The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-12
AMUNDSEN DRAWS
THRILLING PICTURE
OF FATE OF SCOTT
Norwegian Depicts PrOba-
BILE Conditions of Ill Fated
Party-Pays Tribute to
English Explorer

Chicago. February IA thrilling pic
ture of the probable manner in whicl
Robert T. Scott and four of his com
panions met death on the ice barrier
close to the earth's southern extremft
was painted verbally by Capt Roal(
Amundsen. diseoverer of the south pole
who was in Chicago today.
1T is hard to say Just what happened,
said the Norwegian explorer, but W.
can imagine. perhaps. although it is hor
rible. We know. of course, that it hap
pened about the seventy -ninth parable
and that they were down on the barrie
and not on the plateau. And just abou
there our positive knowledge stops.
certainly they We're exhausted an,
starving 1t may be they had some scurvl
among them-who can say? At any rate
they were not in fit condition to NEE
the terrible blizzard when it came.
Not that blzzards are unusual Scot
was prepared for blizzards, for he wa
no amateur oie ntdA always eNptt
blizzards in that country.
But there they were-those poor for
lorn fellows struggling along withou
even ponies to draw their sleds. for the
had sent back their last ponies whei
they had reached point $50 miles from
the pole on the journey southwark.
Pictures Conditions
They were drawing their own seds
weakened though they must have been
They had no dogs. and that was a mis-
take. | am afraid. And always befor
them stretched that awful waste of ice
Can YOU see it? 1t is fiat ice stretcher
tight across the country in long. glass
Misunderstanding away so far an
white that the eye cannot bear to fol
low it.
"And across tie frozen surface sweep
the wind-furiously. The great fiat ex
panse offers a terrific sweep for the bias
and there is no protection except wha
man is able TO build for himself"
Captain Amundsen passed a hand acros
his eyes.
And there they died" he said softly
"Of course, Evans, Petty Officer Evans
had died already. lie fell on the ic,
But the others must have, died within
short time of each other. Oates wen
bravely, YOU know. out into the blizzarC
that his sickly condition might not hinde
the others. That was a great sacrifc,
but it did no good.
Scott a Brave Man
II cannot read that last message {
| Captain Seotts without emotion. | neve
met him personally, but l know he was
: brave man.
And to Think added the captain. i
hushed tone. that while those BRAY
men were dying in the waste of ice
was lectureing in warmth and comfort
Australia"
Captain Amundsen denied that he ha
suggested that the men who met deaf
might have fallen into crevasse.
1T is ridiculous" he asserted. ito thin
that five men would fall into crevasse.
Prof II. j. Cox, weather forecastei
who had listened to the Norwegian adver
turers narration, broke in.
"Shackelton nearly met the same fat
you know
yes" said Amundsen. "Shackelton ha
y hard time getting back. He nearly me
death. lie turned back just in time,
the very hour, In fact, to save his lif'
And he was only Ill miles from tn
pole
"Can you think of the disappoIntmer
in that case? Only Ill miles from Ii
goal. Yet, it Is long distance Whe
there are railroad tracks and Pullma
cars and comfort and good cheer III mile
is nothing. There in the frozen south
Is thousands of miles.
Captain Amundsen made it plain ths
the fate of Scott and his aids woul
not deter him in his plans for a pola
expedition, beginning next year.
why should | hesitate?' he asket
These affairs are very sad, but the
are really uncommon. II is not what on
may expect. as perhaps some of yo
may think No, | shall start and / b,
lieve | will be successful"
What do you care about the mort
pole now. captain?9 was asked.
Nothing said the explorer, swift.
II do not seek the pole. | may not eve
reach it. | do not care whether 1 d
These stories that l am to actually see
the pole are untrue. I am going mort
| only on a scientific expedition-chie6y
study air and ocean currents. If I al
close 10 the pole and conditions arc favo
able. ] will go there. not otherwise N
story that ] Will take an aeroplane
untrue: ii Is ridiculous
Captain Amundsen sent the followin
kilograms anent the Scott tragedy.
Commander Terra Nova, Lytteton, )
H.: Deep sorrow loss comrades. Congra
ulations success expedition.
"Kinsey. Christchnrch, y. H.: Conve
deep sorrow Mines. Scott and Wilson lo'
husbands. Magnificent battle"