The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-24
KILL PONIES TO GET
FOOD DURING DASH
TO SOUTH POLE
EXPLORERS. HEADED BY CAPT.
sHAckLEToN, HOIST BRITISH
FLAG III MILES FROM GOAL
AFTER PERlLous TRIP.


Shackleton. OF the British navy. who
commanded the Antartic expedition.
reached point Ill miles from the
south pole. The expedition has re-
turned on the barkentine Nimrod TO
Invercargil New Zealand. II left Eng
land in July, 1907, and, after reaching
the ice fields, the main party started
on a sledge journey and traversed l.
70S miles southwark In 1876 days. The
explorers reached latitude 1923 and
longitude 162 east. They were COM
PEELED 10 eat pony meat when their
provisions became scarce.
AT the point where the expedition
was compelled to turn back the land
was 5000 feet In altitude. trending
southwark in vast field of snow, no
mountains being In sight.
A second party pushed forward to
the southern magnetic pole ut latitude
1925. longitude 154 east. The British
flag was left flying at both points, The
ascent OF Mount Erebus was accom-
plished with difficulty. and geological
discoveries OF great Importance were
made. The results attained have
thrown much light on the past history
Of the Antartic continent. The expe-
dition suffered no loss of life.
Capt Shackleton tells the following
story OF the trip:
The southern party, composed OF
Adams. Marshal, Wild and myself,
with four ponies and a supporting
party consisting OF Brfocklehurst.
Joyce. Marson, Armytage and Priest
ley, left Cape Royd on Oct. %. 1908.
''On Nov 3 we left Hut Point with
81 days provisions. but were held UP
on White island, which we reached
on Nov 5, for four days by {. blizzard.
The supporting party returned TO the
permanent quarters on Nov Z. Owing
TO the bad light among the ice Gre
vases, Adams and his pony were
nearly lost
"a few days later We reached the
depot az latitude 1925. longitude 1G8
east, where we appropriated the maize
aud other provisions previously left
there. We commenced 10 reduce our
daily rations
Eat Pony Meat.
I'm latitude S1.64 We shot a pony
and made a depot OF oil. biscuit and
pony meat. taking the remainder OF
the latter TO exc out our dried rations
We reached the Discovery's southern
most latitude on Nov. 20. The surface
now DtCh1lt SOIL, Win idi sc
tions. The ponies were attacked by
snow blindness, and the second was
shot. depot being made in latitude
s2.45. longitude 10 On Nov. 80 we
killed our third pony.
1--WE were now approaching a high
range OF new mountains, trending TO
the southeast On Dec. we discov-
cred a glacer 100 miles long and
approximately 40 miles wide. running
in q south and southwesterly direc-
ton, and on Dec. we started to as
cend It. The glacier was full OF bad
crevces as the result of tremendous
| pressure. II took the whole OF the
next day for us to fight our way
600 yards. There were many dangers
20 be faced for any moment one
might be thrown into some unknown
depth.
"As Il was, on Dec. the last re-
naming pony broke through the snow
lid and disappeared In crevasse.
| Fortunately the swingle tree snapped
and we saved Wild and the sledge.
which was damaged. The party was
constant southely blizzard of wind
and drifting snow with temperature
ranging from 81 to 20 degrees of frost.
On the 9th we lost sight of the new
mountains.
Members Frostbitten.
Grinding that the party was becom.
ing weakened from the effects of the
short allowance OF food, the rarefied
air and the cold, | decided TO risk
making a depot on the plateau. On
Jan. we proceeded, with one TEN.
utilizing the poles OF the second tent
for guiding marks for our return. The
surface now became very soft and
the blizzard continued for so hours.
During Plan. Z, s and the wind blew
at z 0miles an hour, with 72 degrees
OF frost. II was impossible to move
and members OF the party were fire.
uuently frostbitten I'm their sleeping
bags. On Jan. 8 we left camp and
reached latitude 1928, longitude 1872
east. this being the most southerly
point ever reached. Here We hoisted
the union Jack presented to us by
her majesty the queen. No noun
tains were visible and We saw only
plain stretching TO the south.
I'VE then started on the return trip
TO pick up our depot on the plaeau.
guided by our outward tracks. for the
flags attached to the tent poles had
been blown away.
Inc DIZdrO continued WITH OV w
grees Of frost and we discarded every
thing except our camp outfit and geo.
logical specimens. The high winds
were now accompanied by an exceed
ingly low temperature, but they were
behind us and three DAYS later We
came in sight of tho depot on Minna
Bluff, which had been laid by the
Joyce party in January. Here we re-
oeived news from the ship.
Returns With Relief Party.
Marshal had a relapse and a return
Of the dysentery. but though he sui
fered greatly we made forced march
OF "a miles. He was unable TO go he
yond that and on the 9th I left him
In CAMP in charge of Adams. while
Wild and made another forced
march TO the ship for relief On
March returned with relief party
and all reached the ship at Hut Point
on March 4 in a blizzard. The total
distance Of the journey, including re-