The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1909-08-03
IN slcnf or The sourn POLE

Lieutenant Shackleton set sail from
the East India docks with his little
ship, the Nlmrod, and a gallant band
OF comrades bent upon the most daring
enterprise yet attempted by explorer,
the attainment OF the South Pole by
a desperate rush across the ice Of the
gloomy antarctic continent
One day last week he returned to
London with the glory Of a great
achievement fresh upon him. II he
has not planted the British flag at the
South Pole, he has really conquered 1t.
He has looked upon II from afar, and
but for the accident which deprived
his party OF pony at a most critical
moment he. would have reached it.
In 1907, after overcoming every kind
Of difficulty. he organized the famous
expedition to the antarctic which was
to make 50 much history. The Nimrod
was bought--a little whaler Of ancient
date. but stout In hull and admirably
equipped. The experience acquired in
the Scott expedition was turned to ex.
cellent account. Lieut.. Shackleton took
much lighter clothing than has been
usual with polar explorers In the past,
az he had found furs to be a distinct
mistake. and the king. when he In
spected the NimYod on her departure,
was so surprised at the thinness of the
clothing that he asked whether It
would be warm enough for the fear
full cold of the South Pole.
Other departures from precedent by
which Lieut.. Shackleton showed his
resourcefulness were the substitution
Of Manchurian ponies for dogs and the
specially designed motor car, the first
ever landed on the Southern continent
This was not an unqualified success,
though 1t was most useful for laying
depots and conveying stores.
In July. 1907. the Nimrod left the
East India docks. Il have. made my
Will" said Lieut.. Shackleton, as the
little vessel crept out of the Thames
imagine that such a course betrays
the slightest foreboding on my part"
Nor was his confidence misplaced. Not
a single life was lost in the expedi-
ton, thus making what Is really a
new record In an exploration Of such
magnitude and danger.
At Cowes the Nimrod was inspected
by the king and queen. and the queen
handed the intrepid sailor silk flag
which he was to plant In her honor at
the farthest point south that. he reach
ed. Proceeding by Cape Colony and
New Zealand to the antarctic, the ex-
peditlon affected a landing at Cape
Roy early in 1908, and at once began
Its work Of exploration.
After q long record Of work during
1908. on Oct. % of that year the prep
arations for the rush to the pole were
completed. A party consisting of Lieut..
Shackleton and Mr.. wild left the base
Of operations with four ponies. De-
pots had been previously laid for a
considerable distance to the south SO
as to give supplies for the return jour-
ner.
Each man In that polar climate,
where the bitter billiards. blew almost
continuously, had to do his daily
march. dragging heavy loads. on twen-
ty ounces Of food. What this means
can be understood from the comment
Of Mr.. Bernacchi, another well known
antarctic explorer, who tells US that
the proper allowance Is thirty-six
ounces. The temperature fell to 40 de-
grees of frost, and the rarified air tried
the daring explorers TO the utmost.
On Jan. 9, 1909, they made their last
days march to the south. At latitude
SO degrees % minutes, only ninety
seven geographical miles from the
south pole. the nearest point to either
pole that man had attained they halt
ed. The air was comparatively clear
as they gaxed upon the mysterious re-
gion round the pole. mo mountains
were VISIBLE" telegraphed Lieutenant
Shackleton." I'VE saw now plain
stretching to the SOUTH" at an altitude
OF over 10000 feet.
Reluctantly they retraced their steps,
and the blizsards now blowing behind
them helped them back. But so closely
had they cut the margin Of safety that
again and again food ran out just as
the depots which they had left on their
advanco Wore reached