Shackleton Tweets
Endurance Expedition
5: The Voyage of the James Caird to South Georgia

The events of the expedition: 1 - South Georgia to Midwinter 1915 | 2 - midwinter to the sinking of the Endurance | 3 - life on the ice | 4 - lifeboats to Elephant Island | 5 - rescue mission to South Georgia | 6 - rescue from Elephant Island

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Apr 18 1916
A tent blew down overnight, the men stayed in the folds, 2" of snow cover by morning, others were woken by the sea lapping at the tent edge.

Apr 18 1916
Awful day, the James Caird to be used as a tent, 2hrs to scrape the ice and snow out, nearby penguins had enough of the weather and left.

Apr 19 1916
Some are showing signs of demoralization, most not up until after 11a.m. a day gathering penguins in a blizzard that is getting worse.

Apr 20 1916
The physical and mental condition of some of the men is cause for concern, a boat journey is needed, no-one will look for us on Elephant Island.

Apr 20 1916
Shackleton is to make for South Georgia, 800 miles in the direction of the prevailing winds, he and 4 others including Worsley will take the James Caird.

Apr 21 1916
McNish and McCarthy are strengthening the James Caird, adding decks of canvas and salvaged wood, oil paints used for caulking, impeded by the blizzard.

Apr 22 1916
5th day of blizzard without respite, a tent cooker blew away to sea, unusually high tide, up in the dark to pull 2 boats higher up the shore.

Apr 22 1916
We have called our position Cape Wild, it is living up to its name, we are the first to set foot on this island.

Apr 23 1916
The James Caird is ready for launch as soon as the weather permits it, crew of Shackleton, Worsley, Crean, McNish, McCarthy and Vincent.

Apr 24 1916
James Caird launched at 11am in heavy surf, an oar used to push her from the gravel broke but a wave lifted and carried her, top heavy...

Apr 24 1916
...she rolled dumping McNish and Vincent in the sea, Worsley noticed her plug was out and she was in danger of sinking.

Apr 24 1916
100yds offshore, using the "Wills" as a tender, ballast, provisions, etc. were loaded, then drama as the Wills nearly lost.

Apr 24 1916
3 cheers from us and they were off, tiny boat on the open stormy ocean, they should make S. Georgia in 14 days.

Shackleton's party are now split, so Tweets will be prefaced by location as they progress.

Apr 25 1916
Elephant Island - Bay filled with pack, Shackleton left just in time. Orde-Lees and Wild at odds over catching penguins for food, Wild expects rescue in 14 days or so.

Apr 25 1916
James Caird - 10pm we left the last of the ice behind. Our journey seems set to be wet, cold and one of great discomfort, water breaks over the boat...

Apr 25 1916
James Caird - ...and runs down necks and backs, briefly it is warmed but 1/4" movement means contact with cold wet garments on the sides, sit still don't move.

Apr 25 1916
James Caird - 45 miles out, a cross sea is tumbling us about, 2-3 buckets of icy sea come over us with each motion, at least it helps stop seasickness.

Apr 26 1916
James Caird - We have been wagged like a dog's tail, shook like a flag in a gale and switchbacked over hills and dales. We are sore all over.

Apr 26 1916
James Caird - Hot milk every 4 hours at night, we fish reindeer hair from sleeping bags out of anything we eat. Set and reef sail, pump out, steer....

Apr 27 1916
Elephant Island - Wretched weather cold and rain, "This truly is a land where nature shows but her sullen moods", the position of nightwatch now abolished.

Apr 27 1916
James Caird - Worsley took an observation of the sun, a man each side holding him in place, all kneeling as the boat tumbled, good headway being made.

Apr 27 1916
James Caird - We crawl in semi-darkness under the decking, knees on ballast stones. The darkness is complete by 6pm, no light again until 7am.

Apr 27 1916
James Caird - Meals are our bright beacons in the cold and stormy days. The glow of warmth and comfort from the food and drink makes optimists of us all.

Apr 28 1916
James Caird - Part of our canvas cover has gone, this has curtailed the "saloon" but enlarged the "cockpit" easier to look out and appreciate the view.

Apr 28 1916
Elephant Island - We have built a hut, low stone walls using the two boats as a roof, we are all very weak for this laborious work.

Apr 29 1916
Elephant Island - Blizzard in the night helpfully showed where the hut is not weathertight, we woke up with a 6" covering of snow (inside it).

Apr 29 1916
James Caird - More 3 dimensional boat cavorting, these are the largest ocean swells in the world, 40-50ft from crest to hollow, 400-1000yds+ long.

Apr 29 1916
James Caird - Our boat takes most waves end on, the crests often curl right over, looking out we see a tunnel form as the crest of a big wave topples.

Apr 30 1916
James Caird - Made 92 miles yesterday, 78 today. Gale, sea and cold increased, took in the sails stored them below, riding the gale on the sea anchor.

