Evans) succumbed to an accident, i The society passed a resolution of sympathy with Mrs Scott. Mr Freshfield said they could only say farewell to a band of heroes whose names would shine as examples of the highest courage. Captain Scott would live in their memories as an ideal English sailor. SHACKLETON AND AMUNDSEN INCREDULOUS. NEW YORK, February 10. Sir Ernest Shackleton, who is in this city, did not believe the story at first. He had thought scurvy would have been a greater peril than blizzards In an interview Sir Ernest said he was amazed at the disaster. It was inconceivable that an expedition so'well equipped should phrish in a blizzard. Sir Ernest said his part faced the severest blizzards without disaster. Commander Peary, interviewed, said his heartfelt sympathy was with Mrs Scott and the relatives of Captain Scott’s brave comrades. Captain Amundsen, the Arctic and Antarctic explorer, .who is at Madison, Wisconsin, when told of the Scott disaster, exclaimed, “Horrible! Horrible! There must be some horrible mistake.” He identified the spot mentioned in Captain Scott’s records as the South Pole The Norwegian flag was left there.