SOUTH POLE EXPLORERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 82, 14 April 1913, Page 3

SOUTH POLE EXPLORERS.

GOVERN MEN T PARSIMONY

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association J Bombay, April 12. It transpires that the Government only granted Bowers leave to join Scott’s expedition on condition that he received no pay. The Admiralty grants double pay to officers on such expeditions. ' The Government’s parsimony is being strongly criticised. BRAVE COMRADES.

For the full story of Captain Scott’s expedition, and the branch narratives aU’isiing therefrom, the world must wait till Lieutenant Evans’s book appears. Meanwhile, a few signiricant facts are oozing to the surface occasionally. The latest contribution has found its way to the Dunedin Star office. It relates to Lieutenant Evans’ return trip. The common belief is that the lieutenant returned to the ship because he was seized with scurvy. That is not so. The true reason was that an accident happened to one of the two mathematical instruments .relied on for guiding purposes. Captain Scott’s plan was to take one of these instruments with him on his final struggle to the Pole, leaving the other to the use of the supporting party on their return journey. When one of the instruments became useless, Captain Scott insisted on Lieutenant Evans taking charge of the return party, the lieutenant being, in the commander’s opinion, tho ablest, man to guide without the instrument. Lieutenant -Evans was disappointed at being thus ordered back, but he obeyed loyally, and named Lieutenant Bower as his substitute with tho party bound for tho Pole. When tho two sections said good-bye to each other, -Lieutenant Evans was not known to have scurvy. Ho tried to conceal it from his two companions, Lashley and Crean, but they felt his pulling power growing less and less, and at last the lieutenant could not move another yard. He thereupon ordered Lashley and Crean to leave him. They point-blank refused, and settled the matter between them by tossing to see who should stay and who should make a desperate effort to reach the ship. Crean went, and just managed to crawl to the base, nearly dead. Lashley remained, and, keeping himself awake by violent devices, rubbed tho lieutenant and kept life in him till tho rescurers arrived. We shall probably hear that Crean and Lashley are to bo highly honored for their devotion and pluck. “ PART OF THE GAME.’’, ,

With reference to a cablegram published the other day describing the rnanneY hi which Captain Scott- was found, a gentleman who was associated with a prominent member oh’the; expedition during their stay in the Dominion states that it was understood by members of the expedition (says the Otago Daily Times) that Captain Scott was found sitting up in his sleeping bag with Jus eyes open. His notebook was in front of him on the snow table, and each hand rested on a companion at his side. Their eyes were closed, pointing to the Tact That Captain Scott was the last to bo overtaken by death, and that he probably had performed this last office for them. The same gentleman learned that certain members of the expedition held that the keen disappointment of Petty-officer Evans, on finding that the party had been forestalled in its discovery of the Pole, was a contributory cause to his illpess and death and the resulting disaster to the whole party. The other members apparently were able to take the matter quite philosophically “as part of the game,” and felt only generous appreciation of Amundsen’s splendid achievement, but Petty-officer Evans took the disappointment very hardly, and Ids depression of spirit would no doubt make it much more difficult for him to faco the terrible hardships of the return journey.

A graceful tribute to the late Captain Scott and his party is contained in a letter from an American gentleman to a friend in Auckland. He writes: “In-awe and reverence tye approach their bier, and express our thanks for the work they have accomplished. May their souls have eternal rest. From its silent bosom spring none .but fond regrets and tender recollections.”