Chapter 20 - THE LAST MARCH
Scott's Last Expedition
- The Journals of Captain R. F. Scott
Contents
and Preface Chapters:
Chapter 1
| Chapter
2 | Chapter
3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter
5 | Chapter
6 | Chapter
7 | Chapter
8 | Chapter
9 | Chapter
10 |
Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12
| Chapter
13 |
Chapter 14 |
Chapter 15
| Chapter
16 |
Chapter 17 |
Chapter 18
| Chapter
19 |
Chapter 20
| Appendix
Summary
(2 pages) of the Terra
Nova Expedition |
The Men of
the Expedition
Sunday, February 18
R. 32. Temp. -5.5°.
At Shambles Camp. We gave ourselves 5 hours' sleep at the lower
glacier depot after the horrible night, and came on at about
3 to-day to this camp, coming fairly easily over the divide.
Here with plenty of horsemeat we have had a fine supper, to
be followed by others such, and so continue a more plentiful
era if we can keep good marches up. New life seems to come with
greater food almost immediately, but I am anxious about the
Barrier surfaces.
Monday, February 19
Lunch T. -16°. It was late (past noon) before we got away
to-day, as I gave nearly 8 hours sleep, and much camp work was
done shifting sledges [44] and fitting up new one with mast, &c.,
packing horsemeat and personal effects. The surface was every
bit as bad as I expected, the sun shining brightly on it and
its covering of soft loose sandy snow. We have come out about
2' on the old tracks. Perhaps lucky to have a fine day for this
and our camp work, but we shall want wind or change of sliding
conditions to do anything on such a surface as we have got.
I fear there will not be much change for the next 3 or 4 days.
R. 33. Temp. -17°. We have struggled out 4.6 miles in
a short day over a really terrible surface--it has been like
pulling over desert sand, not the least glide in the world.
If this goes on we shall have a bad time, but I sincerely trust
it is only the result of this windless area close to the coast
and that, as we are making steadily outwards, we shall shortly
escape it. It is perhaps premature to be anxious about covering
distance. In all other respects things are improving. We have
our sleeping-bags spread on the sledge and they are drying,
but, above all, we have our full measure of food again. To-night
we had a sort of stew fry of pemmican and horseflesh, and voted
it the best hoosh we had ever had on a sledge journey. The absence
of poor Evans is a help to the commissariat, but if he had been
here in a fit state we might have got along faster. I wonder
what is in store for us, with some little alarm at the lateness
of the season.
Monday, February 20
R. 34. Lunch Temp. -13°; Supper Temp. -15°. Same terrible
surface; four hours' hard plodding in morning brought us to
our Desolation Camp, where we had the four-day blizzard. We
looked for more pony meat, but found none. After lunch we took
to ski with some improvement of comfort. Total mileage for day
7--the ski tracks pretty plain and easily followed this afternoon.
We have left another cairn behind. Terribly slow progress, but
we hope for better things as we clear the land. There is a tendency
to cloud over in the S.E. to-night, which may turn to our advantage.
At present our sledge and ski leave deeply ploughed tracks which
can be seen winding for miles behind. It is distressing, but
as usual trials are forgotten when we camp, and good food is
our lot. Pray God we get better travelling as we are not fit
as we were, and the season is advancing apace.
Tuesday, February 21
R. 35. Lunch Temp.
-9 1/2°; Supper Temp. -11°. Gloomy and overcast when
we started; a good deal warmer. The marching almost as bad as
yesterday. Heavy toiling all day, inspiring gloomiest thoughts
at times. Rays of comfort when we picked up tracks and cairns.
At lunch we seemed to have missed the way, but an hour or two
after we passed the last pony walls, and since, we struck a
tent ring, ending the march actually on our old pony-tracks.
There is a critical spot here with a long stretch between cairns.
If we can tide that over we get on the regular cairn route,
and with luck should stick to it; but everything depends on
the weather. We never won a march of 8 1/2 miles with greater
difficulty, but we can't go on like this. We are drawing away
from the land and perhaps may get better things in a day or
two. I devoutly hope so.