Apr 30 1916
James Caird - Ice building up, had to dump 2 oars as they caught so much ice. Drank the black, smelly, seal oil we had to calm the sea for its calories.

May 1 1916
Elephant Island - Brought stove into hut and stank it out with rank blubber smoke, bad idea. Weather meant partial drying possible. Bagged 70 penguins.

May 1 1916
James Caird - The gale is holding, difficult to write. All is wet, sleeping bags on the edge of fermentation, oh for a hot bath, clean dry clothes..

May 1 1916
James Caird - Boat riding deep with weight of a 15" casing of ice, threatening to capsize, took it in turns to crawl out and hack it off, 4-5mins each.

May 2 1916
James Caird - Ice at the bow has chafed the rope to the sea anchor and we have lost both, it seems a disaster, our fierce gale has lasted 48hrs so far.

May 2 1916
James Caird - 3 times we have each had to crawl on top of the boat to hack and scrape away ice build up, all agree it is the worst job of our lives.

May 3 1916
James Caird - McCarthy at being relieved at the helm, boat iced over and seas pouring down our necks "It's a foine day sorr" an irrepressible optimist.

May 4 1916
James Caird - Worsley was cramped after a spell at the tiller, dragged him below massaging him so he could unbend himself and get into a sleeping-bag.

May 4 1916
James Caird - Shackleton shouted "It's clearing boys - For God's sake hold on! It's got us!" what he thought was the sky was the crest of a huge breaking wave.

May 4 1916
James Caird - The boat was flung like a cork, the world became one of white foam, we baled for our lives, slowly we felt the boat live again beneath us.

May 5 1916
James Caird - A reading from the sun puts us at 444 miles, over half way. The first good day since we left, managed to dry sleeping bags, now damp not wet.

May 5 1916
Elephant Island - We have only a small area to walk about, to warm our feet especially, one always meets the same people, they are so dirty looking too.

May 6 1916
James Caird - We are about 100 miles from South Georgia, maybe 2 days away. Mouths dry, tongues swollen we must conserve the little water we have.

May 7 1916
James Caird - Time passes in a sort of nightmare, thirst is all, hoosh twice a day with one cup of hot milk in the long bitter watch of the night.

May 8 1916
James Caird - We passed a small piece of kelp and then a large mass with 2 shags, a sure sign that land is within 15 miles, the sea is lumpy and wets us.

May 8 1916
James Caird - "Land ho!" a black crag seen by McCarthy through flying spume and mist, foolish grins all round. Rocks make waves break foam to 30-40ft.

May 8 1916
James Caird - Cannot land, heavy sea, hidden reefs, unchartered shore, we hove to overnight 18 miles offshore, a hard gale, snow, sleet - disappointment.

May 9 1916
James Caird - Wallowing in a terrible sea, mountainous swell and furious winds conspiring to take us to our destruction.

May 9 1916
James Caird - Noon - the gale has risen to hurricane force, we rapidly scan the coast when we rise on the towering swell, almost becalmed in the hollows.

May 9 1916
James Caird - The boat fell, planks opened and lines of water spurted through every seam, halt, tremble and again! 1 steers, 4 pump and bale, 1 stands by.

May 9 1916
James Caird - For 3 hours we have looked death square in the eye. At which spot on the hellish rock bound coast will our end come? Thirst almost forgotten.

May 9 1916
James Caird - Darkness settled, the wind abated, for 9hrs we have fought a hurricane. We freed the boat of water, thirst returned and we were able to sleep.

May 10 1916
James Caird - Struggling to get some ice to drink, and to shore against the wind and tide which are too strong to row against, had a poor breakfast and no lunch.

May 10 1916
James Caird - Tacked into the wind 4hrs, made no gain, by sheer hard rowing as well, we drew nearer. The wind blows stronger, we may be driven to sea again.

May 10 1916
James Caird - Evening arrived, we saw a cove with a possible landing, we beached as it got dark and fell into pools of running water, we drank and drank.

May 10 1916
James Caird - Clumsy with cold, exhaustion and swollen numb feet we emptied the boat. Hot milk, hot hoosh, up half the night saving the boat from the sea.

May 11 1916
James Caird - King Haakon Bay South Georgia - camped in a cave fronted with 15ft icicles, fireplace, beds of grass, we feast on albatross chicks and recover.

May 12 1916
Ernest Shackleton - Must push on to Stromness, 22 men are waiting for rescue, the James Caird is weakened and the rudder lost when landing.

May 13 1916
South Georgia - Shackleton and Worsley went to scout the area and determine our next move, they returned with seal blubber and liver, treasures indeed!

May 14 1916
South Georgia - Making preparations for an early start tomorrow, we cannot strike inland from our landing and must move around the coast before we do so.

May 15 1916
South Georgia - Launching the boat sighted our rudder in the surf, returned capriciously as it was taken a few days ago, set off singing like a picnic party.

