The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-11
London GeographicalSociety
Makes Announcement of
Fatal Antarctic Expedi-
ton by Englishman
OVERWHELMED
BY A BLIZZARD ON
RETURN FROM POLE
Great Suffering From Hunger and
Exposure Told in Records Found
in Amundsen's Hut at South
Pole-king George Sends
Message TO Society

London, February 10.--Only meagre de-
tails are yet available of the Scott polar
tragedy, ranking in disastrous results
with the i'll fated Franklin expedition.
/ News OF the death of capt Robert h.
Scott and his four brave companions, who
succeeded by a final dash in reaching
the south pole. only to find proofs that
Amundscn had forestalled them. came III
brief dispatch from Lieut.. G. R. Evans
of the ROYAL navy, who was second in
command when the expedition started and
who now signs as commander of the
expedition.
The message was slgnalled from the
Terra Nova. returning from the Antarctic
regions while passing oamarn. New zea-
land
The staggering effects of the news on
the public mind is all the greater as it
was believed that modern science and
recent experience had completely divested
polar exploration OF its former terrors.
No great surprise would have been had
Captain Scott failed to reach the pole,
but that he should perish In his hour of
triumph was the very last thing that
could be anticipated and In view of the
terrible dangers which still exist the fate
of Captain Scott and his companions is
likely TO discourage further attempts to
reach the pole now that both have been
attained and the circumstances of hur-
ried dasses prevent valuable scientific re-
suits from being obtained.
Few Detailed Facts
i No detailed facts are yet known. but
Il is believed the records of the scientific
material collected, together with the ex-
piorers bodies have been recovered.
II also Is understood that gallant at
tempts were made by other members OF
the expedition 10 suecor the Scott party,
hut these were defeated by severe wealth
er conditions and lack of food. 1t seems
practically certain that the explorers
starved TO death.
DR.. Enrich Marshall, who was surgeon
to the Shaekelton expedition suggests that
the Scott party, In the terrible blizzard
may have missed one of its supply depots
which are generally marked by an up
turned sledge with flag lashed to IT,
The fact that Captain Amundsen
reached his base from the pole in 80 days
| while the Scott party had been travelling
more than two months when disaster
overlook them, is believed to show that
Scott must either have met some fnisfor-
| time, possibly in "A crevasse. or encoun-
tered succession of blizzards. The fact
that Petty OFFICER Evans died from con
eusslon of the brain as early as Feb
ruary Z seems to indicate some such ae-
edent. possibly involving the loss OF a
| portion of the equipment.
Captain oates died on March IT. which
clearly shows that the party were in dire
straits and must have Undergone terri
bly, sufferings during the remaining y
days.
No news has been received as to how
| the fate of Captain Scott and his COM
psnions was discovered but It is assumed
that a rescue party was dispatched from
/ the basel
| London, February f0-At meeting OF
the Royal biographical society this
evening announcement was made of the
disaster which has overtaken Capt. Rob-
| ert II. Scottis Antartic expedition, result
ing In the death Of Captain Scott, Dr. Il.
A. Wilson, Lieut. II. r. Bowers Capt l..
T.. @. Oates and Petty officer f.. Evans.
! Captain Scott's party said Douglas W.
| Freshfeld, vice president OF the Geo
graphical society," In making the an
nouncement found Capt. Road Amund-
| sens hut and records at the south pole
On the return trip, about March %. 1872.
II miles from one Ton depot, a blizzard
overwhelmed them. They had suffered
/ greatly from hunger and exposure, and
the death of Scott, Bowers and Wilson
vas virtually due TO that. They died soon
after the blizzard swept down on the
i party.
Oates died from exposure a few days
later. The death of Evans resulted from
a fall The other members of the expedi-
| ton are reported to be In good health
| searching party discovered the bodies OF
/ the victims and records some time later.
| A message of sympathy to the Geo.
graphical society from the King was read,
In which his majesty said:
II am deeply grieved at the very bad
news you give me Of the loss of Captain
Scott and four of his party, Just when We
we're hoping shortly TO welcome them
home on their return from their great
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