Wednesday, February
22
R. 36. Supper Temp. -2°. There is little
doubt we are in for a rotten critical time going home, and the
lateness of the season may make it really serious. Shortly after
starting to-day the wind grew very fresh from the S.E. with
strong surface drift. We lost the faint track immediately, though
covering ground fairly rapidly. Lunch came without sight of
the cairn we had hoped to pass. In the afternoon, Bowers being
sure we were too far to the west, steered out. Result, we have
passed another pony camp without seeing it. Looking at the map
to-night there is no doubt we are too far to the east. With
clear weather we ought to be able to correct the mistake, but
will the weather get clear? It's a gloomy position, more especially
as one sees the same difficulty returning even when we have
corrected the error. The wind is dying down to-night and the
sky clearing in the south, which is hopeful. Meanwhile it is
satisfactory to note that such untoward events fail to damp
the spirit of the party. To-night we had a pony hoosh so excellent
and filling that one feels really strong and vigorous again.
Thursday, February 23
R. 37. Lunch Temp.-9.8°;
Supper Temp. -12°. Started in sunshine, wind almost dropped.
Luckily Bowers took a round of angles and with help of the chart
we fogged out that we must be inside rather than outside tracks.
The data were so meagre that it seemed a great responsibility
to march out and we were none of us happy about it. But just
as we decided to lunch, Bowers' wonderful sharp eyes detected
an old double lunch cairn, the theodolite telescope confirmed
it, and our spirits rose accordingly. This afternoon we marched
on and picked up another cairn; then on and camped only 2 1/2
miles from the depot. We cannot see it, but, given fine weather,
we cannot miss it. We are, therefore, extraordinarily relieved.
Covered 8.2 miles in 7 hours, showing we can do 10 to 12 on
this surface. Things are again looking up, as we are on the
regular line of cairns, with no gaps right home, I hope.
Friday, February 24
Lunch. Beautiful
day--too beautiful--an hour after starting loose ice crystals
spoiling surface. Saw depot and reached it middle forenoon.
Found store in order except shortage oil 26 --shall have to
be very saving with fuel--otherwise have ten full days' provision
from to-night and shall have less than 70 miles to go. Note
from Meares who passed through December 15, saying surface bad;
from Atkinson, after fine marching (2 1/4 days from pony depot),
reporting Keohane better after sickness. Short note from Evans,
not very cheerful, saying surface bad, temperature high. Think
he must have been a little anxious. [45] It is an immense relief
to have picked up this depot and, for the time, anxieties are
thrust aside. There is no doubt we have been rising steadily
since leaving the Shambles Camp. The coastal Barrier descends
except where glaciers press out. Undulation still but flattening
out. Surface soft on top, curiously hard below. Great difference
now between night and day temperatures. Quite warm as I write
in tent. We are on tracks with half-march cairn ahead; have
covered 4 1/2 miles. Poor Wilson has a fearful attack snow-blindness
consequent on yesterday's efforts. Wish we had more fuel.
Night camp R. 38. Temp. -17°. A little despondent again.
We had a really terrible surface this afternoon and only covered
4 miles. We are on the track just beyond a lunch cairn. It really
will be a bad business if we are to have this pulling all through.
I don't know what to think, but the rapid closing of the season
is ominous. It is great luck having the horsemeat to add to
our ration. To-night we have had a real fine 'hoosh.' It is
a race between the season and hard conditions and our fitness
and good food.
Saturday, February 25
Lunch Temp. -12°. Managed just 6 miles this morning. Started
somewhat despondent; not relieved when pulling seemed to show
no improvement. Bit by bit surface grew better, less sastrugi,
more glide, slight following wind for a time. Then we began
to travel a little faster. But the pulling is still very hard;
undulations disappearing but inequalities remain.
Twenty-six
Camp walls about 2 miles ahead, all tracks in sight--Evans'
track very conspicuous. This is something in favour, but the
pulling is tiring us, though we are getting into better ski
drawing again. Bowers hasn't quite the trick and is a little
hurt at my criticisms, but I never doubted his heart. Very much
easier--write diary at lunch--excellent meal--now one pannikin
very strong tea--four biscuits and butter.
