1912] SAD NEWS I2I 
edge, here about 4 feet high, with snow drifts leading ontoit. A 
large number of seals and Emperor penguins were on the old 
ice. Here we lunched. The Barrier edge runs out in a tongue, 
and we had struck it on the north-west corner. We were thus 
able to steer direct for Hut Point over the tongue. At 5 P.M. 
we came up to the pinnacled ice lying on the east side of the 
tongue. 
This pinnacled ice is very rough and gritty and is evidently 
the remains of an old moraine of the Koettlitz Glacier. By skirt- 
ing to the north of this we found a lane of old sea ice on which 
we could travel until we had passed it. Enormous crowds of 
Emperors were here. In one bunch I estimated there were about 
300. After travelling about 6 miles on this old ice the pinnacled 
ice gave out and we were able to head for Hut Point again over 
the Barrier. I had hoped to get into Hut Point the same night, 
so camped for hoosh at 6.30. Resuming our march we went 
on till r A.M., when I found we were still 7 miles off. I therefore 
camped, had some cocoa, and turned in. We had done a good 
march, twenty-one hours since we turned out, and had we been 
able to hold a straight course we should have easily got in. 
November 6.—Another fine morning. We marched till 1 
p.M., when our sledge broke down, the whole runner coming off. 
As we were only 1 mile from Hut Point, I camped. Priestley, 
Dickason, and I walked in to look for news and get another 
sledge, as I was sure some would be there. 
As we neared the Point we noticed fresh tracks of mule and 
dogs. 
I pointed them out to Priestley, and said, ‘I hope there is 
nothing wrong with the Pole party, as I do not like the look of 
these.’ He said, ‘No more do I.’ We ran up to the hut and 
found a letter from Atkinson to the ‘Commanding Officer, Terra 
Nova.’ I opened this and learnt the sad news of the loss of the 
Polar Party. The names of the party were not given, and find- 
ing Atkinson in charge of the search party which had started, I 
was afraid two units, or eight men, were lost. Finding a sledge 
only slightly damaged I took that back to the camp, getting back 
there about 5 P.M. 
We were all rather tired, so instead of starting straight on 
to Cape Evans, we had supper and went to sleeps Before turn- 
ing in we made a depot of the broken sledge, all rock specimens, 
