The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-02-14

London, February 1O.-Only mea-
gre details are yet available of the
Scott polar tragedy, ranking in dis
astrous results with the ill-fateo
Franklin expedition.
News of the Death of Capt. Robt.
F. Scott and his four brave compan-
ions, who succeeded by a final dash
in reaching the South Pole, only to
find proofs that Amundsen had fore
stalled them, came in brief dispatch
from Lieut. G. r. Evans, of the Roy
al navy, who was second in command
when the expedition started, and who
now signs as commander of the
expedition.
The message was signalled from
the Terra Nova, returning from the
Antartic regions, while passing Ca
maru, New Zealand
The staggering effects of the news
on the public mind is all the greater,
as it was believed that modern sci
ence and recent experience had COM
pletely divested polar exploration of
AeS $OfAS1 NCIIOlSs
Death in Hour of Triumph.
No greater surprise would have
been felt had Capt. Scott failed to
reach the pole, but that he should
perish in his hour of triumph was
the very last thing that could be an
ticipated and, in view of the terri
bic dangers which still exist, the fate
of Capt. Scott and his companions is
likely to discourage further attempts
to reach the pole, 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 the records of the
scientific material collected, together
with the explorers bodies have been
recovered. 1t also is understood that
gallant attempts were made by the
other members of the expedition to
succor the Scott party, but these
were defeated by severe weather con-
ditions and lack of food.
Probably Victims of Starvation.
1t seems practically certain that
the explorers starved to death. The
fact that Capt. Amundsen reached
his base from the pole in 80 days,
while the Scott party had been trav-
cling more than two months when
the disaster over took them, is be-
lieved to show that Scott must either
have met some misfortune, possibly
in a crevasse, or encountered a sue
cession of blizZards. The fact that
Petty Officer Evans died from con-
cussion of the brain as early as Feb
ruary II seems to indicate some such
activity, possibly involving the loss
of portion of the equipment.
Capt. Oats died on March II, which
clearly shows that the party was in
dire straits and must have under
gone terrible sufferings during the
remaining IL days. No news has
been received as to how the fate of
Capt. Scott and his companions was
discovered, but it is assumed that a
rescue party was dispatched from the
base.
London, February 10.-At a meet
ing of the Royal Geographical So
ciety this evening announcement was
made of the disaster which has over
taken Capt. Robt. F. Scott's Antar-
tic expedition, resulting in the death
of Capt. Scott, DR.. E. A. Wilson,
Lieut.. H. r. Bowers, Capt. L. E. G..
Oates and Petty Officer E. Evans.
Capt. Scott's party, said Douglas
w. Freshfeld, vice president of the
Geographical Society, in making the
announcement, found Capt. Roald
Amundsen's hut and record at the
South Pole. On the return trip,
about March 20, 1912, eleven miles
from One Ton Depot, blizzard over
whelmed them. They had suffered
greatly from hunger and exposure,
and the death of Scott, Bowers and
Wilson was virtually due to that.
They died soon after the blizzard