Hope for better
things this afternoon, but no improvement apparent. Oh! for
a little wind--E. Evans evidently had plenty.
R. 39.
Temp. -20°. Better march in afternoon. Day yields 11.4 miles--the
first double figure of steady dragging for a long time, but
it meant and will mean hard work if we can't get a wind to help
us. Evans evidently had a strong wind here, S.E. I should think.
The temperature goes very low at night now when the sky is clear
as at present. As a matter of fact this is wonderfully fair
weather--the only drawback the spoiling of the surface and absence
of wind. We see all tracks very plain, but the pony-walls have
evidently been badly drifted up. Some kind people had substituted
a cairn at last camp 27. The old cairns do not seem to have
suffered much.
Sunday, February 26
Lunch Temp. -17°. Sky overcast at start, but able see tracks
and cairn distinct at long distance. Did a little better, 6
1/2 miles to date. Bowers and Wilson now in front. Find great
relief pulling behind with no necessity to keep attention on
track. Very cold nights now and cold feet starting march, as
day footgear doesn't dry at all. We are doing well on our food,
but we ought to have yet more. I hope the next depot, now only
50 miles, will find us with enough surplus to open out. The
fuel shortage still an anxiety.
R. 40. Temp. -21°
Nine hours' solid marching has given us 11 1/2 miles. Only 43
miles from the next depot. Wonderfully fine weather but cold,
very cold. Nothing dries and we get our feet cold too often.
We want more food yet and especially more fat. Fuel is woefully
short. We can scarcely hope to get a better surface at this
season, but I wish we could have some help from the wind, though
it might shake us badly if the temp. didn't rise.
Monday, February 27
Desperately cold last
night: -33° when we got up, with -37° minimum. Some
suffering from cold feet, but all got good rest. We must open
out on food soon. But we have done 7 miles this morning and
hope for some 5 this afternoon. Overcast sky and good surface
till now, when sun shows again. It is good to be marching the
cairns up, but there is still much to be anxious about. We talk
of little but food, except after meals. Land disappearing in
satisfactory manner. Pray God we have no further set-backs.
We are naturally always discussing possibility of meeting dogs,
where and when, &c. It is a critical position. We may find
ourselves in safety at next depot, but there is a horrid element
of doubt.
Camp R. 41. Temp. -32°. Still fine clear
weather but very cold--absolutely calm to-night. We have got
off an excellent march for these days (12.2) and are much earlier
than usual in our bags. 31 miles to depot, 3 days' fuel at a
pinch, and 6 days' food. Things begin to look a little better;
we can open out a little on food from to-morrow night, I think.
Very curious surface--soft recent sastrugi which sink underfoot,
and between, a sort of flaky crust with large crystals beneath.
Tuesday, February 28
Lunch. Thermometer
went below -40° last night; it was desperately cold for
us, but we had a fair night. I decided to slightly increase
food; the effect is undoubtedly good. Started marching in -32°
with a slight north-westerly breeze--blighting. Many cold feet
this morning; long time over foot gear, but we are earlier.
Shall camp earlier and get the chance of a good night, if not
the reality. Things must be critical till we reach the depot,
and the more I think of matters, the more I anticipate their
remaining so after that event. Only 24 1/2 miles from the depot.
The sun shines brightly, but there is little warmth in it. There
is no doubt the middle of the Barrier is a pretty awful locality.
Camp 42. Splendid pony hoosh sent us to bed and sleep happily
after a horrid day, wind continuing; did 11 1/2 miles. Temp.
not quite so low, but expect we are in for cold night (Temp.
-27°).
Wednesday, February 29
Lunch. Cold night. Minimum Temp. -37.5°; -30° with north-west
wind, force 4, when we got up. Frightfully cold starting; luckily
Bowers and Oates in their last new finnesko; keeping my old
ones for present. Expected awful march and for first hour got
it. Then things improved and we camped after 5 1/2 hours marching
close to lunch camp--22 1/2. Next camp is our depot and it is
exactly 13 miles. It ought not to take more than 1 1/2 days;
we pray for another fine one. The oil will just about spin out
in that event, and we arrive 3 clear days' food in hand. The
increase of ration has had an enormously beneficial result.
