Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-01

Meets Markham.
Strolling along the streets of London.
he ran by chance across the great old
man, Sir Clements Markham, at this time
chairman of the Royal Geographical So
ciety. Sir Clements recognized Capt
Scott as a midshipman in whom he had
always been very interested when he
had stayed on his cousins (Admiral
Markham's) ship. and greeted him with
great warmth.
Sir Clements great desire and aim was
to get up an expedition to try to explore
the little-known antarctic continent: Thls
object he had materialized at this time to
the extent that ship was being con-
structed, to be called the Discovery, FOR
the purpose of ice exploration and the
scientific staff was being appointed
thanks to the help Of the society's funds
and a great amount Of private help In
money matters.
Sir Clement, like all men who have an
intimate knowledge of the royal navy,
was anxious to have naval man in com
mand Of the ship, and had been promised
by the admiralty the loan Of one. When
by chance he met Capt. Scott, or. as he
then was, Lieut.. r. F. Scott. he impet-
uously seized his arm, strolled along and
unfolded his plans. while, at the same
time he suggested to Capt. Scott to ap-
ply for the post.
The latter demurred. as he had no lean
ings to that sort of work and knew moth
ing about it. However, to find well
having lob was necessary, and one that
did not interfere with his naval career
and on the plea that one name added 10
the list Of applicants would make no
matter, he sent his in with little or no
hope Of being successful
To his great establishment he was
chosen. He had every qualification, was
the right age. just twenty-nine. healthy,
strong. well built man. standing flve feet ZEE
,ho
nesses than an attack of measles at sey-
enteen, and a touch of Malteset fever He
was iust the man to undertake the
strenuous work Of such position.
Training for Work.
work of his life. To prepare for the con-
quest of the antarctic he had a years ar
duous work of preparation in front OF
him. This was probably the hardest year
in many senses of all Capt. SCOTS life.
It meant mostly office work in London, a
place abhorred by the healthy Sailorman,
who Graves fresh air and exercise. How
ever, it was almost the most important
part Of the expedition. for on 1t depended
success or failure in the future, and Capt.
Scott set about 1t with vigor and the
Judgment he has proved to possess to
such very great extent =,
He had by now begun to be enthusiastic
over this new, and what had been to him
such q short time before, undreamed OF
scheme. He set to work with a will and
had to master all the details Of prov1s-
ioning such an expedition for three years.
preparing the outfit and the travelling
necessaries for the landing parties.
He had also q more difficult task still,
namely, to settle on his staff. To an ex-
perienced explorer this must have been d
sufficiently arduous task and how much
more so, to a young naval officer, who
hadhnothing Of previous experience to go
on He was supported by much wei!
meant and good advice, rendered on all
aides. nv old and Young, experienced. able
and intellectual men, ana had to slit all
this himself.
Placed in Command.
The trying difficulties were increased at
this time by the fact that leader had
already been appointed for the expedition
"a very able scientist quite unSccustomed
to exploration, who had been appointed to
direct landing operations and the whole
affairs Of the expedition. This left Capt.
Scott as a cipher on the ship he COM
manded to go where and when a non
nautical man directed.
The position, of course, was untenable
for Capt Scott and the Royal Geograph-
ical Society. who number so many arctic
explorers among their members, saw the
force Of this argument and finally de-
cided that Capt. Scott must take supreme
safety of men and ship. and this led to
the retirement Of the scientist.
From now on preparations went more
smoothly, but 1t still entailed a sixteen
hour working day for the leader. There
remained the staff to be completed. 1t
was not an easy task to choose men with
whom one has to live In closest fellow
ship for three years. The admiralty were
generous and allowed three Of their off,
GERS In addition to the leader and about
twenty bluejackets and petty officers to
join the expedition. These were mostly
men who had sailed in the same ship as
Capt Scott. and were known by him. So
by now he had got together a staff who
proved themselves in every way worthy of
his choice by their achievements and
characters, and he had proved his ca
pacity of judging men.