The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-12
Grief and Pride Close
Competitors for
Dominance.
GLOWING TRIBUTES
TO POLAR HEROES
Last Words Of Scott Appealing
for Those Dependent Upon
Men Who Die With Him
Have Electric Effect-Me-
mortal Service Will Be
Held Friday.

London. February 1I.-Grief and
pride over the simple narrative OF
courage. endurance and sacrifice given
in Captain Robert r. Scotts farewell
message to the world were close COM
petitors for dominance in the feelings
OF the British public to-day.
1t is white and not black mourn
ing we wear for these gallant souls
who have done and dared 10 greatly"
was the comment of Cabinet minister
to-day. The closing words of Captain
Scotts epic were:
Had we lived should have had "A
tale to tell of the hardihood, the en-
durance and the courage of my COM
panions that would have stirred the
heart OF every Englishman.
These rough notes and our dead
bodies must tell the tale. But surely.
surely. great and rich country like
ours Will see that those who are de-
pendent upon us are properly provided
for
These words have had an electric
erect. steps are on foot to respond
to his appeal to the nation by asHur-
ing n comfortable future for those de-
pendent on the men who. while await
ing certain death. could still write
that they did not regret their Jour
ney.
Interest In His Men.
Captain Scotts interest in the vel
fare Of his men was emphasized by
practically the last business transacted
before he left to join the expedition
in New Zealand. This was the sale of
his story
He declined to make any private
profit from the transaction and decided
that the total receipts should 20 to
increase the financial reward OF the
men who had Undertaken TO share with
him the dangers OF the Antarctic re-
gion.
1t was therefore arranged that all
funds realized from the story OF the
adventure should he distributed among
the members OF the crew as a surprise
bonus on their return to England. Mrs.
Scott Is assured az good pension
from the British government.
memorial service for Captain
Scott and his companions Is to be held
ih st Paurs Cathedral on Friday.
Flags In nil parts OF London were fiy-
ing 1T halfmast to-day.
The committee OF the British Ant
arctic expedition Will issue a national
appeal for a fund TO provide for the
relatives OF the dead explorers. Among
those who Will sign the appeal is Lord
Strathcona.
The Admiralty tonight issued an Off
cial expression Of it's regret st the
loss OF its heroic officers.
The tragedy OF Captain Robert r.
Scotts Antarctic expedition was re-
ferred TO to-day in the House cf Com
mons by Premier Asquith. : saking
with evident emotion. he said
we all at this moment are under
the deep impression created by the
reading of the last message to the
world left by Captain Scott II is one
OF the most moving and pathetic utter
ances in the annals OF discovery. IL
is the message OF q brave, enduring
man in the face OF n most tragic death.
His career was one of SELF sacrifice
and devotion to the service of his
country. We can only say that his last
appeal will not fall on deaf ears.
Words Almost Inaudible.
The Premier was SO deeply moved
that his words were almost inaudible.
His closing sentence indicates that the
government Will take care of the de-
Dendents of the dead members OF the
expedition.
or the f1ve explorers who perished,
Captain Scott. DR.. Edward a. Wilson
and Petty OFFICER e. Evans were mar
ried. Captain l. f. G.. Oates and Lieu
tenant II. r. Bowers were single. Mrs.
Evans is left with three children, sew
en-, hve and four years old.
The merchants and ship owners or
Cardiff, from which port the Terra
Nova sailed for the Antarctic, are ar
ranging to erect a statue TO Captain
Scott.
One of the most tragic documents in
the worlds history is the last mes
snge Captain Scott left for the world.
Tt was written March 25 1912, when
the stoical explorer. undergoing the
most exquisite torture from cold and
privation, knew that he and his COM
panions were bound to die.
In II he told how he and his little
band for more than year had under
gone the greatest suffering from cold
AMI loss of supplies and equipment
without murmuring. The message
stated that the horrible fate about to
overtake the brave men WAS not due
TO faulty organization or mismanage-
ment on the part of anybody. but to
unavoidable misfortune. 1t contained
a glowing tribute to Scott's four COM
panions who had accompanied him on
the dash to the pole and back to with
In eleven miles of depot when the
fatal blizzard overlook them.
The diary left by Captai nScott is
wonderful document, Judging from
extracts of IL that have been given
10 the Royal Geographical Society. 1t
tells the tragic story of successful
triumph of which was swallowed up
by death In one of it's most agonizing
forms
Petty officer Evans died as the re-
suit of a fall. Captain l.. f. G.. Oates.
frost bitten until he could not proceed
further, deliberately let himself freeze
to death that he might no longer de-
lay the rest of the expedition and Scott,
wilson and Bowers froze to death in
n tent several days later. The last
entry in the diary was March 90, 1912,
and the bodies were found only eleven
miles from One Ton Depot, where the
expedition had left supplies.
Praises Companions.
Captain Scott paid touching tri-
butte to the bravery and self-sacrifioe
OF Oates. and was unsparing In his
praise of the other mem bers Of the
party. The loss of their pony trans
port In March. 1911, was the first mis-