POLAR HEROES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 February 1913, Page 5

POLAR HEROES

BRAVERY OF (JAfTAIN OATES JN SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. Pirns Association —-By Electric TcU'ijrapi)—' 'upyriyht.) (Received February 13, ( .).o a.m.) lA.Xl'i>N, February l'~'. The newspapers are giving j:iomiixence to a story concerning die bravery of Captain Oates when serving in the South African War. When his patrol was surrounded, the Boer commander demanded its surrender, but Oates replied : ''\\ e are here to fight. He was afterwards known as , 'NoSurrender Gates." AIRS SCOTT IS TOLD THE NEWS. (Received February 13, 0.10 a.m.) LONDON*, February I:i. Mrs Scott, who is on the steamer Aorangi, pn route from San Francisco to Wellington, received news ol the disaster by wireless. MEMORIAL SERVICES. (Received February 13. 11 ii.ni.) LONDON, February A memorial *erv:ce to Captain Scott and liis ill-fated comrade? will lie held at Devonpnrt Dockval'd on Friday. The Kins will attend the service at St. Paul's Cathedra!. COST OF THE EXPEDITION. (Received February 13, fl.o a.m.) LONDON, February 12. . The sum of £14.000 U 'it-ill owing on the cost of the expedition. Captain Scott expected to repay this by the proceeds of a hook and lectures. MUCH" SYMPATHY. MESSAGES FROM MANY PLACES. (Received February 13. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, February 12. A 'Mansion House Fund has been opened, its object hemp the erection of a memorial t-n Scott and his party. The Duke of Connaught, GovernorGeneral of Canada, has sent condolence. The Norwegian Storthing has cabled its sympathy to the House of Commons. General Botha, sneaking in the Assembly at Cflnetown. said the heroes' memory would bp Iron on red firstly, by their countrymen, and, secondly, by th" rest- of the world. The Committee of Llovd's passed ° resolution, expressing admiration of the heroism of Captain Scott and nartv, and of sympathy with (heir relatives. The French Minister of Marine and the Prince of Monaco have condoled with the Admiralty in the loss it has sustained. (Received Febmnrv 13. 11.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE. February 13. The Speaker cf the Federal of RfDresont.itivps sent a wireless message to .Mr Mas,spy. expressing sympathy on behalf of the Commonwealth. FTe also cabled to the preof the- Roval Geographical Societv asking him. to convey a nies«ace of condolence to the relatives' of Captain iScott and the- others. Mr Fisher has received a -able stating that the Dailv Telegraph has opened a national Scot!-, memorial fund for the bereaved. Lord Den man and the Government replied cordially approving. The Government is sending a svmnathy message +o Mrs Sco**.

Lord Denm.'in has "nhled to the Geographical Society his regret on behalf of Australia. Fl'arrs are half-masted, arid there are many visible sifins of mourning. ADELAIDE. February 13. The Governor has cabWl to the officers of the Terra Nova his sympathy. PROFESSOR Ti A VTD INTERVIEWED. SHORTAGE OF RATIONS. QUITE DISPROVED. (Received February 13. 11 a.rn ) SYDNEY." February 13. Professor David, interviewed, snid the idea. that Cantairi Scott left the party and himself with too recHiced rations has been quite disproved by the direct statement in Scott's diary regarding the details of the dash to the Pole working to perfection. That scurvy was the nrime cause of the disaster was obvious from the following facts: Evans and Atkinson-, members of the supporting party of four despatched hack to winter quarters, when Scott was within 170 miles of the Pole, contracted scurw. The whole party previous to this separation had been subsisting on exactly similar rations, and Scott's aarty existed on like rations from January •°>rd until their death. Scurvy was still imperfectly understood; it was connected either with food which was actively deleterious to the human system, as in the case of tainted hneon, which caused scurvv among the southern party of Scott's first'expedition in 1002-3 or with fo<xl thnt was deficient in some ingredients that were absolutely essential for the keeping of the hodv in health . The '.scurvy had actually attacked the Polar party seem clear from Captain Scott's diary, although the word "scurvy" was not expressly used. Professor David, i" support of his contention, quotes the reference regarding the sickness of Seaman Evans and Captain Oates. Tt is not clear, however, whether Wilson, Bowers, and Scott were affected by scurvy. More than probably they had then, or had just previously, light attacks. Even if had not had scurvy their health undoubtedly would have Imen weakened hv the fact that thev marched in long continuous gales and experienced verv low temperatures. Tn which 1 thev would have been unable tn persnire. "We found on the Shnckloton evnedit'on that 'icrspirmo; verv materially helped to k<H'p us in health." said the Had the r>nrty not been weakened 1"' sorn-" kind of sio'- T >oss th«y "-nukl snrelv have won tlvouTh in nf •ill the tow temperatures and all the bli'/.zards.

