The Elbert County tribune., 1913-02-21
CAPTAIN SCOTT TELLS CAUSES OF FAILURE
ExPLoRERs FURTHER DETAILS
OF LOSS OF PARTv-eRAvE WITHIN ELEVEN
WHERE FOOD
we.tern Newspaper Union News Service

western NeWBpaper UNION No"s oer'ace-
London.-During the terrible days
Immediately preceding his own death
and that of his four companions, Cap
tain Robert F. Scott, realizing that
escape was hopeless, wrote the follow
Ing message to the world. The docu-
ment, which is believed to have been
finished on the day he died. reads:
MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC:
"The causes OF this disaster are not
due to faulty organization. but to mis-
fortune In all risks that had to be un-
dertaken.
"First-The loss of the pony trans
port in March, 1911, obliged me to
start later than had intended, and
obliged the limit of the stuff trans
ported to be narrowed.
"Second-The weather throughout
the outward journey, especially the
long gale in SO degrees south. stopped
us; the soft snow in the lower reaches
of Beardmore glacier again reduced
the pace. We fought these untoward
events with will and conquered. but 1T
ate our provision reserve. Every de-
tail of food supplies. clothing and de-
pots made on interior Ice sheet and
on that long stretch OF 800 miles to
the pole and back, worked out to per-
fection.
"The advance party would have re-
turned to the glacier in fine form and
with surplus of food. but for the as
tonishing failure of the man whom we
had least expected to fail. Seaman
Evans was thought to be the strong
man of the party, and Beardmore gla-
cier is not difficult in fine weather.
but on our return we did not get a
single completely fine day. and this,
with sick companion, enormously in
creased our difficulties. We got into
frightfully rough ice and Evans re-
ceived concussion of the brain. He
died a natural death, but left us a
shaken party with the season unduly
advanced.
But all the facts enumerated were
as nothing to the surprise that await
ed us on the barrier. / maintain that
our arrangements for returning were
quite adequate. and that no one in the
world would have expected the tenn
perature and surface which we en-
countered at this time of the year.
On the summit in latitude s5 degrees
to latitude Sc degrees. we had minus
20 to minus 80.
"On the barrier, in latitude S2-10,-
900 feet lower-we had minus 80 dur
ing the day and minus AZ at night pret-
ty regularly, with continuous head
wind during the day marches. These
circumstances came on very suddenly
and our wreck was certainly due to
this sudden advent of severe weather,
for which there was no satisfactory
cause.
81 do not think human beings ever
came through such months as we have
come through. and we should have got
through In spite of the weather but
for the sickening of our mates and the
shortage of fuel in our depots. for
which I cannot account, and finally
but for the storm which has fallen on
IS within eleven miles of this depot,
at which we hoped to secure final sup
plies.
Surely misfortune could scarcely
have exceeded this last blow. We ar
rived within eleven miles of our old
One Ton camp with fuel for one hot
meal, food for two days. For four days
we have been unable to leave the tent,
and gale has been blowing about US.
We are weak. Writing is difficult.
But for my own sake 1 do not re-
gret this journey, which has shown us
that Englishmen can endure hardship,
help one another and meet death with
as great fortitude as ever in the past.
We took risks. We knew we took
them. Things have come out against
us and therefore we have no cause for
complaint. but bow to the will of Prov
idence, determined still to do our best
to the last.
"But II we have been willing to give
our lives to this enterprise, which is
for the honor of our country, I appeal
to our countrymen to see that those
who depend upon us are properly
cared for. Had we lived should have
had a tale to tell of the hardihood,
endurance and courage of my COM
panions which would have stirred the
hearts Of all Englishmen.
"These rough notes on our dead
bodies must tell the tale, but surely a
great, rich country like ours will see
that those who depend upon US are
properly provided for.
(Signed) "R. SCOTT.
March rs. 1872"