Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-01

LONDON, June 1.--Contnued and violent
gales were responsible for the failure Of the
Antarctic expedition headed by Sir Ernest
Shacketon. Following news of the safe ar
rival of Shackleton at Stanley, Falkland Is
lands details of the fate Of the exploration
ship Endurance were received today.
During the early part of last year unprec-
edented gales swept the ocean In the Ant
arctic regions. The Endurance was badly
battered by icebergs and finally foundered.
Shackleton succeeded in getting off all his
men and some stores, but terrible privations
were suffered and death by starvation
seemed near.
The 22 men with Shackleton had narrow
escape from death The trip made by Sir
Ernest and five companions In an open boat
from Elephant Island in the Shetland group
to South Georgia, was three weeks night
mare. Every hour the men were in the
shadow of death.
At South Georgia the explorer asked
whalers to go to the aid Of the 20 men
left behind in ice caverns, but the trip
could not be made on account of bad
weather.
Sir Ernest, upon his arrival at Stanley,
communicated first with King George and
then with Lady Shackleton. Up to noon
today the Royal Geographical Society had
received no word from the explorer. He
has been asked by cable to send further
details. His message addressed to the
PORT STANLEY. Falkland Islands, May
81. -rs-
81 have arrived here The Endurance
was crushed in the middle of Weddel sea
on October 81, 1915. She drifted 700 mles
in the ice until April this year, We land
ed on Elephant Island on April 16 I left
on April "a, leaving 22 men in hole in
the ice cliffs there and proceeded for help
toward South Georgia with five men In
22-foot boat,
"At the time of leaving the island all
were well but in urgent need Of rescue.
"sHACKLEToN."
Lady ShaclSleton was overjoyed.
81 am too happy to say anything at tzzis
time" she told newspaper men.
The welcome news of the safety ~
Shackleton and his men reached London
Immediately after a statement in the Hoast
Of Commons by Premier Asquith, The
Premier informed the House today that q
had been appointed by the Adj
miralty to consider methods Of organizing
q relief expedition to rescue ShaolSleton and
his men,
He added that Parliament would be
asked to vote the necessary funds for thak
purpose and that the expedition would hS
started with as little delay as possible
There had been much agitation for a res
lief expedition ever since the news of the
mishap TO the supply ship Aurora
The greatest relief is felt at Sir Ernest'u
safe return without the loss of a single
life, and 1t overshadows any disappointment
that might otherwise be felt at his having
been prevented from carrying out the plans
with which he started on the expedition,
Lieutenant Sir Ernest shaclletons exps.
ition had as an object the crossing Of the
continent from Weddell Sea to
Ross Sea. One section. including Sir Ernest.
sailed in the schooner Endurance from
Buenos Aires in October 1914. for Weddell
Sea. Another section proceeded from Tas-
mania by the steamer Aurora for Ross Sea,
where II was hoped Sir Ernest would Join Ii
after crossing the continent.
Early In the present year the Aurora re-
urnsd 10 New Zealand, having broksa
ldFift in the ice, Eight of her men were
ashore when the vessel broke away, and
iothlns had been heard from ShRckleton
md his companions at the Ross Sea base
The Falkland Islands lie of the coast OF
Argentina, and the fact that the section
u the expedition headed by Shaokleton
stuFhsd to its virtual point of departure
means that the expedition has failed In its
primary object, the crossing of the Ant
ITctic Continent. This might have been dus
o difficulties encountered on the Journey
0 the pole or the return Of Shacklaton TO
he South Atlantic may have resulted from
allure 10 meet with the second section of
he expedition proceeding from the opposite
Erection.
South asoFgls, 10 which shaekleten trav-
ted In an opsn boat, Is about SEQ miles
lortheast Of Elephant Island ana about
he same distance east Of the E'aIklanda