The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-03
Total Abstinence Will Be OBJ
served BY Sir Ernest ShackIe-
ton and Party
TEA. COCOA STlMULANTS
Sugar Will Figure Largely In
The Rations- Men Between
Is and 40 Will Compose the
Party Biggest Undertaking
Ever Attempted In Polar Ex-
pI0rati0n

pIUt dtiUtl
London, Feb. 2S.-Totai abstinence
observed during Sir Ernest
Shackleton's trip across the couNh
polar continent. He and his men
propose to work long hours, includ-
ing eight u marching every day,
but for stimulant they will rely OF
nothing stronger than tea or oco
tea will be taken at midday to
refresh the men for afternoon march, |
and the cocoa the last thing at night
to preserve the body heat during the
hours Of sleep. Sugar will figure
largely in the rations. On his last
expedition Sir Ernest and his com-l
panions took two OF three Jumps of
sugar every two or three hours and
he says ten minutes after eating they
could feel the heat going thu ough
their bodies.
The men thus far chosen for the
expedition are between 80 and Al
years of age. Shackleton who is 80
believes that men are at their best
between Is and 40. A man, he says,
does not reach his full strength until
he is rs, and whatever may be the
superiority of youth in the way OF
spring, nerve n enthusiasm, these
do not weigh against the staying
power Of an older man or the bal
anced judgment Of one who has ex-
perience behind him.
The working day arranged for the
trans-cOntinental party calls for an
hour of preparation after waking,
then q four hour march, al hours
rest, and another four hour march.
Sleep time, which in previous trips
has been observed between 6 p. m.
and & q M will hn ont IN aiOhf hn11fC
Greatest Polar Undertaking.
Sir Ernest is busy arranging for
details of the expedition, which is re-
garded as the biggest undertaking
ever attempted in polar exploration,
since the distance to traverse from
Weddell Sea to Ross Sea is 100
miles. At first ShackletOn proposed
to return from the South Pole to
Ross Sea by one Of three routes, that
taken by Scott in his illfated ex-
petition, or by in his sue
cessful one, or a new one known as
the western route, crossing the grea'
range of the Victoria chain Of noun
tains. 1t has since been decided tina,
unless conditions prevent the expe
dition will avoid the two routes an6
!, come out either through the Victoria
range or by a route to the eastward
OF Amundsen's track. If this can b.
! done the expedition will open Ell
) tirely new ground.
[ This greatly increases the dificul
ties and dangers OF the journey 70
: the party will not have the a van
tage of a, chain of food depots which
I proved such a material aid to thei
Z predecessors. They will however
3 be helped BY the our Of scienc
r to a degree never dreamt OF by Sorm
err explorers. The expedition will b
|, assisted by q wireless .nstallatiol
q - r-i11 Ivoop, - in tII,EI ~ ~
e base for most Of the time and will be
sides have ~aeroplane sledges.
Use Two Steamers.
Two steamers will support the eS
petition. A Norwegian steamer, 70
Va which negotiations nave been opened
will take Sir Ernest and his party
q the Weddell Sea, while the Auror;
which has seen much Antartic servic
n will go to the Ross "a to pick theI
I'D when they have accomplish
q their journey.
Is The first steamer will leave BuenG
Aires some time in October II pus
TO the Antartic, Teaching if po~-ibI
IS degrees south latitude, where
4 good landing place was found by TT
at German expedition. If the ice col
ditions are favorable, winter quartel
e. will be established, depots laid OF
C. and tbs start made the following Sc:
son.
ar In the meantime the Aurora w
is have started from New Zealand
,u land a party in the Ross Sea to me
in the transcontinental party. S
If Ernest believes that the trip can
III scconplished* in five months b
or should the obstacles be insurmount
ble he will have the base in Wedde
x. Sea to fall back upon. The first pa
on of the trip, that from Weddell Sea
ou the pole, is giving the explorer mo
re serious thought. @The distance
Ike about 500 miles and through an e
tirely u~nexplored region. The par
a have no data whatever to g, up
but believe that ' the do@ whi'