BEGINNING OF THE TRAGIC MARCH BACK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 7

BEGINNING OF THE TRAGIC MARCH BACK

The following account of the actual dash for the South Pole and its attainment by Captain Scott and his four companions, Dr. Wilson, Captain Oates, Lieutenant Cowers, and Petty Officer Evans, is furnished by Press Association: THE START. On January 4th, 1912, Commander Evans left Captain Scott and his party to continue their journey to the pole. They marched an average of twelve miles a day right up to the pole, which was reached on January 17th. The distance was about 156 statute miles from the spot where Commander Evans turned, in 87deg. 35min. LOCATING THE POLE. The first day at the pole was cloudy, with a mock sun The second day, January 18th, was clearer, and the' sun being visible, sights were taken, Captain Scott using a 4 inch theodo'ito, while Captain Amundsen had used a sextant with an artificial horizon. The fixing of the pole by the two explorers differed by only half a mile, thus practically locating the same. spot. Captain Scott’s observations gave latitude 89deg 59}min. The party marched on an extra half-mile, measuring by the sledge meter, and there planted the Union Jack. In latitude 88deg. they had previously picked up the Norwegian dog tracks, and they followed these to the. Norwegian camp, within three miles of the pole. The track was obliterated by drifts at intervals. AMUNDSEN RECORDS FOUND. The party found all the records and gear left by Amundsen. Sastirugi from two directions were marked at the pole, and there was evidence of a slight blizzard since Amundsen had erected his tent. The temperature was about 20deg. below zero, while the surface, unlike that of the Barrier, was soft and there was no cniSt. It was found that snow collected. from any depth on melting was also unlike that of the Barrier, the snow giving very little water. PARTY PHOTOGRAPHED. Ten photographs of Scott’s party at the pole were taken. These films were recovered and developed at Cape Evans; also two photographs of the Norwegian tent with Scott’s party around it. THE RETURN JOURNEY. The return journey over the plateau was marked by a series of good marches ' and medium weather, the temperatures averaging between 20, and SOdeg. below zero. The marches varied, up to eighteen miles per day, to the top of the Beardmore Glacier. Both the depots on the plateau-—one in 87deg. south and one close under Mount Darwin, 85.7 deg. south —were secured. VALUABLE COLLECTIONS. Before descending the Beardmore Glacier, Dr Wilson and ' Lieutenant Bowers visited Buckley Island, a large nunatak at the top of the glacier. Here they spent some time making a large collection of fossil-bearing sandstones, and also coal in quantity., These fossils should finally settle the age of the latest sedimentary deposits yet found in Victoria Landj and are certainly the best yet obtained in this quadrant. _ Leaving Buckley Island, and going down the glacier, the party passed Mount Kinsey, a magnificent dolerite peak 11,000 feet high, and an admirable pom tto steer by. They reached a small depot underneath the Cloudmaker, and another halt was made for geological investigation. From the . Side Of the Cloudmaker fossils of much greater ago were found in limestone. In all thirty-five pounds of geological specimens were carefully packed and taken forward by the party right up to lie last camp, and these are now in possession of the expedition. • WEATHER THICK AND COLD. .From the Cloudmaker to the foot of tho Beardmore the surfaces they encountered were the same deep snow surfaces as wore found on the way up, and which, with bad weather, severely hampered thair march. Throughout the descent the weather was abnormally -thick, with snow crystals falling and tho surrounding land was only dbcasionally seen. A SICK COMRADE. Scott dates tho beginning of Petty Officer Edgar Evans’s failure from the time of reaching the pole, and be was a great anxiety to them on the plateau. In their descent of the glacier he got amongst tho very rough ice, and Evans fell, injuring his head and sustaining serious concussion. During the whole of the descent his condition delayed the party, and their surplus food gradually diminished. EVANS’S LAST MARCH. On February 17th, while on the march, his foot worked out of his ski shoe and he was comifelled to fall out and remain behind to readjust the footgear. The party moved along, and, soding he was not following, they camped and cooked a meal, anticipating that Evans would reach the tent when the meal was ready. - As ho was not up at that time they went back for him and found he narf collapsed. Jtlo bravely tried to go forward, but had to be placed on a sledge, and he died a natural death within two hours of reaching the tent. This delay, as Scott stated, greatly weakened the party, made inroads into the surplus provisions, and unduly advanced the season.

