The Ely miner., 1929-11-22

feet were frozen. ne knew ne was
doomed, but he lost neither his cheer
fulness nor his determination
The Death of Oates.
SUNDAY, March IL. Titus Oates Is
very near the end, one feels. What
we or he will do, God only knows. We
discussed the matter after breakfast;
he Is a brave fine fellow and UNDER
stands the situation, but he practically
asked for advice. Nothing could be
said but to urge him to march as long
as he could One satisfactory result
of the discussion; practically ordered
Wilson TO hand over the means OF
ending our troubles to US, so that any
one of US may know how to do so.
so and our ransacking the medicine
case. We have 80 opium tabloids
apiece and he is left with tube Of
morphine"
He was dying on his feet. this
Oates, but he took ii standing up. He
lasted, a shell of a man, sustained only
by his soul, through the better part
Of a week-and kept moving.
Friday, March 16 or Saturday, II.
Lost track of dates but think the last
correct. At lunch the day before yes
terday, poor Titus Oates said he
couldn't go on; he proposed we should
leave him in his sleeping-bag. That
we could not do. and induced him to
come on. on the afternoon march
"Should this be found, l want these
facts recorded Oates last thoughts
were of his mother, but Immediately
before, he took pride in thinking that
his regiment would be pleased win
the bold way in which he met his
death. We can testify to his bravery.
He has borne intense suffering for
weeks without complaint. and to the
very last was able and willing to dis
cuss outside subjects. He did not
would not-give up hope to the very
end. . He slept through the
night before last. hoping not to wake;
but he woke in the morning-yester-
day. 1t was blowing blizzard He
said: I am just going outside and
may be some timer He went out into
the blizzard and we have not seen him
since"
1t seems to me those words. Il am
just going outside, and may be some
time," should be engraved on a shaft
to this young Britisher's memory, for
future generations TO read. Perhaps
they have been; anyhow, / hope so.
The Last to Perish.
Scott went on:
81 take this opportunity Of saying
that we have stuck TO our sick COM
paniOns to the last. In case Of Edgar
Evans, when absolutely out of food
and he lay insensible. the safety of
the remainder seemed TO demand his
abandonment. but Providence merciful-
ly removed him at this critical mo-
ment. We knew that poor Oates was
walking to his death. but though we
tried TO dissuade him, we knew il was
the act of a brave man and an English
end with similar spirit. and assur-
edly the end is not far"
Scott's turn to break came within
forty-eight hours. Indeed, all three Of
the survivors were AT the limit of their
strength. On Sunday, the eighteenth.
he made a significant entry. He was
as good as dead. but he kept his sense
of humor:
my right foot has gone. nearly al
the toes-two days ago I was the
proud possessor of the best feet. These
are the steps of my downfaIlI Like
an ass, / mixed a small spoonful of
curry powder with my melted penmi-
can't gave me violent indigestion.
lay awake and in pain all night: woke
and felt done on the march: foot went
and l didn't know it, very small
measure Of neglect and have a foot
which is not pleasant to contemplate"
Then next day, this.
"What progress! We have two days
food but barely a days fuel. All our
feet are getting bad-Wils0n's best, my
right foot worst. left all right.
Amputation is the least I can hope for
now. but will the trouble spread? That
is the serious question"
Thursday. March %. Since the
twenty-frst we have had a continuous
gale. We had fuel TO make two cups
Of tea apiece end bare food for two
days on the twentieth. Every day we
have been ready TO start for our depot
IL miles away, but outside the door
of the tent it remains a scene of
whirling drift. do not think we can
hope for any better things now. We
shall stick ii ont TO the end, but we
are getting weaker. of course and the
end cannot be far.
'It seems a pity, but do not think
| can write more.
"R- SCOTT.
For Gods sake look after our peo
pie"
When, eight months later, the res
cuers reached the last camp, Wilson
and Bowers were lying in the atti-
rude of peaceful sleep. their sleeping
bags closed over their heads. Scott,
the commander. must have been the
last to die. He had tossed back the
flaps of his sleeping bag and had
opened his coat. Under his shoulders,
as though placed there for protection.
was little wallet containing the three
scribbled notebooks which told the pitt
Gus story, ard from which the fore
going extracts were taken. One OF
his arms was flung across wilson's
body. 1t was as if with his last con-
seious thought he had sought to shield
his comrade