Endurance departs London. After stopping for supplies, the Endurance departs Buenos Aires. Nov. 5 Endurance arrives at the whaling station of Grytviken, South Georgia Island, the last outpost of civilization encountered en route to Antarctica. Dec. 5 Endurance departs Grytviken. Dec. 7 Endurance first encounters pack ice.
Endurance becomes beset in pack ice and, immobilized, begins drifting in the ice.
Shackleton gives the orders to abandon the ship, which is severely damaged by the ice. Oct. 28 Shackleton orders each of the 27 men to dump all but two pounds of personal possessions. Exceptions are made for Frank Hurley's photographs and Leonard Hussey's banjo. Nov. 8 Hurley dives into the flooded ship to recover the precious glass plates. With Shackleton, he chooses 120 to keep.