New-York tribune., 1909-03-24
IN PREVIOUS EXPEDITION
Shackleton One of Discouery's Of
fcers-Antarctic Exploration.

Lieutenant ShackIeton is a veteran at the polar
war game and had received a severe training as an
Antarctic explorer before starting on the expedi-
ton that has Just ended He was 4 member OF the
expedition which in 1902 under Captain p #. Scott
r. n, reached what was then furthest south. Lieu
tenant Shackleton was Of the three men who
panted the British standard in S2:l6ia s., 463
miles from the pole. December 80 1902 The
partv suffered haTdships, and Lieutenant
Shackleton nearly lost his NE
The present expedition started from England in
July, 1907. on the Nimrod Lieutenant shacke-
ton before starting expressed the utmost conf
dence in his success II his plans proved success
full he expected 10 reach the South Pole in Novem-
ber or December OF last year and reach New zea-
land or the way back some time next month.
The Ninrod's equipment included motor sled
ard several Siberian ponies and dogs. There were
thirty-two men aboard, among them geologist' a
marine biologist and zoologist and other sclen-
fists Twelve were 20 constitute the landing party
They had with them provisions enough to last two
years after leaving New Zealand. The lieutenant
had counted much the motor sled lie carried
enough gasolene reach the pole from winter
quarters.
The route laid out FOR the party began in the Ice
pack which lies thousand miles south OF New
Zealand and is five degrees OF latitude wide Cross
ing this open water again. ne planned 20 skirt
South Victoria Land. and finally reach the great
Ice barrier which Sir James Clarke Ross discoN-
cred. Mount Erebus still active volcano, guards
me western enQ OF TINS barrier, ana at tne eastern
end. $50 miles away. Is the recently discovere
King Edward VII Land on this bit of solid ground
Lieutenant Shacketon had planned to land his
stores and equipment and then dash cor the pole,
laying out line OF provision depots as he went
It seems. however from reports received from
the Nimrod last year, that these plans miscarried
somewhat The great ice barrier sighted on
January q, and the expedition turned eastward to
carry out the plan Of landing for winter quarters
on King Edward VII Land. Access 10 the land.
however. BARRED by ice. After experiencing
much bad weather the Nimrod made for McMurdo
Sound, at the west end Of the barrier and winter
quarters established Cape Royas. at the foot
Of Mount Erebus The Nimrod here left the party
and returned 10 New Zealand which she left again
last December TO bring the expedition home
Anthony Fiala. commanding officer OF the Ziegler
expedition OF 1886. said in ali probability the
success OF Lieutenant Shackleford IN penetrating
far south reported due to the existence of
a field OF fixed. omparative!y smooth ice. extend
ing toward the pole This ice cap, he said, re-
ported by Captain Scott after his famous voyage
IN the Discovery. Toward the North Pole said
Mr. Fiala the ice broken and often sub
merged so that stations with supplies could not be
left with any proba oility OF finding them safe The
reported field Of solid ice at the south he said
probably enabled Lieutenant shackleford to pro-
ceed with much greater ease establishing supply
stations he went
Another expedition now in ths Antarctic regions
french explorer,
who started on the PourQuoi Pas I'm August 1905 TO
explore what he believes is new southern contI-
nent as large as Europe. Other previous southern
records are Borchgrevincks, IS degrees 50 minutes
In 1900; Sir James Ross's. IS degrees 10 minutes in
1913, and Captain Cooks. Il degrees 10 minutes in
1TI%. who first discovered Antarctic lands
An American prominent in the work OF Antarr+fc
discovery was DR.. Frederick A. Cook OF RrookIvn
who Is now I'm the North Polar region trying 10
reach the North Pole. He was the surgeon OF the
Belgian expedition which went south on the Belgic
in 1897 and returned years later having
reached Ii degrees S6 minutes south latitude. DR.
Cook proposed a year or ago TO use an auto
mobile in attempting reach the South Pole The
machine which he had in mind was TO be capabIe
Of ira Yelling over rough country. II was to Law
its tracks before IT, the track TO consist of a
endless chain over which the wheels would travel
The Peary Arctic Club, which has spent 800 n0O
IN aiding Commander Peary TO search for the North
Pole. has done nothing yet toward advancing the
work of discovery southwark. Herbert l. Bridg-
man, The secretary Of the club. said yesterday that
the constitution of the organization was broad
enough TO permit of the backing of South Polar ex
poring expeditions, but that the club had too much
TO attend to TO undertake any new enter
prises. Commander Peary has thought Of South
Polar discoveries. If the members of the club bava
given II serious consideration.
Commander Peary holds the record for f,rtbAst
north. In 1905 he reached latitude 81 degrees t
minutes 29s miles from the pole