SCOTT’S STORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 92, 22 August 1913, Page 5

SCOTT’S STORY.

FICHTSNG SOFT SNOW. THE THIRD INSTALMENT. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, August 21. Captain Scott, in his third article in the Strand Magazine, says that with the breakdown of the motorsledges the ponies received their full load early. They responded splendidly. The weather improved as they left the windy northern regions. One Ton Camp was reached on November Id, and alter this the weather became bad and a fine day was, exceptional. The ponies grew very tired by December 1, when the weakest were killed. Their duties wore to draw supplies across the Barrier as long as the voyage lasted, and finally provide food for the dogs , DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. “Our luck in the weather,” says Scott, “was preposterous, and it was really time that the luck changed. One- has a horrid feeling that'this is a real bad season for the gateway ol the glacier.” “There came ominous windpuffs, followed by a howling, raging blizzard, for four days days until December 8. The temperature meanwhile was so high that the snow melted as it fell and soaked our tents, clothes, and sleeping bags. At Twelve-mile Glacier we had to use rations calculated to carry us forward fron\ a more advanced depot. The margin” for had weather was ample according to calculations, but this stormy December was a thing the most cautious organiser might be unprepared to encounter.

THE PRACTICAL EVANS

“Petty-officer Evans managed to save the situation by fitting a pony with snowshoes, enabling it to form a track for the others. So we marched forward through the soft snow. The forage, however, was already spent, and at Shambles Camp, a mile below the glacier’s gateway, the beasts were shot. It was hard to have to kill them so early, “On December 10 the first stage of •124 miles over the barrier ice ended, and on the fortieth day out, a week behind scheduled time, the second stage of the ascerft of the glacier began. This occupied 12 days of strenuous exertion. The surface was appalling, and we sank in places to the knees. Petty-officer Evans and party found it difficult to keep up, but I was never fitter. My party were easily able to bold their own. Petty-officer Evans was a power of strength. Dr. Wilson and Lieut. Oates were doing splendidly. Hereabouts Lieut. Shackloton found hard blue ice. It seems extraordinary, and the difference in our fortune and Sbackletou’s luck becomes -more evident.”

POOR DR. WILSON. One team had a man hampered by a touch of snow-blindness. Scott’s own team got bogged frequently. He says:—“The toil was simply awful, and we suffered from indigestion and wet clothes. To camp after such labor produced a bad night. We got rid of the soft snow on December 14, and thereafter made splendid marches, occasionally hampered by bad ico. Everyone was fit except poor Dr. Wilson, whose eyes were very bad. I told off those who had to return, but dreaded the necessity of choosing. I had calculated to start from;Bsdeg. with 12 units of food and eight-men, and expect to be at the point to-mor-row less one day’s food. On the 21st our party reached the upper basin of the glacier and took an affecting farewell of Wilson’s party.”

PLATEAU DIFFICULTIES. Scott experienced great difficulties on the plateau from the rugged surface and crevasses. The weather was again unkind, t while the anxiety of pitting effort against time and of measuring the hard rung of endurance against the known and unknown tasks, was almost as wearying as physical fatigue. Huge pressure ridges barred the southward journey. “TO-MORROW IS XMAS.” “After passing the summit of the glacier,” Scott says, “1 feel very cheerful, The goal seems really in sight. I only pray for a fair share of good weatheri December 24th is a gloiious day. The sun shines on a cloudless sky; the wind rises and falls. Amour us is a scene of the wildest desolation, but wo are cheerful, and to-morrow is Christmas.” On Christmas day the party had extra rations. On the last day of the year, the 87th degree was crossed. There was, however, still much to start on. IX THE NEW LAST YEAR. On January 3rd the party was 150 miles from its goal, and the ntxt day Evans and his party returned northward. Evans was terribly disappointed. but took it like a man. Scott concludes: “A month’s provisions should see us through. If ve can march well with a full load we will he practically safe.” Tht balance of the article describes Evans’ journey, when ho nearly died of scurvy.