The Washington herald., 1914-03-22

what IL must have been to the member.
| OF the party who heard il first Of all
Commander Evans entry in the log of tbs
Terra Nova shows the grimness Of tn.
tragedy. II is dated January s.
The ship rapidly closed the beach. ant
| by the sudden lively movements of those
ashore we know that the Terra Nova had
been perceived. As We shoppcd engines
crowd collected before the hut and wC
could count nineteen men-it was an ex-
citing moment. The shore party gave
three cheers. to whirh the ships COM
panN replied. Espying Campbell. I shout
cd through a magaphOnc. Are YOU all
well. Campbell At this our friends on
shore became speechless. and after a
very marked hush which quite damped
our spirits. Campbell replied: The South
ern party reached the pole on January
u, last year. hut were lost on the return
journey. We have their records
The anchor was dropped: Campbell
and Atkinson Immediately came on and
told us in detail how misfortune after
misfortune had befallen our gallant leader
and his four brave comrades. We listenpi
sadly TO the story. and our feelings were
too deep to be described. We had actually
prepared the cabins for the reception Of
our lest companions, and il was with
infinite sadness that the beds were lIn-
mastheads. and those undelivered letters
scaled up for return to the wives and
mothers who had given so much in order
that their men might achieve"
So did Commander Evans first learn
the fate Of the captain whom he was
the last to see alive and whose end il
was his duty as the successor in COM
mand to cable TO the world Scott and
Evans were held closely together by so
ship, bonds Of kindred desires. hopes
and aspirations. bonds OF kindred
achievements and kindred sorrows-that
II is but natural that Evans of all men,
should be chosen for the daring duty of
telling the world OF what transpired
down in that Hell of Ice and Snow"
The deeds he tells are Of other men:
his own share in them must be guessed
by inference. Never parading his own
personality. he is ever on the lookout
that you get the full favor OF the per-
sonality of his friend; his story abOunds
In originality and shrewdness. in knowl-
edge OF the world. and in knowledge of
men: it contains many vivid and strik-
ing studies Of character: it is aglow with
the passion OF youth. tempered with tie |
weight of premature wisdom: with
love that is well-nigh taking to worship |
of his leader: in ii Is admiration for |
whatever was done by any and all of |
his fellow-sailors and radiant with de- |
light at the glorious achievement Of his |
lead brethren left down in the eternal |
SHOWS. He tells Of men who were not |
ashamed OF life nor of death.
Note: Thr following verses were writ
ten by DIR. Wilson for the South Pola-
Times. 1t was characteristic nf the man
that he sent them in typewriter. lest the
aditor should recognize his hand and
Judge them on personal rather than lit
.rary grounds Many of their reader :
confess that they felt in these lines VIII
sons own premonition of the event:
The silence was deep with brcath-like sleep
As our Ie,lge runners slid on the snow,
But IN. fstcfnl fall Of orr fur clad feet
Struck mute Ike silent blow
IN questioning Hush - the settling crust
shrank shivering over the foe.
Ind a voice that was thick from q soul that seemed
sick
Came back from the bauier-"Gol |,
'or the secrets hidden all forbidden
Till God means man to know
As 1t scorched and fruze through
hat we were the men God meant should know
The heart Of the barrier snow,
y the heat of the sun and the glow, In
And the Piarc from the glstening foe,
s It scurched and froze us through and through
With the bite Of the drifting snow II