MANNER OF SCOTT’S DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 8

MANNER OF SCOTT’S DEATH

A SECRET—WHAT IS IT? Special to the “Times.” CHRISTCHURCH February 13. Commenting on the speculations tha* are rife concerning the manner of Scott’s death, to-night’s “Evening Nows” says: “But these are only speculations as to the reasons for the weakening of the men to a stage of final exhaustion. Behind it all there is something else. Professor David, like many others, sees that, and he suggests scurvy. Captain Scott’s diary probably reveals the secret. What was it? Commander Evans says that all the records were _ recovered, but that he opened no diaries and thinks that of the commander of the expedition should be handed to his widow ‘just as it was found by the rescue party,’ but did Dr Atkinson not open it? We are told that he did, that it was in Captain Scott’s diary ho found that wonderfully touching appeal to the public that we have

been given. What else did he see? What did the bodies tell him ? What is it that Dr Atkinson knows,* a medical man and an explorer, that has so deeply affected him? Why should Captain Scott’s diary, which is presumably his official record, not be in part known? Commander Evans says every written record is recovered, but all will be first handed to the relatives, and apparently we must wait through the long process of the publication of a book to know tho truth, and Dr Atkinson excuses his own refusal to tell »’hat he saw, and what he read, on the ground that the revelations ‘might be painful.’ It is inevitable that they will bo, and that before they are officially recorded. No body of men were ever* vet able to keep such secrets long, no matter what their loyalty and what their discipline. Meantime, perhaps exaggerated stories will get currency. It would be better to know the whole truth now. The word- untold should be told.”