Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-01
DEATH ENDS THE SEARCH.
The sudden death of Sir

The sudden death of Sir Ernest Shackleton
which has just been announced has shocked the
trends OF the great, explorer who gave up his life
while on his way to the antarctic continent to con-
tinue the work which, during a long course of years,
has made him famous. Apparently no such sudden
ending was even remotely anticipated. as the explor-
CT is reported to have been in apparent good health
until within a few hours Of his death. The ship upon
which he was making his voyage to the Far South
had stopped at Rio and also at one or two other
southern calling places, and had started for the ice
bound fields which surround the great frozen CONT
nent of the south.
Exploration combines the spirit Of adventure
with that Of scientific. investigation. No man who
has gone into the great unknown regions of the Far
North or South has come back without adding
something to the sum of human knowledge. In
some cases that was the main object of his expedi-
ton. In other cases the adventure undoubtedly stood
forth most prominent. No scientist without the spir-
lit of adventure in him would undertake or could
carry through such an exploration, nor would any
adventurer be able to conduct such an expedition
successfully without the equipment which the scion
tific knowledge gives.
Sir Ernest Shackleton has spent the greater
part Of his lifetime in southern exploration. He has
mapped the outlines of large portions of the great
I%icebund continent. He travelled extensively upon
its surface, and at one time came within a short dis
lance of the south pole. The purpose of the expe-
dition upon which he was just now embarked was
to conduct a more elaborate survey than had former
ly been conducted. Enough is known of the antarc-
tic continent to warrant the belief that its more thor
ough exploration will yield much material returns.
OF exactly what nature is of course a matter of
speculation. Running through it are great noun
tain ranges which are known to contain minerals in
considerable quantities. Goal is also present, and
the possibility of oil reservoirs is also given much
attention. 1t is conceivable that deposits of these
kinds may exist in that territory in immense guam
titles, and that still the human race will not be able
to avail themselves of these supplies for a long time.
to come. Nevertheless, human enterprise and re-
sourcefulness have overcome many obstacles, and il:
is not reasonable to suppose that once the existence
of vast quantities of material needed in the prosecu-
ton of human: industry. is established, those sup.
plies will be allowed to remain forever withheld
from human use by the frigid character OF the terri
tory in which they exist. Shackleton's purpose on
this expedition was to explore a great deal Of the I'M
known ~coastlinc of the continent, and then to travel
into the interior, making observations as opportuni-
ty might afford, to establish the means whereby fur
Their and still more detailed explorations might be
conducted in future. Ali of this is brought to an
end by his suddensdeath. AT thisftime no indication
is given as to what shall be done with the expedi-
tionary force which he had Observation-Disclosures
Is to continue its journey to the south under other
leadership or to return home. In any event. the
death of the great explorer will be a source Of keen
regret throughout civilization. 4