The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-14
CAPT. SCOTT AND
HIS MEN DIED OF
STARVATION
Every Ounce OF Food Gone
Before Death Came
NO SIGNS OF ScURvY
Explorers Exhausted BY Efforts
to Convey Stricken Comrades
to Safety.

Wellington, New Zealand, Feb IA.
4. R. G. Evans sends fur
Their particulars in dispatch from
Christchurch of the Inflated British
Antarctic expedition. The party UNI
der Capt. Scott after leaving Comdr
Evans on January 4, 1912, marched
an average of IL miles daily, and
reached the pole on January II. Capt
SCOTS observations by the theodolite
on January IS fixed the pole within
half a mile of Amundsen's observa-
tons. The Scott party had followed
Amundsen's track and found his
camp within three miles of the pole.
Several photographs of Scott and his
comrades at the pole were obtained.
From the time of reaching the pole
Petty Officer Evans condition gave
great anxiety, but good progress was
made on the return journey over the
great plateau in medium weather.
Before descending the Beardmore
glacier DR.. Wilson and Lieut. Bowers
collected number of fossils on
Buckley island. The descent of
Beardmore glacier was accomplished
in thick weather and deep snow
greatly delayed the march. Petty
Officer Evans fell on the rough ice
and sustained conclusion of the
brain. His condition caused a fur
Their delay and the surplus food was
consumed. On February II Evans
collapsed and was placed on a sledge.
He died few hours afterward.
The bad ice surface and the illness
of Capt Oates still further hampered
the progress and weakened the ener.
gies of the party. Sometimes they
made only three miles in day. Then
came billiards. and head winds
which completed the disaster. The
searching party under DR.. Atkinson
found their tent on November IL
half covered by the snow. The bod
les were identified. A tent was plac
ed over them and large cairn o.
snow erected A cross, with a brie
record, was placed on he top of this
signed by all the members of tn,
searching party.
DR.. Atkinson is authority for sayinl
that none of the symptoms of scurv!
were present on the bodies. TIL,
searching party employed sever
mules, which, hauled heavier weight
and proved generally more efficien
than ponies.
A dispatch to the London Dali,
Mail from Christchurch says that full
details of SCOTS return journey, will
reveal a still more glorious page o
history when they are published thal
the brief official narrative. 1T /
stated" says the Daily Mail, tina
Lieut.. Evans was assisted by hi
comrades from the pole until n!
death, and that every ounce of foo
was exhausted long before deaf
came to SCOTS party. Only
small quantity of tea was found WIT
the bodies, which we're discovered i
the following positions: Scott ST
ting with his back to the tent pol,
Between his head and the tent pol
he had placed his dairy as a supper
to his head DIR. Wilson and Lieu
Bowers were lying in their sleepln
bags.
Possibly an expedition will /
sent for the bodies next summer.
memorial cross to Scott, Wilson an
Bowers was erected on Observable
hill. II was constructed of lara
wood and will last for ages. Mer
bers of the expedition Indicate Il
possibility of disappointment
Amundsen forestalling them toe
the stiffening' out of Scott's par
for the return journey
while descending Beardmore gla
Ter the ice was found to be terrib
rough and many distractions 10 to
feet high had to be climbed. viii,
resulted in the explorers being bad
bruised or strained Comdr Eva
denies that the explorers died
scurvy. He says death was due
exposure and weakness. The me-
bers of Lieut.. Campbelrs northe
party are in magnificent health CO
sidering the terrible privations tn
underwent in an igloo, where IN
led a primitive existence for 6
months. They had a regular ply
cal drill. Their only literature W
David Copperfield,' OF which o
chapter was read aloud daily.
1T is doubtful whether any OF I
diaries Of Scott and his party will
published before the history OF |
expedition appears in book form. S
geon Atkinson, who organized
search party, refused to give any
formation beyond the official mar
tive.
The steamer Aorangi is still
OF the range Of wireless communl
ton, and it is possible Mrs. Sc
widow Of the explorer, who is a 7
senger, has not yet been informed
her husbands sad end"