Mountains now looking small. Wind still very light from west--cannot
understand this wind.
Thursday, March 1
Lunch. Very cold last night--minimum -41.5°. Cold start
to march, too, as usual now. Got away at 8 and have marched
within sight of depot; flag something under 3 miles away. We
did 11 1/2 yesterday and marched 6 this morning. Heavy dragging
yesterday and very heavy this morning. Apart from sledging considerations
the weather is wonderful. Cloudless days and nights and the
wind trifling. Worse luck, the light airs come from the north
and keep us horribly cold. For this lunch hour the exception
has come. There is a bright and comparatively warm sun. All
our gear is out drying.
Friday, March 2
Lunch. Misfortunes rarely come singly. We marched to the (Middle
Barrier) depot fairly easily yesterday afternoon, and since
that have suffered three distinct blows which have placed us
in a bad position. First we found a shortage of oil; with most
rigid economy it can scarce carry us to the next depot on this
surface (71 miles away). Second, Titus Oates disclosed his feet,
the toes showing very bad indeed, evidently bitten by the late
temperatures. The third blow came in the night, when the wind,
which we had hailed with some joy, brought dark overcast weather.
It fell below -40° in the night, and this morning it took
1 1/2 hours to get our foot gear on, but we got away before
eight. We lost cairn and tracks together and made as steady
as we could N. by W., but have seen nothing. Worse was to come--the
surface is simply awful. In spite of strong wind and full sail
we have only done 5 1/2 miles. We are in a very queer street
since there is no doubt we cannot do the extra marches and feel
the cold horribly.
Saturday, March 3
Lunch. We picked up the track again yesterday, finding ourselves
to the eastward. Did close on 10 miles and things looked a trifle
better; but this morning the outlook is blacker than ever. Started
well and with good breeze; for an hour made good headway; then
the surface grew awful beyond words. The wind drew forward;
every circumstance was against us. After 4 1/4 hours things
so bad that we camped, having covered 4 1/2 miles. (R. 46.)
One cannot consider this a fault of our own--certainly we were
pulling hard this morning--it was more than three parts surface
which held us back--the wind at strongest, powerless to move
the sledge. When the light is good it is easy to see the reason.
The surface, lately a very good hard one, is coated with a thin
layer of woolly crystals, formed by radiation no doubt. These
are too firmly fixed to be removed by the wind and cause impossible
friction on the runners. God help us, we can't keep up this
pulling, that is certain. Amongst ourselves we are unendingly
cheerful, but what each man feels in his heart I can only guess.
Pulling on foot gear in the morning is getter slower and slower,
therefore every day more dangerous.
Sunday, March
4
Lunch. Things looking very black indeed. As usual
we forgot our trouble last night, got into our bags, slept splendidly
on good hoosh, woke and had another, and started marching. Sun
shining brightly, tracks clear, but surface covered with sandy
frostrime. All the morning we had to pull with all our strength,
and in 4 1/2 hours we covered 3 1/2 miles. Last night it was
overcast and thick, surface bad; this morning sun shining and
surface as bad as ever. One has little to hope for except perhaps
strong dry wind--an unlikely contingency at this time of year.
Under the immediate surface crystals is a hard sustrugi surface,
which must have been excellent for pulling a week or two ago.
We are about 42 miles from the next depot and have a week's
food, but only about 3 to 4 days' fuel--we are as economical
of the latter as one can possibly be, and we cannot afford to
save food and pull as we are pulling. We are in a very tight
place indeed, but none of us despondent yet , or at least we
preserve every semblance of good cheer, but one's heart sinks
as the sledge stops dead at some sastrugi behind which the surface
sand lies thickly heaped. For the moment the temperature is
on the -20°--an improvement which makes us much more comfortable,
but a colder snap is bound to come again soon. I fear that Oates
at least will weather such an event very poorly. Providence
to our aid! We can expect little from man now except the possibility
of extra food at the next depot. It will be real bad if we get
there and find the same shortage of oil. Shall we get there?