Referring; th" «hort r, r'o of fu"l at the David that Mr TSeruard Dav. who assisfrrl in the laying of «ome of the depots, assures him that a full allowance of oil fuel was left at all the depot", hut the allowance which was officially fixed —one gallon for four men for ten hours —only barely suffices for cooking in warm weather. No doubt in tho y.cvy severe weather encountered

by Scott at the Great Ice Barrier in March this allowance would bo fc-me-what insufficient. FURTHER DETAILS. MARCH TO THE POL}]. THE RETURN JOURNEY. WELLIXGTOX, Last Xight. Continuing the previous despatch, the following facts will be of further interest to the public: "On January -l-tii, 1012, Commander Evans 'left Captain Scott and his party to continue their journey to the Polo. They marched an average of twelve aides a. day. right up to the Pole. They reached the Pole on January 17th, about lofi statute miles from the spot where Commander Evans turned in 87 dog. 35 min. AT THE POLE. The lirst day at the Po! ( > wis cl-.miy with a mock sun. The - eeoud day. 18th January, was clearer, and the Sun was visible. Sights were taken, Captain Scott- using a four-inch theodolite, while Captain Amundsen used a sextant, with an artificial horizon. The fixing of the Pole by the two explorers differed by o-nlv half a mile. Thus they practically located the same spot. Captain Scott's observations gave latitude SO deg. oiU mm. The party marched on an extra halfmile by the -sledge meter, and Micro planted the Union Jack in latitude SB. Tliev bad previously picked up Norwegian do<_ r . tracks, rtwf followed ihese lo the Norwegian carnp. Within throe miles of the Pole the t''ack hecamp obliterated by the driit at intervals. The party found all records and gear left bv Captain Amundsen. There was evidence of a sliviit 1 <!ix■'"l'd since Amundsen erected hi-, l A nt. T!"> fpniperature was about 20 do<r. 'How zero. Tin* surface, unlike the Terrier. wn r ; soft, and hod no cust. It was found that snow collected from any depth 011 meltim: was also unlike tbp Barrier snow, and prnve very little water. Ton nhotoirraplu- of Scott's •virtv at the Pole were taken. The films were recovered and developed at Cape Evans, also two photngrnnhs of tbr, Norwe rr ' r> 11 tent, with Scott's partv round it. THE RETURN .TOURNEY. The return journey over the plateau was- marked by a series of (rood marches and medium'weather. The temperatures averaged between 20 and 30 den;, below zero. The marches varied from up to 18 miles ppr day to the top of thp Beardmoro Glacier. Both depots 011 the plateau, one in 87 deg. south and onp close under Mt. Darwin 80 deg. south, were -secured. Before descending Beardmoro Glarier. Dr Wilson and Lieut. Bowers visited Buckley Island —a large nunatak at the top of the Glacier. There tliev spent some time, making a largp collection of fossil, bearing sandstones and also coal in quantity. These fossils should finally settle the age of the latest sedimentary deposit yet found in Victoria Land, and are certainly the best yet obtained in this quadrant. Leaving Buckley Island, and going down the Glacier, they passed Mt. Tvinsev, a magnificent dolerite peak, 11,000 ft high, and a beautiful point to steer by. Thov readied a small depot underneath the (loudmaker, and another halt was nuide for geological investigation. From the side of the Cloudmaker fossils of much greater age were found in thp limestone. In all. thirty-five pounds of geological specimens wove carefully packed and taken forward by the -party right, up to its last camp, and now in the possession of the. expedition. From the Cloudmaker to the foot of Beardmoro Glacier the surfaces they encountered were the same deep snow surfaces as they found 011 the way up, which, with bad weather, severely hampered their march. Throughout the descent the weather was abnormally thick, with snow crystals falling and the -urrour.dir.pc land only occasionally seen. CAPTAIN EYAXS BREAKS DOWN. Scott's dates were kept up to the timo of Petty-Officer Edgar Evans's failure. From the time of reaching the Pole he was a great anxiety them. On the plateau in their descent of the Glacier they got amongst very rough ice, and Evans fell, injuring his head and sustaining concussion of the brain. During the whole descent his condition delayed the party, and the surplus food gradually diminished. On February 17th while on the march hi.s loot worked out of his ski-shoe, and he was compelled to fall out, and remain behind to readjust his footgear. The party moved along and seeing he was not following, they campdd and cooked a meal, anticipating that Evans would reach the tent when the meal was ready. As ho was -not up at that time, they went back' for him and found that he had collapsed. He bravely tried to go forward, hut had to bp placed on the sledge. He died a. natural death within two hours of reaching the tent. A WEAKENED PARTY. This delay, as Captain Scott stated, greatly weakened the party, arid made an inroad into their .surplus provisions and unduly advanced thp seaI son.