Referring to the cable in regard to Professor David’s theory, which lie was made acquainted with, Commander Evans said that Professor David’s statement that the deaths were caused by scurvy was but a conjecture, though based on sound and practical knowledge of the difficulties attending such a long journey in the polar region and with man haulage. But Dr Atkinson, who was in charge of the relief party, was an expert in scurvy, and ho states that there were no signs of scurvy. This being so, tho deaths were certainly due to exposure and weakness, brought on by strajn through tho difficulty in .hauling their sledges over the very soft and bad surface. This, in turn, was,duo to au unexpected fall in temperature; “It was well known,” continued the commander, “that in the polar regions in very low temperature ice crystals formed a cutting edge and tho friction on the runners on tho sledges became very groat. A manhauung party, pulling a fair load, exerted a strain of 2201 b per man on their traces when travelling in a temperature of zero Fahrenheit. With a temperature fallen to minus 30deg this pull would be more than doubled. Captain Scott’s message to the public states that temperatures of minus 30dbg and below zero were frequently , experienced. It must bo obvious that, after facing the strain of sledge traveling for a distinoo of more -than’ 1600 miles, to he faced with extra puling such as I have described would ba enough !to break down any party, whatever their physique might be. “We in this expedition,” continued the commander, “knew the endurance of the men constituting the advance < party, and wo do not believe that any men living could have won through under tho circumstances.” • 1 Commander Evans, referring.to Mrs Scott, said: “I will remain in N#w Zealand until Mrs Scott arrives in, Wellington, and with her brother. Lieutenant Bruce, of the expedition, will meet her there.” Asked as to whether there was any likelihood of the bodies being brought back, Commander Evans - said: “The • best people to judge .of that question are - those who served with Captain Scott and his gallant comrades. They were his constant companions for over two years. Had we ourselves been in the same place as Captain Scott and those who perished with him, we could only have wished that our bodies remain at rest where we had given our best efforts jn the cause we so earnestly believed in.” TWO BRAVE MEN. Commander Evans then referred to the bravery displayed .by Chief Stoker Lashley and Petty Officer Krean on tho march back to camp last year with him (Commander Evans) after they left Captain Scott to make his daeh southward. Evidence of the trying experiences which Commander Evans went , through is to be found: in the fact that bn January 17th he was compelled to curtail his entries in his diary, and for four days following ho could only record his experience very briefly. After that he had to give up altogether. “To the two men who wore with mo, said the Commander, “I owe 1 my life, and I do feel that no tribute to their services can over be high enough.” Early in the journey " Commander Evans was attacked by scurvy, but he endeavoured to withhold this fact from his companions and bravely pushed onTho plight of their leader now became ■ apparent to them, however, and he expressed a desire that tho men should push on and leave him in the tent which they had erected. The men refused to do that, and Commander Evans said he would command them to do so. They then replied that for the first time they would disobey their commander. Eventually the journey was continued, and Commander Evan* succeeded in making some distance under very trying conditions.- Eventually everything they were carrying, except what they stood in, was thrown off the sledge and Commander Evans was then placed on the sledge and brought Into camp. , Continuing, Commander Evans, said those two men would do again what they had already done, and with the same cheerful spirit, and with as little thought for self. “We are not out. to praise one another,” added the commander, “but I cannot let the conduct of these men pass unnoticed.” PAINFUL DETAILS. Commander Evans, pressed for further intelligence, expressed, the hope that the people would not be so insistent for details of a circumstance which had so many painful features. ’Ho desired to alleviate the distress of tho relatives of the deceased explorers 80 far os possible. The publication of harrowing details, he repeated, would do no good to anyone, but would open up the wounds of the dear ones of those who had lost their lives as horoe# should.