The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-28

WfftinRs-Edited Three Papers.
Tales Of the weird charm and lure Of
adventure "farthest south" and inter-
estlng inside" facts Of the race for the
south pole and the struggle against
death IN the barren antarctic regions
were confided to the newspaper men OF
the city by Sir Ernest Shackleton. at a
reception given at the National Press
Club In his honor yesterday afternoon.
Sir Ernest took the newspaper men
into his confidence. and told them many
anecdotes of the dash for the pole that
have never been recounted IN his lectures
or writings.
In his Enthusiastically unassuming
manner. the noted explorer reeited thrill
ing tales of the fight for life and glory
IN the south frigid zone.
Greeted by Members.
Arthur ]. Dodge introduced Sir Ernest.
and before his address the members Of
the club had the pleasure Of shaking the
hand Of the man who has reached farthest
south.
In addressing a body Of newspape
men l feel a sort Of tic relationship of
my country said Sir Ernest IN a lin
tied experience with a London publica-
ton I wrote many things that appeared
in print and a great many things that
didn't My entire time seems to be de-
voted to writing unsuitable verses for I'M /
suitable subjects; yet the experience
makes me feel a member Of your brother
hood
"A great deal OF our spare time dur
ing the long winter months in the ant
arctic regions was spent in the publlca-
ton Of our newspapers. The expedition
published. under my direction. three pa
pers, The Blizzard The Polar Times
and The Aurora Australis, % which ev-
cry one. from the cook 10 the captain.
contributed
The cooks poetry was a feature Of
The Blizzard though at times it was
necessary 10 curb his literary flights. in
which words would DE employed 10 SUD
ply rhymes that would hardly be heard
in polite society We printed a page
every day, the climatic conditions max
ing it necessary 10 keep a lighted candle
under the ink tank @ that the fluid
would not be frozen
Edited Three Papers.
From these papers and from my own
diary the greater part of my writings
were taken. OF course. il was necessary
TO do considerable editing -. my own
log. which. written on the journey, ex-
pressed my feelings at every stage Of
the trip, ! thought ! had cut out all the
objectionable language. but. as I after
ward learned. one little swear word
crept into the book unnoticed.
From all quarters I heard about that
word. Letters came to me directing me
to look at line 4. page $40 of your book.
the only blemish on your otherwise Won
derful work 1 looked and found that
this expression Of feeling had crept into
the book: This ice plain is certainly hell
on ones feet
Perhaps the most thrilling part of the
entire expedition was our return TO the
Nimrod late in February. We were sew
eral days overdue. and knew that search /
ing parties were on the lookout for US
from the ship The second day Of our
trip we were overtaken by a blizzard, !
and. 70 make matters worse, one Of my
stacles in our path, two Of us pushed on |
until we came TO the end Of the ice /
plain and TO the edge Of the water.
This made big detour necessary. |
Ny companion was exhausted, and the |
blizzard made our condition most pre- |
carious. ] climbed 10 the top Of small |
knoll where We had located a hut on |
our first trip. and found some carbide. !
We soon had a bright blaze that was /
seen on the Nimrod, nine miles away 1
Assistance Immediately came, and In 1
meal Of ham and eggs-the first bite we /
had had to eat for two days.
Credit for Companions.
ITO the men who were with me belongs |
inestimable credit. Picked from 500 vol /
unteers, they bore the brunt OF the work /
Of the expedition. and never was one |
heard to murmur Told to do a thing. /
they did 1t. though they realized that
the glory and limeIght that IS now mine /
would never be coming to them.
With nothing but an interminable
plain Of ice before US and Death stalking
us close in the rear. the expedition was
indeed a perilous one. But To one who
has experienced this trip there is ever
a longing to be back among the ice
fields and barrens of the South. Asked
by my friends, What is the lure that
you to risk your life in adven-
lures among perils Of this sort?' 7 can
answer nothing definite.
There is a charm, a fascination about
It which is best expressed by these verses
Of Robert William Service:
YES. they're wanting me. thsyr haunting ne. the
awful lonely places;
They're whining and they're vhinpering as if each
had q soul;
They're calling me from the wilderness. the vast
and Gcd-like spaces,
The stark and saIen solitudes that sentinel the
pole
And now they're all s-crying and it's no use ne
denying;
The spell Of them is on me and I'm helpless as a
child.
Ny heart is aching. aching but hear them sleep
It's the lure Of little voices, it's the mandate Of
the Wild"
Applause at End.
During the dramatically thrilling &C
count of the last trip across the ice
plains and the recital OF services that
closed the address, Sir Ernests hearers
we're under the spell Of the speakers
voice. At the conclusion of the address,
4 burst of applause that lasted several
voiced the appreciation of the
newspaper men.
Sir Ernest chatted informally with the
members for several minutes after his
Sir Ernest and Lady Shackleton left