May 15 1916
South Georgia - A fine day, bowled along at 7kts, action again! Landed next to 1/2 acre of driftwood, 4-8ft high in places, plentiful sea elephants for food.

May 16 1916
South Georgia - We call our upturned boat Peggoty Camp covered with tussock and moss it looks like an Irish turfed hut, small sled made for the crossing.

May 16 1916
Elephant Island - Our bay fills and empties with pack regularly, penguins abundant, if it freezes our food supply could disappear.

May 17 1916
South Georgia - Another stormy day, we need fine weather and the moon full as it is now to attempt the 17 mile crossing, anxious we may miss the window.

May 17 1916
South Georgia - Shackleton Crean and Worsley to make the crossing, McCathy to stay with Vincent and McNish who are still weak from the boat journey, we wait.

May 18 1916
South Georgia - Prepared gear, hauled sledge to starting glacier, too heavy so left it, McNish put brass screws from the boat in our boot soles for grip.

May 18 1916
South Georgia - Set off tomorrow, no-one has ever ventured more than a mile inland on SG. McCarthy the only well man remaining, the others are incapable.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - Up at 2am, hoosh and off under the moon and clear sky, heavy going as we sink to our ankles in snow at each step.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - Daybreak, 3000ft up headed down to a huge fog-edged frozen lake, light revealed it to be the sea, about turn, 2 hours to regain our position.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - We travel over an undulating sheet of snow and ice, spacious grandeur, clear air, silence other than the crunch of snow and swish of rope.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - Rare sensation of uncomfortable heat as the sun beats fiercely on the blinding white snow-slopes, must lose height before the fog catches us.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - Pressed on by fog, cold and closing dark down a steep slope, we slid the last part, never so scared in out lives! lost 2-3000ft in 2-3mins.

May 19 1916
South Georgia - Trousers suffered the most, now in rags. We continue through the night, Shackleton insists on breaking the trail, his teamwork is pulling us through.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - 5am huddled together to sleep, Crean, Worsley gone in a min Shackleton stayed awake, woke them after 5min and said it was 30 the effect was the same.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - A steep slope and a gap in the jagged peaks, Stromness Bay 12 miles away, no chance of losing our way now, it was 6.55am.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - At 7a.m. the whaling station whistle, Shackleton - "Never did music sound so sweet to our ears as that whistle", we shook hands, men, ships, rescue!

May 20 1916
Ernest Shackleton - Boys, this snow-slope seems to end in a precipice, but perhaps there is no precipice. If we don't go down we shall have to make....

May 20 1916
South Georgia - ...a detour of at least five miles before we reach level going What shall it be?" Both at once, "Try the slope." more trouser damage ensued.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - 1.15pm, 3000ft, looking down to Stromness Bay, down a valley and through the beastly icy cold water of a stream, we came to a 50ft waterfall.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - Going back unthinkable, we fixed the rope and one by one lowered through the falling frigid water, shivering but hearts singing, just 1.5 miles.

May 20 1916
South Georgia - Beards long, hair matted, unwashed, tattered and stained clothes worn for nearly a year, unwittingly scared off two small boys and a old man.

May 20 1916
Ernest Shackleton - "We have lost our ship and come over the island - My name is Shackleton" - Mr Sorlle's hospitality had no bounds, food, clothes, warm, clean.

May 20 1916
Ernest Shackleton - "We had seen God in His splendours, heard the text that Nature renders. We had reached the naked soul of man." - Ernest Shackleton.

May 21 1916
South Georgia - Worsley sailed with a whaler to Peggotty Camp for McCarthy, McNish and Vincent who didn't recognise him spruced and shaven until he spoke.

May 22 1916
South Georgia - Shackleton arranged for whaler Southern Sky to go to Elephant Island. The Norwegians all wanted the honour of hauling her up for Shackleton.

May 22 1916
South Georgia - pm - delegation of old captains and sailors spoke, in 40 years never had they heard such a tale of the journey from Elephant Island "These are men!".

May 22 1916
Elephant Island - Every morning Wild starts with "Lash up and stow! Roll up your bags boys, The Boss may come today." - the food we brought is running out.

May 23 1916
South Georgia - 9am Shackleton sailed on the Southern Sky to rescue the stranded men, uneventful at first though the temperature fell from noon onwards.

 

Next page:  6 - rescue from Elephant Island

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Credits, sources and references

Diaries - the diaries of expedition members were as sources of information and quotes to inform this narrative of the expedition.

    Ernest Shackleton - South! - at Project Gutenberg
    Thomas Orde-Lees - see book links below
    Frank Worsley - see book links below
    Frank Hurley - link
    Harry McNeish (Henry McNish) - link

Pictures - from a variety of sources particular credit to:

    State Library of New South Wales - link
    National Library of Australia - link
    National Library of New Zealand - link
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - link

 

  Ernest Shackleton Books and Video