The Washington herald., 1912-04-03
LIEUT.. EVANS HAD
NARROW ESCAPE
IN ICY REGIONS
Dreaded Disease of Scurvy
Nearly Fatal to Capt.
Scott's Aid.
DASH SAVED HIS LIFE
British Polar Explorers Expert
ences Near South Pole Har.
rowing in Extreme.
DASH SAVED HIS LIFE

Wellington. New leland, April 2.-The
second chapter of Capt Robert F. Scott's
story OF his antarctic experiences shows
that not only did the party have to fight
the intense cold. but the scurvy also
added to the harship of the expedition.
Lieut.. Evans was the sufferer. and had
to be removed for miles wrapped in
furs. the party travelling night and day
to save his life. Previous to the dash
over the last $50 miles, Capt. Scott de-
tailed three parties from his ship, the
Terra Nova, to explore surrounding coun-
tries. 1t was at latitude S:35 that Lieut..
Evans and two companions began their
journey. On January they had aver
aged eighteen miles daily. On this date
a blizzard was encountered. They were
forcd to descend hundreds Of feet. riding
their sleges down the glacier. Lieut..
Evans and his party found themselves
in a maze of ridges. crevasses, and ice
packed high necessitating climbing every
day. In this perilous travel the members
OF the party were badly bruised and
much damage was done to the sledges-
In the midst of his hardship II was dis
covered that Lieut.. Evans himself was
suffering from scurvy. For four days he
struggled on pIuckily. until from sheer
pain, after covering fifty-three miles, II
was found that he was unable to lay on
his skis.
Dash Saved Life.
After a consultation. It was decided by
his comanions to place him in his fur
sleeping bag and make further journey
with him on a sledge. The incessant
snowfall forced an abandonment OF this
plan. 1t was then decided that while one
Of the party should remain with Lieut..
Evans, the other should hike back TO the
hut, estimated at thirty miles, TO notify
the relief party.
Exhausted by the effort, scarcely able
to drag himself farther. the messenger
reached the hut established for the relief
party.
The distance back to where Lieut..
Evans had been left was covered by all
night travel The dash back to tine hut
was a orced march because of the anN-
iety felt for the lieutenant's condition,
the thirty miles being Travelled in five
hours.
Unquestionably this heroic dash saved
the life of Lieut.. Evans
Lieut. Evans, who has entirely recov-
cred from the disease, says there is no
necessity for any anxiety to be felt for
Capt. Scott. He reports him as being In
the best of health, and says the dog
teams will certainly be able to make the
return, as there are five of them.
ship In Danger.
Lieut.. Pennen had made a report of
the voyage Of the Terra Nova. telling OF
the experiences of the trip from Ryttle-
ton, from which point he sailed IN De-
cember last with a years supply OF
cstores. fourteen dogs, and several mules.
For 40 miles the ship was held up in
latitude "a. passing through pack ice.
While floating with the ice the oppor-
tunity was taken to exercise the dogs
on the large ice foes, which gave ample
room.
The Terra Nova proceeded south to
relieve the geological party at Granite
Island. The nearest approach they
could make was twenty miles, because of
the ice pack. which descended at that
distance from the shore in the vicinity
of Cape Evans In their efforts to reach
inland, the ship several times was caught
in dangerous positions, but fortunately
was not damaged.
Communication finally was established
with the party on shore. and on Feb
ruary a landing was made alongside
of safe ice, and by the help of dog |
sledges stores were placed ashore. Sew
eraI days were consumed in this opera |
ton.
The next effort was to reach and re-
lieve the northern party N Terra IOWA
Bay. The ship continued north but the |
ice pack became so thick that even when |
sent against it at full speed the ice re-
sisted every effort. After innumerable
attempts it was seen that a return was
impossible at this seaon to McCurdy
Sound.
For this reason the party was pre-
vented from obtaining news of Capt
Scott later than has already been given
out. The northern party. in regard to its
experience in Penquine Land. says:
Collect Many Specimens.
"on February II the party landed at
Cape Adare. A hut was built in the
midst of the Adele penguin rockery.
Countless numbers of penguins sur
rounded the hut and the party the whole |
summer. In January, 1912, the northern |
party was relieved after surveying much |
Of the territory and collecting geological |
specimens"
Griffith Taylor, in Charge of the |
western geological party, makes the fol- |
lowing report:
''On January q, 1911. we landed below |
the Ferrar Glacier. In an alcove thirty |
feet deep a comfortable camp was mare |
that day. This alcove in the glacier was |
due to sun formation, which shows the |
tremendous power of the solar rays in |
these regions.