Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-13
SILENT ON TRAGEDY
Officers Refuse to Discuss
Scott's Shortage of Fuel.
ONE CAUSE OF DISASTER
Party Might Have Been Saved, Says
Explorers Diary.
BODIES LEFT IN ANTARCTIC
Thought Best That Last Resting
Place Be Where Men Worked
and Died.
BODIES LEFT IN ANTARCTIC

WELLINGTON, n H. February 49,
The Scott antarctic expeditions ship, the
Terra Nova, has berthed at Lyttelton.
Commander E. r. G. r. Evans r. N,
who was on board. spoke briefly of the
tragedy near the south pole. He said
the gallantry of Capt Scott and the
men with him had never been surpassed.
but the survivors were not disposed to
advertise themselves at the expense of
the others.
The ships party on nearing Cape
Evans had arranged to give Capt. Scott
and his companions a great ovation.
Accommodation was made ready and
luxuries We're brought up from the
stores The ship steamed easily to her
winter quarters and anchored a quar-
ter mile off shore, with colors flying.
A large party ashore cheered, and the
ships company responded.
Campbell Identified.
Commander Evans identified Lieut..
Campbell. AS Capt Scott could not be
discerned in the group, Evans then
shouted. Are you all well?''
Campbell replied: 'The southern party
| reached the pole on the 18th of January
| last year, but all We're lost on the way
back We have their records
Capt SCOTS total distance to the pole
and back was 1872 statute miles. Reck-
onng by the progress of the support
Ing parties he should have returned to
Hut point by March 10.
Questioned regarding Capt. Scott's eX
pressed establishment at the shortage
of fuel in the depots. Commander Evans
said Capt. Scott had fuel to last a month
beyond the expected date of his return.
Regarding Petty Officer Evans accident,
he said: ION the ice ridges men had to
climb up ten feet and slide down the.
Brings Back Records.
The ship brought back every written
record Of the southern party, including
the private diaries of Scott. Bowers,
Wilson, Oates and Evans. These will
not be published at once, but will first
be handed to the dead mems relatives.
Scott kept day-to-day record up to
March "a. He spent the last day in writ
ing his message to the public
The bodies of Scott and his comrades
could have been brought up. but all
hands agreed that it was better to leave
them under the white mantle in the
place where the explorers had worked
and died. a cairn overlooking the Bar
rier was considered the best memorial.
Officers Are Reticent.
LONDON, February ia CORE
spondent at Chlistchurch N H., of the
Daily Chronicle in a dispatch describing
a visit on board the Terra Nova, says
that while Commander Evans and other
officers talked freely of their experiences
in the pioneer southern trip, as soon as
he INTRODUCED subjects directly bearing
on the tragedy Of Capt SCOTS fate they
became very reticent. He adds:
The shortage of fuel to which Capt.
Scott referred is hardly of sufficient i'm
portance to deal with in a communica-
ton to a newspaper, said Commander
Evans. 4 think you had better not touch
upon It,.
Il pointed out the significance Of what
Capt Scott had said-that he could not
account for the shortage, that he refer
red to it as one Of the cOntributory causes
of the disaster, and suggested that but
for this and one or two other misfortunes
the remnant of the party might have Won
through.
Explains Fuel Supply.
That is quite true, Commander Evans
replied. He went on to explain that the
southern party had sufficient fuel to last
one month longer than the time they We're
expected to take for the whole journey to
the pole and back.
Then this suggestion is that they ought
to have been independent of the supplies
in the Depot | asked.
Yes Commander Evans said. that is
So He added that of the four parties
who came back after supporting the polar
party hardly one reached the base with
more than days fuel in hand.
Il asked again to what shortage Capt.
Scott could possibly have referred and
for which, he wrote. he could not &C
count This time Commander Evans said
he did not wish 10 discuss the point fur
Their. and repeated his previous remark
that ii was not q subject with which he
thought it necessary to deal at present.
81 then asked him if Surgeon Atkinson,
the leader Of the search party. who was
present, might answer questions. Yes,
Commander Evans replied. but / must
reserve the right to check him if the
questions you put seem undesirable