Such a short distance it would have appeared to us on the summit!
I don't know what I should do if Wilson and Bowers weren't so
determinedly cheerful over things.
Monday, March
5
Lunch. Regret to say going from bad to worse.
We got a slant of wind yesterday afternoon, and going on 5 hours
we converted our wretched morning run of 3 1/2 miles into something
over 9. We went to bed on a cup of cocoa and pemmican solid
with the chill off. (R. 47.) The result is telling on all, but
mainly on Oates, whose feet are in a wretched condition. One
swelled up tremendously last night and he is very lame this
morning. We started march on tea and pemmican as last night--we
pretend to prefer the pemmican this way. Marched for 5 hours
this morning over a slightly better surface covered with high
moundy sastrugi. Sledge capsized twice; we pulled on foot, covering
about 5 1/2 miles. We are two pony marches and 4 miles about
from our depot. Our fuel dreadfully low and the poor Soldier
nearly done. It is pathetic enough because we can do nothing
for him; more hot food might do a little, but only a little,
I fear. We none of us expected these terribly low temperatures,
and of the rest of us Wilson is feeling them most; mainly, I
fear, from his self-sacrificing devotion in doctoring Oates'
feet. We cannot help each other, each has enough to do to take
care of himself. We get cold on the march when the trudging
is heavy, and the wind pierces our warm garments. The others,
all of them, are unendingly cheerful when in the tent. We mean
to see the game through with a proper spirit, but it's tough
work to be pulling harder than we ever pulled in our lives for
long hours, and to feel that the progress is so slow. One can
only say 'God help us!' and plod on our weary way, cold and
very miserable, though outwardly cheerful. We talk of all sorts
of subjects in the tent, not much of food now, since we decided
to take the risk of running a full ration. We simply couldn't
go hungry at this time.
Tuesday, March 6
Lunch. We did a little better with help of wind yesterday afternoon,
finishing 9 1/2 miles for the day, and 27 miles from depot.
(R. 48.) But this morning things have been awful. It was warm
in the night and for the first time during the journey I overslept
myself by more than an hour; then we were slow with foot gear;
then, pulling with all our might (for our lives) we could scarcely
advance at rate of a mile an hour; then it grew thick and three
times we had to get out of harness to search for tracks. The
result is something less than 3 1/2 miles for the forenoon.
The sun is shining now and the wind gone. Poor Oates is unable
to pull, sits on the sledge when we are track-searching--he
is wonderfully plucky, as his feet must be giving him great
pain. He makes no complaint, but his spirits only come up in
spurts now, and he grows more silent in the tent. We are making
a spirit lamp to try and replace the primus when our oil is
exhausted. It will be a very poor substitute and we've not got
much spirit. If we could have kept up our 9-mile days we might
have got within reasonable distance of the depot before running
out, but nothing but a strong wind and good surface can help
us now, and though we had quite a good breeze this morning,
the sledge came as heavy as lead. If we were all fit I should
have hopes of getting through, but the poor Soldier has become
a terrible hindrance, though he does his utmost and suffers
much I fear.
Wednesday, March 7
A
little worse I fear. One of Oates' feet very bad this morning;
he is wonderfully brave. We still talk of what we will do together
at home.
We only made 6 1/2 miles yesterday. (R. 49.)
This morning in 4 1/2 hours we did just over 4 miles. We are
16 from our depot. If we only find the correct proportion of
food there and this surface continues, we may get to the next
depot [Mt. Hooper, 72 miles farther] but not to One Ton Camp.
We hope against hope that the dogs have been to Mt. Hooper;
then we might pull through. If there is a shortage of oil again
we can have little hope. One feels that for poor Oates the crisis
is near, but none of us are improving, though we are wonderfully
fit considering the really excessive work we are doing. We are
only kept going by good food. No wind this morning till a chill
northerly air came ahead. Sun bright and cairns showing up well.
I should like to keep the track to the end.
