PROF. DAVID’S COMMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 6

PROF. DAVID’S COMMENT

WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF EVANS’S DEATH? SYDNEY, February 14. Professor David, commenting on the continuation of the Scott narrative, says it seems more than a coincidence that Seamen Evans’s first symptoms of failure dated to almost exactly the same time as when Commander Evans, about a fortnight after leaving Scott, commenced to develop symptoms of scurvy. It is hard to imagine the cause of the rapid weakening of a man like Seaman Evans unless from some actual sickness of the nature of scurvy. The speed of the march from the pole to whore Evans died on the Beardmore Glacier, never exceeded eighteen miles daily, and does not explain in any way the complete exhaustion of such a man. In spite of Surgeon Atkinson’s statement that there were no signs of scurvy about the last three of the ill-fated party, Professor David is still of opinion that Evans failed through disease, allied to scurvy. He considers the suggestion of the London “Times” that the shortage of fuel was due to evaporation as absurd in view of the groat care with which the oil tins had been made. He declares that the other suggestion of “The Times,” that the supplies had been tapped by the supporting parties, was mean and cruel, unworthy as untrue. By accident (the Press Association advises) Petty Officer Evans was all .but prevented from leaving with the expedition from New Zealand, and was only able to join the ship at the last moment. THE SHORTAGE OF FUEL. RUMOURS FROM CHRISTCHURCH DISCREDITED. (Received February 14, 7.20 p.m.) siDiS-ipi, February 14. Professor I/avia, commenting on the statement regaramg tne snortago oi ruel, saia mat n me statement were correctly deciphered it was hard to understand m view of tne fact tnat alter neoruary It th ,tno parly was reduced to four, many causes would contribute to make an otnerwise full ration of oil insufficient. In the first place, extremely slow marches, and, secondly, the difficulty of avoiding spiffing tne oil when the hands were numbed by low temperatures. Thirdly, The fact that on the last march the explorers were compelled to use powdery snow for melting instead the denser snow available in summer. This necessitated the constant lifting of the lid of the cooker to replenish the supply. Fourthly, much more oil is needed to thaw snow when 60 degrees below freezing point than when it is only a few degrees below. Nevertheless, all these reasons must have been perfectly well known to Captain Scott. Hence it is inexplicable why ho uses the word “ unaccountable.” No doubt a simple and satisfactory explanation would bo forthcoming. Professor David attributes the failure of Captain Oates during the final march to scurvy, while he says that the failure of the other three was due to the extreme fatigue of sledging over the terribly difficult surface of the sandy snow crystals, combined with the severity of marching in blizzards and drifting snows, and often against the wind. Professor David entirely discredits the rumour from Christchurch that the relations of the heads of the expedition were more than a little strained. Both this and the suggestion that it was connected with the work of the relief parties in March, 1912, he regards as without foundation. RUMOURS EMPHATICALLY DENIED. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. Many rumours are in circulation regarding various phases of Captain Scott’s expedition. A “Press” reporter to-night drew the attention of Commander Evans to several statements that are being made and sought an official reply from the commander. “One cannot give a defence where no defence is needed,” said Commander Evans, “and I am not going to be brought into a controversy on a series of rumours which have originated from irresponsible parties.” One rumour was that Petty-officer Edgar Evans had not met his death as described in the official message but had suffered from brain trouble, which became so serious that be had to be hauled a considerable distance on a sledge—an undertaking which greatly delayed the party. Commander Evans characterised this statement as “cruel, scandalous, and foundationless.” He said Petty-officer Evans behaved exceptionally well under very trying circumstances. “1 know he did his best, and he was certainly never insane. Illness he could not prevent, and it was brought about by privations and hardships of which no man could be ashamed.’’ Rumour also hinted that there was dissension in the ranks of the members of the expedition; but Commander Evans said that this rumour was absolutely without foundation. “I give ‘permission to any pressmen to go and converse with any of the men on the Terra Nova and see if they can hear a whisper of dissension,” he continued. “It is a silly, unfounded rumour which is not worth contradicting.” The reporter drew Commander Evans’s attention to the cablegram in which Professor David had strongly denied the statements of the London “Times” that there was dissension in the party. Commander Evans laughed and then said: “The Professor seems to have hit the right nail on the head when dealing with the London ‘Times.’ 1 will not bo drawn into a discussion jn this matter.” Later Commander Evans said that against the advice of his doctor he had gone back to the Antarctic to see his loader through, and he did not think this looked like dissension. Commander Evans stated emphatically that the depots were not touched by the supporting parties. There was, he admitted, 1 evaporation of the oil, but this was due to the leather .wasii,ers in the tins.