Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-04-05
THRILLING STORY OF
SHACEELTON'S EIPEDI-
ton TO SOUTH POLE

LONDON. April 3.-Cable dispatches
tonight from Dunedin. N. T.. give
Lieutenant Stenhouse's stirring story
OF the disaster TO the Snackleton sup
ply ship in Ross sea. II was in a bliz-
zard in May, 1915. when she Was
blown away from the base there.
On April % the sun disappeared and
blizzards continued with increasing
violence. A remarkable comet was OBJ
served on May over the northern
slopes OF Mount Erebus. The length
OF the tail was ten degrees. The COM
cts position was observed subsequent
ly by Stenhouse during the early part
of the drift.
BY May heavy ice had formed
around the ship and prospects, OF a
final freeze-up seemed favorable. Then
a blizzard of terrific violence blew the
ice from the shore functions.
The ship held about two square
miles in ice in the moorings for sew
eral hours. but at $3.50 p. m. all the
swept out in a rapidly breaking up
pack to the northwest OF McMurdo
| sound.
Prompt Measures Taken.
Prompt measures were taken to in
sure the safety Of the ship, steam be-
ing Immediately raised. The ice pack
began to back up around the ship TO
the height OF the rails, the seacocks
became frozen and great difficulty was
experienced in getting water for the
boiler.
On May Cape Bird was sighted
and Cape Barney was visible. High
pressure was taking the ship to the
harbor side. Wireless aerials were
sent aloft on May 8. the mast having
been fitted the day the ship broke
adrift. Lieutenant Stenhouse's diary
for May 8. records:
There is little prospect OF getting
back to Cape Evans or anywhere in
the sound, as we are short Of coal. l
hope the ship drifts quickly to the
northeast. Then we can endeavor to
push through the pack and make for
New Zealand, coal and and return TO
; the barrier east Of Cape Crozier.
This could, think, be done in the
early spring"
! Severe Billiards Encountered.
j About this time very severe bliz-
yards were experienced, after which
they had normal weather for two
} months. y
On May IL large, tubular berg was
sighted ten miles to the north; tbs
berg remained in view throughout the
} drift They eventually got the moor
, ing chains and other tackle on board,
after much difficulty with the fast-ee-
, menting ice, and drifted, surrounded
by heavy Ice. northward at the rate of
two miles per day.
During this time the problem OF
getting fresh water had to be solved
by various devices. The steward used
to take man With him and, going out
upon the ice, scrape a thin layer Of
snow for cooking purposes. The con-
denser WAS also utilized, but the short
3 age Of fuel prevented Its general us,.
Toward the end of the month
sledges were prepared for use in case
It became necessary to leave the ship.
There was tremendous Ice pressure at
) this time.
Dealing with plans he ha1 made in
{ this eventually, Stenhouse wrote in
his diary:
"Jf the ship Ia nipped In the Ice, the
ships company Of eighteen hands will
take four sledges and one months IA.
tions and make for the nearest land.
Six men with one sledge will try to
get to Cape Evans via Western land
Butler point and Hut point while the
remaining twelve come along with all
3 possible speed.
FL There are to be no forced marches
but we are to kill and store penguinH
and seals for emergency rations. II
the ship remains here and there is nc
Z further drift to the north toward the
end of July, the sea and ice being
8 fairly safe, the party could proceed tc
& Cape Evans on months ra.ions. II
Z the ice sets north and the ship coult
= clear of land, we can proceed to New
Z Zealand TO coal.
z we could got an extra officer. foul
Z volunteers, provisions, ETC., and ther
3 push south with all speed to the bar
3 rier. We could put party upon tn,
Z Continued on Page FoaF)