The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-06-07
'ShackeltOn Describes His
Many Hardships.
MEMBERS OF PARTY NARROWED
On Ice FIOeS-TerrifiC Billiards
and PrivatiOns In a Sea
Of Ice.
ALL ARE REPORTED AS SAVED

London, June "a long dispatch
from Lieut.. Sir Ernest Shackelton,
who has arrived at Port Stanley,
Falkland Islands, describes the mis-
fortunes which overlook his Antarc-
tic expedition. His ship, Endurance.
was, pierced by icebergs and sank in
the EWeddell Sea on November 90,
having been abandoned by all hands
on October %.
Shackelton and his crew reached
Elephant Island on April IA in boats
after a series of privations and suf-
ferings in the drift ice, several of
the party being then on the verge of
| physical collapse.
As far as is known not q single
man of the expedition lost his life,
but the anxiety will not be at an end
until all the men now marooned in
the South polar regions have been
/ accounted for. Lieut.. Shackelton's
story is narrative of conquest by
sheer courage and endurance of diff
ficulties as nearly insurmountable as
ever similar expedition encount-
cred.
The Endurance became wedged in
ice foes. while bergs lowered above
her as though they might at any mo-
| ment overwhelm the vessel. For
weexs on end the Endurance resist
ed the pressure. but by August it
was apparent she must be crushed
into a mass of splinters. The party
was then forced to make camp on
| one of the ice foes.
The little party of explorers found
themselves strangers in frozen
world of their own. They We're the
sole inhabitants of the field of ice.
Their only /sustenance was the small
supply of provisions taken from the
lost ship before she was abandoned,
and their only hope of safety was
residing in three small boats. Days
of danger followed. An attempt to
escape was foiled after a period of
fruitless effort. "At times" says
Shackelton, "the various units were
isolated on separate foes"
There was nothing to be done but
to retreat and await developments.
Patience Camp" was set up. and |
there these solitary men passed Feb
ruary and March of last year, slow
ly drifting north. Winter descend
ed on them. They saw the the de-
sired land at times, but could not
reach it. At length the foe on
which they were imprisoned split in !
pieces under the influence of the
swell, and the marooned men had to
take to their frail boats.
Another foe was selected for Il
nights rest, but it broke up under
their tent. Then came period OF
arduous boat work. The party was
threatened by wind. sea and ice un-
til. after many days and worn out by
hardships. they arrived at Elephant
Island on April II. A gale was
blowing, as though the elements had
determined that no man should
reach safety. But the haven was
eventually won.
bound. storm-swept spot in a land of
desolation. but even this sanctuary
was welcome to the explorers, who
had found II no easy matter to sup
port life. Then, owing to a shortage
of food. Lieut.. Shackelton determin-
ed to erdeayor to break through to
the known world. With a few of his
companions. not too exhausted to
undertake such further eXertion
and hardships as the effort promised
Shackelton braved the obstacles
and by sheer pluck, resource and
hard work won his end. reaching the
head of King Haakon Bay. On May
i9 he started across the Island Of
South Georgia. the interior Of which
had, 80 far as Is known, hitherto
not been tired by the foot of man.
In thirty-six hours of continuousl
march'ng shaesleion says he cover
ed thirtv miles over glaciers. across
maintain ridges and snow fields
from 1000 feet 10 4.oOO feet above
sea level, and then the stromme