licficu- of Renews, 1/9/13. 



693 



The Undying Story of Captain Scott. 



FROM HIS DIARIES. 



Everybody's contains the second in- 

 stalment of Captain Scott's diary, deal- 

 ing with the work of his expedition up 

 to the point where the start for the fatal 

 journey to the South Pole was made. 

 He tells of the life the men led, and of 

 the work they did. " Never," he says, 

 " has a party combined so much intel- 

 lectual power with physical fitness, and 

 the result was apparent in the high level 

 of mutual appreciation, of intelligent 

 co-operation and wise enthusiasm." 

 Scott pays a high tribute to Wilson's 

 patient and thorough work, to his con- 

 stant help to others' efforts, and his 

 sound judgment to which one and all 

 appealed on matters little or great." 

 There appears to have been extraordi- 

 nary cordiality between all the members 

 -of the party. " No friction at all," com- 

 ments Captain Scott. Research work 

 was carried out continuously, and the 

 large scientific interests gave a solid 

 justification for the expedition. 



Even lectures were given three times 

 a week, and with so many experts in the 

 most varied branches of pure science, 

 and the practical arts of travel, there 

 was no la^k of material. There was an 

 •enthusiastic desire shown to acquire 

 knowledge. 



Those who were to take part in the ex- 

 peditions perfected themselves in sur- 

 veying, marching, etc. Telephones were 

 ■established between the hut, the ice hole 

 three-quarters of a mile away, and the 

 isolated chamber where the magnetic 

 instruments were at work. 



BOWERS' UNTIRING ENERGY. 

 The most remarkable feat chronicled 

 Avas the expedition of Wilson, Bowers 

 and Cherry-Garrard to the Emperor 

 penguin rooKery at Cape Crozier, sepa- 

 rated from the Winter Quarters by all 

 the bulk of Mounts Erebus and Terror. 

 The three returned after a midwinter 

 journey of five weeks, looking incredibly 



weather-worn, chiefly from lack of sleep. 

 They had unparalleled experiences. 

 Bowers came through best. " I believe," 



writes Scott, 



he i.s tho hardest traveller that over under- 

 took Polnr journey, as well a.s one of the 

 most undaunted. More hy hint than direct 

 statcMueiit I gather his value to the party, 

 his untiring energy and the a.stonishing 

 physique which enables him to continue to 

 work under conditions which are alisolutely 

 paralysing to others. 



A GALLANT EFFORT. 

 Wilson was disappointed at finding 

 so few penguins when he finally reached 

 his goal, but ever\one who reads 

 the story of the five weeks' fight 

 against immense odds will agree with 

 Scott in describing it as one of the most 

 gallant episodes in Polar History. On 

 the outward journe)' they encountered 

 wild weather ; cold never before experi- 

 enced by civilised beings, with only a 

 tent of tliin canvas to rely on for shelter. 

 Amundsen encountered equal tempera- 

 tures, but he was away from his ship for 

 five days only, and had an igloo built 

 him nightly by the Eskimos. W^ilson 

 and his companions were awa_\- for five 

 weeks. 



WIkui they stai'tinl home a hlizzard 

 fell on them, holding them prisoners for 

 two days. By this time the miserable con- 

 dition of tlieir effects was beyond descrip- 

 tion. The sleeping-bags were f.-'.r too stiff to 

 lif^ rolled up — in fact, they were so hard- 

 ir-o'/jon that attemjits to biMid them actu;illy 

 sjjlit the skins; the eider-<lown bags inside 

 \Vilson's and Cherry-CJarrard's reinde<>r 

 covers serwd but fitfully to stop the gajis 

 made by such rents. All socks, finnesko, 

 and jnitts had long been coated with ice; 

 placed in breast pockets or inside vests at 

 (light. th(\v did not even show signs of thaw- 

 ing, much h'.ss of drying. Tt sometimes took 

 Cherry-Garrard three-quarters of an hour to 

 get into his sleei)iiig-bag, so Hat did it 

 freeze and so difficult was it to open. 



A general acclimatisation took place, 

 but the power of endurance varied 

 greatly in individuals. Bowers and 

 Wilson were peculiarly tolerant of cold, 

 and excited the mingled admiration and 



