The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-14
of the season. and the fall in the tenn
perature, became like sand.
SlOWDess of March.

perature, became like sand.
SioWness of March.
1t has been the experience of all
explorers in Polar climates that ice
crystals. which at higher temperatures
melt under the friction caused by
sledges running on them, at thirty be-
low zero become cutting edges. These
low temperatures which were COM
planned of by Captain Scott in his
diary, are said TO account for the slow
ness of the progress of the party over
the barrier. The average distance be-
tween the depots was sixty-five miles.
which without allowing for bad
weather, meant that the party must
average over nine miles a day. The
fuel and food at each depot gave full
rations for this rate of progress. For
week. however, the best march of
the party on the barrier was approx
mateiy nine miles, and at later stages
1t fell as low as three miles.
This falling away In the rate of
speed was undoubtedly due to the con-
dition of Captain Oates, of the Innis-
killing, whose hands and feet had
been frostbitten. and who was con-
stantfy growing worse. He was con-
slant drag on the. energies of the party.
and was rapidly weakening them.
They had to face continual winds and
frequent billiards., and finally the
hopeless nature OF the outlook was
forced upon them. However. they
never reiinauished their gallant strug-
gle, and fought ON to-the end.
Find Death Tent.
Surgeon Atkinson's searching party
found the death tent. eleven miles
from One Ton Depot, on November
10. 1912. It was half covered with
snow. The sledge OF the party. with
its gear; was completely covered with
snow. The tent was well spread and
the inner tent was in place on poles.
When the bodies were Identified, the
inner tent was placed over them. A
large cairn of snow was erected and a
cross placed on the top of the cairn.
This record was marked on the
cross:
This cross and cairn are erected
over the remains on Captain f. #.
Scott, &. v. o., r.. N: DIR. Il. A. VIII
son and Lieutenant Fl. f.. Bowers, r. J..
NJ, as slight token to perpetnate
their gallant and successful attempt to
reach their goal This they did on
January IT. 1919, after the Norwegians
had already done so on December 1.
1911; also TO commemorate their two
gallant comrades, Captain l. L &
Oates. of the Inniskilling Dragons.
who walked to his death In blizzard
willingly. about twenty miles south of
this place. to try to save his COM
rades, who were beset by hardship,
and also of Petty Officer Edgar Evans.
who died at the foot of Boardmere
Glacier The Lord gave. the Lord
taketh away; blessed be the name of
the Lord"
This record was signed by all MEM
bers of the search party.
No Symptoms of Scurvy.
Surgeon Atkinson, of the searching
party. is quoted as stating that no
symptoms of scurvy existed. All the
( I'd ~AI1acfad a the anttFa
party went twenty-three miles TO the
south to try to find the bodies OF, Oates
and Evans, but they were not sue
a:essrul Near the spot where Captain
Oates left his comrades. a cross and
cairn were erected with this -nscrip-
ton.
"Hereahouts died very gallant gem
tleman, Captain Oates, of the Innis-
killing Dragons, who, on the return
from the pole in March. 1912, willing
iy walked to his death in a blizzard
to try to save his comrades who were
beset with hardship" ~
Seven mules, which had been sup
piled by the Indian government were
used by Surgeon Atkinson and his
party. Their progress was much bet
/ ter than by the ponies In the previous
year. They average fourteen miles
day on the outward journey. but TREY
found the surfaces particularly good.
4 ttG IikhACS NNiAt sAioAtS haASA$ ttAAN 1870
not go down into the deep snow.
Return Journey Harder.
The going eon the return journey,
however was much heavier. The chief
difficulty was that they would eat
anything with the exception OF food.
Some Of the things they liked we're
rope yard. tea leaves, man biscuit. dog
biscuit and tobacco ash. The weighs
hauled by the mules were much
heavier than those of the ponies, the
heaviest weight being 76a pounds
The gear of the mules. which had
been supplied by the Indian govern
ment. showed great foresight, and
had to be altered only in some very
slight ways Their snow goggles were
especially useful and comforting to the
animals,
Two mules were shot on the barrier.