, 1912-05-22
al TAIN SCOTT.
THRILLING STORY Or Polar ADVENTURE.
$50 Miles From The Pole.

The first news Of Captain Scott in the Au-
tarctic was telegraphed to the Contra News
on Monday morning from Akahon, in the
south island of New Zealand, twenty three
miles from Christchurch
Since the return Of Captain Amundsen,
the Norwegian explorer, and his announce
ment that he reached the South Pole on
December ii, there has been n keen desire
to know the result Of Captain SCOTS efforts.
The absence Of news hitherto was regarded
bv many as ominous, while, on the other
hand, there were those who thought 1t pes
sible that the b itish explorer might have
reached tie Pole about the same time rs
his Norwegian rival. His own estimate hal
been that he ought TO arrive there about
December -
Unfortunately, according to the news now
received, his hopes have not been realized
On january 3 twenty days after Captain
Amundsen reached the PoIe-Captnin Scott
was still $50 miles from his goal. This lett
HIM 80 miles to 80 to equal the record
ach eyed by Sir Ernest Sha kIeton, who in
January 1909 penetrated to within 100
miles Of the Pole.
ALL Fir AND WELL.
Tie news OF Captain Scott and his party
was brought by his ship, the Terra Nova,
which has come buck to New 4 .nInhd owing
to the closing in Of the ice. Captain Scott
and his comrades are staying another year
in the ice. On January 3 all were fit AMI
we'll. an were pushing on to cover tue last
1870 miles. 1t was eaid they had food IN
sufficient quantities., that they we're all III
cool spirits AMI confident Of success, and
that the trail was dotted with snow cairns
and food depots.
There is thus every reason TO suppose
that Captain Scott rotchol the Poe about
a month after the arrival there of Captain
Amundseu, bit there VIII b. no further
news until the Antarctic spring reopens the
ice in October at the earliest Urtl then it
cannot be known FOR certain whether ho
has achieved his purpose aud reached the
Pole.
Captain SCOTS reports to the Central
News form a reco4d Of brave work br2Pely
done. They are a thrilling story Of Polar
adventure. At one point we read OF the
explorers narrow escape when a dog team
Disappeared into a crevasse mud the sledIe
was held up on Il snow bridge, at another
of ponies beng cut off on Il foe by the
breaking of sea ice. Captain SEQ t would
seem to have had some misfortune with
b ,th dogs aud ponies, while his motor
sledges experienced unexpected difficulties
on Tie sea ice.
NIGHr MARcHrs.
Marching by night and resting by day
appe rs to have b Ell the order OF going Of
the a vance party, and in his last message
the explorer expressed the opinion that
success seems probable.
Nor was this all the news that the Central
News received. In addition there was the
valuable work OF the subsidiary parties-the
scientific side of the expedition Here, again,
it was made obvious that excellent work Is
being dUue. OF the perils encountered
many are chrouicled, but what stands out
prominently is II graphic story of a sick
mans struggle TO get back to the ship and
n comrades devotion which undoubtedly
saved his life. Lieut. Evans was found to
be suffering from scurvy, aud became so
bad that at last he was unable to move. HIS
two compauions for four days brought him
over the lc. on a Sleigh. Then they could
not move farther with him, and while one
remained with the sick man the other
,,ucbe1 on alone for aSSistanCe'