Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-01
Message Received in London
Reveals Location of Ant
arctic Explorer.
EXPERIENCES TOLD
Remarkable Escape and Pre-.
diCament of Some in Elk
petition, Related.

London, June I, G:16 p. MA
further message received today from
Lieutenant Sir Ernest Shackleton, the
Antarctic explorer, whose arrival al
Port Stanley, Falkland islands, was
made known yesterday, shows that the
expedition had a remarkable escape.
After meeting with almost unprc-
cedented weather in the early part of
1915, the ieutenant's ship Ell Endur-
ance was badly nipped by great ice
bergs and afterwards foundered. Sir
Ernest succeeded in getting off all
his men and some stores. Terrible
privaaons were suffered. After most
hazardous journey the explorer
reached Elephant island. The scar
city OF food became so serious that he
decided to leave the greateF part of
his men while he set OFF for help. Ra-
tons for the men left behind were
stored in a hole dug in the ice.
Makes Unique Journey.
After a journey Of three weeks such
as probably is unique in the annals of
Antarctic expeditions, Sir Ernest
reached South Georgia. There he
sought the assistance of whalers for
the rescue Of the party on Elephant
island, but this proved 10 be impos-
sible owing to the prevalence OF I'M
favorable weather conditions.
The message says there is urgent
oF h11 Tn pa
In view Of the information received
from Lieutenant Shackleton the plans
of the government for sending a relief
expedition from England will be aban-
doned and a whaler will be sent from
the Falkland islands to rescue the ma
rooned men.
After a careful examination Of the
text Of Lieutenant Shackleton's orig
inal cable, Sir Douglas Mawson, the
explorer, said today:
Ship Crushed by Ice.
Instead OF drifting until April 9 of
this year, as has been suggested, it is
quite plain, the Endurance was stuck
in the ice foes from March of last
year until October 81, when the pres
sure became too great The Endur-
ance was crushed and sank on the lat
ter date in the middle of Weddell sea
Lieutenant Shackleton abandoned
the sinking ship, dragging the whale
boats and supplies on an ice foe, on
which he continued TO drift until
April of this year 1t appears that
having at that time reached open wa
ter the lieutenant and his compan-
ions launched a whaleboat and sailed
for Elephant island of the South Shet-
land group. arriving there April 10.
Makes Trip in Open Boat
There the lieutenant left % men
in an ice cave and proceeded with five
others in an open boat 10 South Geor-
gia island, where he hoped to meet
whaling vessels and thus get IN touch
with civilization. HIS voyage from the
South Shetlands to South Georgia, a
distance of 80 miles, IN an open z
foot boat, amid ice, was a hazardous
and remarkable feat, even for SO skill
ed navigator and seaman as Shack
Teton
The South Shetland islands are in
vested with much ice at this time OF
the year and it will not be easy to
reach the men on Elephant island
until later, though no doubt whalers
will be sent now from the Falklands
In an attempt to rescue them
ut IS understood Australia is send
ing relief party to reach the ~ men
who are stranded on the great barrer
on the Ross sea side, owing to the
breaking away of the auxiliary Au-
FORA, which was to have met the main
party when it emerged"