Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-02
The Voyage Of the Discovery"

=
The Voyage Of the Discovery"
Among the recent contributions to
| the literature of Polar exploration and
| research, is the account of the Eng.
lish discovery" expedition to the Ant
arctic. In two large volumes Capt.
Robert F. Scott, commanding this,
| the National Antarctic Expedition,
! tells of the work accomplished during
the two years sojourn within the Ant
arctic circle. The narrative is writ.
ten with simplicity. directness. and a
certain charm of style. While parts
of the account go into scientific detail
for the benefit of future polar voyag.
ers, the book will be found interesting
ed in Antarctic exploration.
! The institution of the Discovery
expedition was due almost entirely to
the efforts of Sir Clements Markham
and the Royal Geographical society.
After the usual difficulties in secur-
ing necessary funds and governmental
cooperation, the sum of f4700O was
| finally raised by private subscription,
and this with the s 45,0v0 contributed
by the government. placed the enter
prise on sound financial basis 1t
was decided to build an entirely new
vessel for the purpose, and in March,
1900. at Dundee, was laid the keel of
the discovery The ship was built
in accordance with the most advanced
ideas of naval architects and explor-
ers. In June of the same year. r. F.
Scott, then first lieutenant of HMS.
Majestic" was appointed to COM
mand the expedition. The year follow
ing was busily occupied in completing
arrangements, procuring all necessary
apparatus and supplies, and selecting
the other members of the party, which
consisted almost exclusively of naval
men.
The Discovery" left London July
| /, 1901. and arrived at Lyttleton, New
Zealand, on November 20. The final
leave-taking from civilization occurred
on December "a, when the ship sailed
from Port Chalmers, where a To- sup
| ply of coal had been taken aboard
After working through the pack-ice,
Victoria-land was first sighted on jan
uary s, 1902. A southerly direction
along the coast was continued, with
landings at Cape Adare, Lady Newnes
Bay, Granite Harbor, and other points,
for survey and Investigation, until fur
Their progress was made impossible by
the ice-pack in McCurdo Sound under
the volcanic Mounts Erebus and Ter
ror. The ship was now turned east
ward in an attempt to solve the prob
lem of the Great Ross Ice Barrier.
This was followed along it's entire
length to where it joins with King
Edward VII. Land the coast of part
Of which was explored. The Barrier
was thoroughly investigated, at one
point even by means of a balloon as
cension. BY February 8, the "Discov-
cry" was again in McCurdo Sound
which was then found free of pack
ice. Winter quarters for the ship
were chosen on the southwest coast
of Ross Island
The first winter in the Antarctic
was occupied with meteorological, mag
netic and other observations and in
vestigations, in becoming accustomed
to the unusual conditions of livelihood
necessitated by the region, and in
making short expeditions into the sur
rounding territory. AS soon as the ap
proach of warmer weather permitted
sledge journeys for wider exploration
were started. The first of these was
Armitage's journey from Mount Ere
bus westward into the continent fol
about hundred miles from the coast
ascending glaciers and mountains, tt
a smooth, open, snOw.cOvered plain
over which he travelled till falling pro
visions forced a return. Another par
ty, under Scott and Royds, made re
connoissances to the SOUTH Anothe
party under ROyds left communica
tons at Cape Crozier, for the guidance
of relief ship. On November 2, Capt
Scott started on his sledge journe.
along the Antarctic continent for So
miles south of the winter quarters a
Ross Island. Inexperience, loss of tn
entire dog-team, incipient scurvy, AM
late lettering of weather conditions
made this achievement noteworthy
The farthest south was so degrees
minutes 33 Sec, a point $50 miles neal
er the pole than had heretofore BEEF
attained. Meanwhile the relief shi
Morning" had arrived. This south
!. ern journey of Scott's ended on Eel
!. ruary 3, 1903, after $50 statute mile
had been travelled in SO days.
:. AS the ice did not break up, tn
Discovery" was obliged to spend ar
other winter at Ross Island The SCI
d ond season passed in almost the sam
n manner as the first, and with the bt
h ginning of warm weather, preparation