Thursday,
March 8
Lunch. Worse and worse in morning; poor
Oates' left foot can never last out, and time over foot gear
something awful. Have to wait in night foot gear for nearly
an hour before I start changing, and then am generally first
to be ready. Wilson's feet giving trouble now, but this mainly
because he gives so much help to others. We did 4 1/2 miles
this morning and are now 8 1/2 miles from the depot--a ridiculously
small distance to feel in difficulties, yet on this surface
we know we cannot equal half our old marches, and that for that
effort we expend nearly double the energy. The great question
is, What shall we find at the depot? If the dogs have visited
it we may get along a good distance, but if there is another
short allowance of fuel, God help us indeed. We are in a very
bad way, I fear, in any case.
Saturday, March
10
Things steadily downhill. Oates' foot worse.
He has rare pluck and must know that he can never get through.
He asked Wilson if he had a chance this morning, and of course
Bill had to say he didn't know. In point of fact he has none.
Apart from him, if he went under now, I doubt whether we could
get through. With great care we might have a dog's chance, but
no more. The weather conditions are awful, and our gear gets
steadily more icy and difficult to manage. At the same time
of course poor Titus is the greatest handicap. He keeps us waiting
in the morning until we have partly lost the warming effect
of our good breakfast, when the only wise policy is to be up
and away at once; again at lunch. Poor chap! it is too pathetic
to watch him; one cannot but try to cheer him up.
Yesterday
we marched up the depot, Mt. Hooper. Cold comfort. Shortage
on our allowance all round. I don't know that anyone is to blame.
The dogs which would have been our salvation have evidently
failed. [46] Meares had a bad trip home I suppose.
This
morning it was calm when we breakfasted, but the wind came from
W.N.W. as we broke camp. It rapidly grew in strength. After
travelling for half an hour I saw that none of us could go on
facing such conditions. We were forced to camp and are spending
the rest of the day in a comfortless blizzard camp, wind quite
foul. (R. 52.)
Sunday, March 11
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 understands 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 to
the discussion; I practically ordered Wilson to hand over the
means of ending our troubles to us, so that anyone of us may
know how to do so. Wilson had no choice between doing so and
our ransacking the medicine case. We have 30 opium tabloids
apiece and he is left with a tube of morphine. So far the tragical
side of our story. (R. 53.)
The sky completely overcast
when we started this morning. We could see nothing, lost the
tracks, and doubtless have been swaying a good deal since--3.1
miles for the forenoon--terribly heavy dragging--expected it.
Know that 6 miles is about the limit of our endurance now, if
we get no help from wind or surfaces. We have 7 days' food and
should be about 55 miles from One Ton Camp to-night, 6 Â
7 = 42, leaving us 13 miles short of our distance, even if things
get no worse. Meanwhile the season rapidly advances.
Monday, March 12
We did 6.9 miles yesterday,
under our necessary average. Things are left much the same,
Oates not pulling much, and now with hands as well as feet pretty
well useless. We did 4 miles this morning in 4 hours 20 min
we may hope for 3 this afternoon, 7 Â 6 = 42. We shall be
47 miles from the depot. I doubt if we can possibly do it. The
surface remains awful, the cold intense, and our physical condition
running down. God help us! Not a breath of favourable wind for
more than a week, and apparently liable to head winds at any
moment.
Wednesday, March 14
No doubt
about the going downhill, but everything going wrong for us.
Yesterday we woke to a strong northerly wind with temp. -37°.
Couldn't face it, so remained in camp (R. 54) till 2, then did
5 1/4 miles. Wanted to march later, but party feeling the cold
badly as the breeze (N.) never took off entirely, and as the
sun sank the temp. fell. Long time getting supper in dark. (R.
55.)
This morning started with southerly breeze, set
sail and passed another cairn at good speed; half-way, however,
the wind shifted to W. by S. or W.S.W., blew through our wind
clothes and into our mits. Poor Wilson horribly cold, could
not get off ski for some time. Bowers and I practically made
camp, and when we got into the tent at last we were all deadly
cold. Then temp, now midday down -43° and the wind strong.
