Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-13
EXPLORER DIED IN
HOUROF TRIUMPH.
Captain Scott and Four Compan-
ions Perished on Return
from South Pole.
DEATHS DUE TO STARVATION
Tragedy of the Antarctic Stag
gers the British Public-Be-
lieved That Party Was
Caught in Blizzard.
DEATHS DUE TO STARVATION

London, Feb. 10-Only meagre de-
tails are yet available OF the polar
tragedy. ranking in disastrous results
| with the Inflated Franklin expedition.
News of the death of Capt. Robert r.
Scott and his four brave companions.
| who succeeded by a final dash in
| reaching the South Pole. only to find
proofs that Amundsen had forestalled
them, comes in a brief despatch from
Lieut.. f. r. G. r. Evans OF the royal
| navy, who was second in command
when the expedition started and who
now signs as Commander" OF the ex-
petition. The message was signalled
from the Terra Nova, returning from
the Antarctic regions, while passing
Oamaru. New Zealand.
The staggering effects of the news
on the public mind is all the greater
as 1t was believed that modern science
and recent experience had completely
! Invested polar exploration of It's for
mer terrors. No great surprise would
| have been felt 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 anti
dangers which still exist. the fate Of
Captain Scott and his companions Is
| likely to discourage further attempts
to reach the poles now that both have
| been attained and the circumstances
OF hurried dashes prevent valuable
scientific results from being obtained.
| No detailed facts are yet known. but
It is believed that the records Of the
scientific material collected, together
with the explorers bodies have been
recovered.
PARTY STARVED TO DEATH
1t is also understood that gallant
attempts were made by the other
members of the expedition to succor
the Scott party. but these were de-
feated by the severity OF the weather
conditions and lack Of food. IT seems
practically certain that the explorers
starved to death.
DR.. Enrich Marshall. who was sur
geon to the ShackletOn expedition.
suggests that the Scott party in the
terrible billiards. may have MISE 4
one of its supply depots. which are
generally marked by an upturned
sledge with flag dashed to 1t.
The fact that Captain Amundsen
reached his base from the pole in So
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
with some misfortune, possibly in a
crevasse, or encountered a SUGGEST on
: Of billiards., The fact that Petty Of
ficer Evans died from conclusion OF
tho brain az early as February II
seems to indicate some such accident
possibly involving the loss Of por-
ton OF the equipment.
! Captain Oates died on March II which
clearly shows that the party were in
dire straits. and must have undergone
terrible sufYerings during the remaining
70 days.
No news has been received as to how
: the fate Of Captain Scott and his COM
, panions was discovered but II is assumed
that a rescue party was despatched from
the base.
At a meeting of the Royal Geographical
society this evening announcement was
made OF the disaster which overlook Capt
Robert F. SCOTS Antarctic expedition
resulting In the death of Captain Scott
Capt l.. e G. Oates and Petty Officer
= T. Evans,
FOUND RECORDS AT POLE
o Captain Scotts party. said Douglas w
= FresiAfeld, vice-president OF the Geogra
Z phical society, In making the announce
lment, found Capt ROAD Amundsen',
: tent and records at the South Pole or
the return trip about March Q. 1912, eleve,
G miles from One Ton Depot a blizzard
h overwhelmed them. They had suffered
greatly from hunger and exposure and tn,
, death of Scott, Bowers and Wilson wa
virtually due to that They died soon afte
tho blizzard swept down on the party.
Oates died from exposure a few day
earlier. The death OF Evans resulte,
from a fall. The other members OF tn
expedition are reported to be in goo,
health. A searching party discovered tn
d bodies and records some time later
A message of sympathy to the geosraph
ical society from the King was read, 4
which His Majesty said:
II am deeply grleved to hear the YER
bad news you give me OF the loss OF Can
tain Scott and four OF his party just whe
We were hoping shortly to welcome ther
homo on their return from their great an
arduous undertaking I hearth sympa
le thise With the Royal Geographical Sc
l. ciety in the loss to science and discover
through the death Of these gallant Ell
r plorer."
The messase from the King was in RI
Re ply TO notification Of the tiding from tn
Antarctic transmitted to His Ma jesty b
Lord Curzon OF Ksdleeton. president Z
the society Lord Cursor, who was d.
In tained by illness. telegraphsd regrets a
"a his inability ito be present and pay TT
It butte Of admiration and sorrow to tn
'%<--4- sd~nA<,