THE NIMROD TROUBLE EXPLAINED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9072, 24 April 1908, Page 4

THE NIMROD TROUBLE EXPLAINED.

Some further light has been thrown on the "difference" which caused the retirement of Captain England from the command of the Antarctic vessel Nimrod after her return from the South Polar regions. Although the commander of the ship was juiciously reticent as to the real cause, the public felt that there was something in the background which was not to be explained by "health" reasons, and we know that some of (he crew severed th?ir connection with the vessel because they sided with their commander. A recent issue of the "Sydney Morning Herald" discloses something of the ground of trouble. Lieutenant Shackleton apparently wisheo to command the ship as well as "the expedition on shore—that is, if the statements of members of the crew are to be relied upon:—"The Nimrod was in 13 fathoms." 'Please go further in,' said Lieutenant Shackleton. 'lt is impossible,'said Captain England.' Aft2i* some argument the lieutenant made towards the telegraph as if intending to signal 'Full speed ahead,' but the captain got in front of him, and said, 'I am master of this ship. It is not possible to take her nearer land with safety.' Then they had some talk and went below." This statement made by Mr H. B. Bull, one of the crew of the Nimrod, just arrived in Melbourne on furlough, affords commentary on a cablegram published on March ( 10th: "Interviewed at Lytte'ton yesterday, Capta"in England said, 'You may announce my resignation as commander of the Nimrod on the ground of ill-health.'" Mr Bull was at the wheel at the time of the reported misunderstanding. "Nothing wa3 mentioned to us men about it," he 3'ated, "until wc got back to Lyttelton. Then one night before we mada port the s'tipper called us aft, complimented us on the way we hud worked the ship, and hoped we should enjoy ourselves during our nine months' stay in pqrt. We got in on Sunday or Monday night. He called the men again and said, 'I have to say good-bye The unexpected hi? happened since I saw you last;' and ho did not say much more, for his feelings got too much for him. I could see he was nigh crying. We men vvert very much troubled about this, and when we got forward, several said they'd leave with the captain, and nine out of the crew of seventeen have left. Ths boatswain, carpenter, and several others told the 'old man' so at once. He advised them to wait and see how things turned out, but by now, I think, all nine have resigned one engineer, one pailmaker, two firemen, four seamen, and the carpenter Of j course, if the captain takes charge again we shall all like to serve under him. He is a splendid master. He got married last week to Mis,s Turner, and is now on the seas taking his wife on their honeymoon trip to the Old Country, and we hope when he sees the owners of the Nimrod and the manager of the expedition in London that whatever dispute therj is will be settled."