We must go on, but now the making of every camp must be more
difficult and dangerous. It must be near the end, but a pretty
merciful end. Poor Oates got it again in the foot. I shudder
to think what it will be like to-morrow. It is only with greatest
pains rest of us keep off frostbites. No idea there could be
temperatures like this at this time of year with such winds.
Truly awful outside the tent. Must fight it out to the last
biscuit, but can't reduce rations.
Friday, March
16 or Saturday 17
Lost track of dates, but think
the last correct. Tragedy all along the line. At lunch, the
day before yesterday, 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.
In spite of its awful nature for him he struggled on and we
made a few miles. At night he was worse and we knew the end
had come.
Should this be found I 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
with 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 discuss
outside subjects. He did not--would not--give up hope to the
very end. He was a brave soul. This was the end. He slept through
the night before last, hoping not to wake; but he woke in the
morning--yesterday. It was blowing a blizzard. He said, 'I am
just going outside and may be some time.' He went out into the
blizzard and we have not seen him since.
I take this
opportunity of saying that we have stuck to our sick companions
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 mercifully removed
him at this critical moment. He died a natural death, and we
did not leave him till two hours after his death. We knew that
poor Oates was walking to his death, but though we tried to
dissuade him, we knew it was the act of a brave man and an English
gentleman. We all hope to meet the end with a similar spirit,
and assuredly the end is not far.
I can only write at
lunch and then only occasionally. The cold is intense, -40°
at midday. My companions are unendingly cheerful, but we are
all on the verge of serious frostbites, and though we constantly
talk of fetching through I don't think anyone of us believes
it in his heart.
We are cold on the march now, and at
all times except meals. Yesterday we had to lay up for a blizzard
and to-day we move dreadfully slowly. We are at No. 14 pony
camp, only two pony marches from One Ton Depot. We leave here
our theodolite, a camera, and Oates' sleeping-bags. Diaries, &c.,
and geological specimens carried at Wilson's special request,
will be found with us or on our sledge.
Sunday,
March 18
To-day, lunch, we are 21 miles from the
depot. Ill fortune presses, but better may come. We have had
more wind and drift from ahead yesterday; had to stop marching;
wind N.W., force 4, temp. -35°. No human being could face
it, and we are worn out nearly .
My right foot has gone,
nearly all the toes--two days ago I was proud possessor of best
feet. These are the steps of my downfall. Like an ass I mixed
a small spoonful of curry powder with my melted pemmican--it
gave me violent indigestion. I lay awake and in pain all night;
woke and felt done on the march; foot went and I didn't know
it. A very small measure of neglect and have a foot which is
not pleasant to contemplate. Bowers takes first place in condition,
but there is not much to choose after all. The others are still
confident of getting through--or pretend to be--I don't know!
We have the last half fill of oil in our primus and a very small
quantity of spirit--this alone between us and thirst. The wind
is fair for the moment, and that is perhaps a fact to help.
The mileage would have seemed ridiculously small on our outward
journey.
Monday, March 19
Lunch.
We camped with difficulty last night, and were dreadfully cold
till after our supper of cold pemmican and biscuit and a half
a pannikin of cocoa cooked over the spirit. Then, contrary to
expectation, we got warm and all slept well. To-day we started
in the usual dragging manner. Sledge dreadfully heavy. We are
15 1/2 miles from the depot and ought to get there in three
days. What progress! We have two days' food but barely a day's
fuel. All our feet are getting bad--Wilson's best, my right
foot worst, left all right. There is no chance to nurse one's
feet till we can get hot food into us. Amputation is the least
I can hope for now, but will the trouble spread? That is the
serious question. The weather doesn't give us a chance--the
wind from N. to N.W. and -40° temp, to-day.
Wednesday, March 11
Got within 11 miles
of depot Monday night; [47] had to lay up all yesterday in severe
blizzard. 27 To-day forlorn hope, Wilson and Bowers going to
depot for fuel.
Thursday, March 22 and 23
Blizzard bad as ever--Wilson and Bowers unable to start--to-morrow
last chance--no fuel and only one or two of food left--must
be near the end. Have decided it shall be natural--we shall
march for the depot with or without our effects and die in our
tracks.
