THE LAST YEAR AT CAPE EVANS 
By Surgeon E. L. Atkinson, R.N. 
CHAPTER I 
In writing the record of the second year I must give all 
credit to A. Cherry-Garrard. It is entirely from his 
diaries and from the official diary kept by him that these 
records are compiled. To make matters clear it would 
be as well to go over the events after the return of the 
first Southern Party. It consisted of A. Cherry-Garrard, 
C. S. Wright, Petty Officer Keohane, and myself. They 
returned to Cape Evans on January 28, 1912. The 
orders then were for two dog teams to proceed as far 
south as possible, taking into consideration the times 
of return of the various parties, and in order to hasten 
the return of the final party. The dog teams were in no 
manner a relief expedition and were simply meant to 
bring the last party home more speedily. 
On our return to Cape Evans the ship had not as yet 
been communicated with. Indeed communication was 
not established until February 4, owing to bad sea ice 
intervening. 
On February 9 we started landing stores from the 
ship, and in this all hands were employed. 
• On February 13, the sea ice having started to break 