COMMANDER EVAN'S. rXTERVIEWEf) T\ CHRTSTCHURCH. A STORY OF ENDURANCE: CHRTSTCHURCH, Last Night. Press representatives this afternoon interviewed Commander Evans in regard to the number of matters which have boon commented upon, in connection 'with the story of the tragic expedition as it lia-s been given to the public. Referring to fcbo cable in regard to Professor .David's theory, and which he was made acquainted with. Commander Evans said that Professor David's statement, that the deaths were caused by scurvy, was but a conjecture ba.serl on sound and practical knowledge of the difficulties attending such a long journey in a Polar region, and with man haulage; but Dr Atkinson, who was in charge of the relief party, was an expert in scurvy, and he states that there were no signs of Scurvy. This being so, their deaths wore certainly due to exposure and weakness brought en Inst rain, owing to the difficulty in balding their sledges over the very soft and had surface. This, in turn, was duo to the unexpected fall in temperature. "Tt was well known." continued the Commander, "that in Polar regions, in every low temperature, ice crystals formed a cutting edge, and the friction on the runners of the sled'ges became very irreat. A man hauling and partly nulling a fair load exerted a strain of 2201bs per man on their traces, when travelling in tein-

pcratures of zero. Witli a temperature fa Hen to minus 30. this pull would be more than doubled. Captain Scott',s message to the public state? that temperatures of minus .30 deg., and .below zero were frequently experienced, so it must be obvious that after facing the .strain of sledge travelling for a distance of more than 1600 miles, to he faced with extra pulling, such as T have described, would he enough to break down Uie party whatever their physique might be." "We, in this expedition," continued the Commander, "knew the endurance of the men constituting the advance party, and we do not believe that any men living could have won through under the circumstances." Referring to Mrs Scott be said: "I will remain in New Zealand until Mrs Scott arrives in Wellington, and, with her Ifrother, Lieut. Bruce, of the expedition, will meet her there/' Asked as to whether there was any likelihood of the bodies being brought back, Commander Evans said: "Tho best people to judge of that question are those who served with Captain Scott and his gallant comrades. They were his constant companions for over two years. Had we oar-solves been in the same place as Captain Seott and those' who perished with him, we could only have wished that our bodies would remain at rest where we had given our best efforts in the cause we so earnestly believed in." Commander Evans then referred tc the bravery shown by Chief-stoker Lashley and Petty-officer Krean after leaving on their return to camp. The trying experiences which. Commander Evans went through is to be found in the fact that on January 17th he was compelled to curtail his entries in his diary. For four days following he could only record his experience very briefly, and "iter that ho had to give up altogether. 'To two me>n who were with me," said Commander Evans, "I owe niy life, and I do feel that no tribute of their services can ever be high enough." Early in January Commander Evans was attacked by scurvy, but he endeavoured to withhold this fact from his companions, and bravely pushed, on. His plight, however, goon became aopa-rent to them, and he expressed the desire that the men should push on and leavo him in the tent, which they had erected. The men icfused to do so. Commander Evans then said he would command them to leave him. They then replied that for the first time they would disobey their commander. Eventually tho journey was continued, and Commander Evans succeeded in making some distance under very trying conditions. Eventually everything they were carrying, except, what they stood in was thrown off tho sledge, and the Commander was then iplaced on the .sledgo and brought into camp. Continuing, Commander Evans said : "Those two men would do again what they had already done, and with the .same cheerful -.spirit, and with as little thought for self. We are not out to praise one another, but I cannot let the conduct of these men pass unnoticed."