A GRIM STORY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 February 1913, Page 5

A GRIM STORY

MAR DSH IPS AND PPIVATIONS. SIX MONTHS IN AN IGLOO. CHBISTCHIJECH, Last Night. The story of a journey which, was brimful of hardships and privations, and which very nearly ended in another tragedy, was told by Lieut. Campbell, who led the northern party. The party consisted of Lieut. Campbell Surgeon Levick Mr Priestly geologist), and Seamen Abbott, Browning and Dicason. Returning from llieir journey the party reached Terra Nova Bay on February ](sth. I'hcy anticipated that the Terra Nova would be there to meet them, the vessel being expected there about the Iflth, On reaching Terra Nova Bay, however, they found that the vessel was not there, and while they were keenly disappointed, they thought that the Terra Nova must have encountered bad weather. Tt transpired, however, that it was not bad weather, but unfavourable ice conditions that had prevented the vessel from reaching Terra Nova Bay. Lieut. Campbell and his party were new faced with a iournev over the ice of 200 miles to Cane Evans, but it was impossible to undertake this journey at this time, as the sea was not properly frozen over. "There were six of us in the partv, and we had to make up our minds to winter there in the snow drift," continued Lieut. Campbell. "Tnto the snowdrift we cut an igloo, which had to he our home for six months. Wo only had about a month's provisions, and we were not suitably clothed to spend the winter in an igloo, hut there was nothing for it, and we proceeded to make the best cf the position." Continuing. Lieut. Campl>ell said that they decided to kill as many seals a„s possible, and during their stay there the partv secured seventeen seals.

"Were these sill tho seals yon i caught?" asked a pressman. "Well," answered Lieut. Campbell, with a smile, "yon can get a lot of meat off seventeen seals, if you ear. it carefully." Tlie party were in absolute dark- I ness in their igloo, but they succeeded in making some lamps with the aid of seal blubber, and so obtained a. light to brighten their surroundings. Then a small blubber istovo was arranged, and this added to the comfort of the men. At the commencement of their six months' confinement in the igloo, the members of the party were supplied with one biscuit a day each,'hut tho small supply of biscuits .soon ran out, and for the greater portion of the time their daily meals consisted of the unchanging meat obtained from the seals. Th-t company also ran out of their supply of tobacco, and this served to add t<: their discomforts. Asked how they managed to pass six mnnths in their igloo in the snowdrift, Lieut. Campbell smilingly remarked, '-'By sleep and occasional sing-songs." He also said that some members of the party gave interesting lectures on various subjects, and served to while away the long dark hours Eventually winter- came io an end. and they were able to leave thei' | camp on .September 3rd for Capo Evans. Two of their num. Browning and Diekason, >\hen they left for the first few days were able to make only a few miles a day. After three days "Browning improved.' but Diokison suffered longer, and during the journey to Capo Evans he had occasionally to be placed upon the .sledge. On their way to the base the members of the pari., made a collection of geological specimens. At oiio spot they found a small depot of specimens left by Professor David, who was with Lieut. Shackleton',s Expedition. The. remainder of the journey was carried out without further incident, and Capo Evans Camp was gained on .November 7th. There belter food, of which they had been so j long deprived, effected the needy restoration of their condition. Lieut. (Campbell mentioned that in his own case be put on two stone and seven pounds in a week, jumping from lOst to 12st 7lb, The other members also improved. Then Lieut. Campbell paused for a while, and Commander Evans observed that one could have no conception of the. hardships which Lieut. Campbell and his companions i bad gone through. "Tt is extraordinary that they survived/ 7 h> il&T<x|,