Thursday, March 29
Since
the 21st we have had a continuous gale from W.S.W. and S.W.
We had fuel to make two cups of tea apiece and bare food for
two days on the 20th. Every day we have been ready to start
for our depot 11 miles away, but outside the door of the tent
it remains a scene of whirling drift. I do not think we can
hope for any better things now. We shall stick it out to the
end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot
be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write
more.
R. SCOTT.
For God's sake look after our
people.
------------
Wilson and Bowers were found
in the attitude of sleep, their sleeping-bags closed over their
heads as they would naturally close them.
Scott died
later. He had thrown back the flaps of his sleeping-bag and
opened his coat. The little wallet containing the three notebooks
was under his shoulders and his arm flung across Wilson. So
they were found eight months later.
With the diaries
in the tent were found the following letters:
TO MRS. E. A. WILSON
MY DEAR MRS. WILSON,
If this letter reaches you Bill and I will have gone out together. We are very near it now and I should like you to know how splendid he was at the end--everlastingly cheerful and ready to sacrifice himself for others, never a word of blame to me for leading him into this mess. He is not suffering, luckily, at least only minor discomforts.
His eyes have a comfortable blue look of hope and his mind is peaceful with the satisfaction of his faith in regarding himself as part of the great scheme of the Almighty. I can do no more to comfort you than to tell you that he died as he lived, a brave, true man--the best of comrades and staunchest of friends. My whole heart goes out to you in pity,
Yours, R. SCOTT
TO MRS. BOWERS
MY DEAR MRS. BOWERS,
I am afraid this will reach you after one of the heaviest blows of your life.
I write when we are very near the end of our journey, and I am finishing it in company with two gallant, noble gentlemen. One of these is your son. He had come to be one of my closest and soundest friends, and I appreciate his wonderful upright nature, his ability and energy. As the troubles have thickened his dauntless spirit ever shone brighter and he has remained cheerful, hopeful, and indomitable to the end.
The ways of Providence are inscrutable, but there must be some reason why such a young, vigorous and promising life is taken.
My whole heart goes out in pity for you.
Yours, R. SCOTT.
To the end he has talked of you and his sisters. One sees what a happy home he must have had and perhaps it is well to look back on nothing but happiness.
He remains unselfish, self-reliant and splendidly hopeful to the end, believing in God's mercy to you.
TO SIR J. M. BARRIE
MY DEAR BARRIE,
We are pegging out in a very comfortless spot. Hoping this letter may be found and sent to you, I write a word of farewell. ... More practically I want you to help my widow and my boy--your godson. We are showing that Englishmen can still die with a bold spirit, fighting it out to the end. It will be known that we have accomplished our object in reaching the Pole, and that we have done everything possible, even to sacrificing ourselves in order to save sick companions. I think this makes an example for Englishmen of the future, and that the country ought to help those who are left behind to mourn us. I leave my poor girl and your godson, Wilson leaves a widow, and Edgar Evans also a widow in humble circumstances. Do what you can to get their claims recognised. Goodbye. I am not at all afraid of the end, but sad to miss many a humble pleasure which I had planned for the future on our long marches. I may not have proved a great explorer, but we have done the greatest march ever made and come very near to great success. Goodbye, my dear friend,
Yours ever, R. SCOTT.
We are in a desperate state, feet frozen, &c. No fuel and a long way from food, but it would do your heart good to be in our tent, to hear our songs and the cheery conversation as to what we will do when we get to Hut Point.
Later
We are very near the end, but have not and will not lose our good cheer. We have four days of storm in our tent and nowhere's food or fuel. We did intend to finish ourselves when things proved like this, but we have decided to die naturally in the track.
As a dying man, my dear friend, be good to my wife and child. Give the boy a chance in life if the State won't do it. He ought to have good stuff in him. ... I never met a man in my life whom I admired and loved more than you, but I never could show you how much your friendship meant to me, for you had much to give and I nothing.
TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR EDGAR SPEYER, BART.
Dated March 16, 1912. Lat. 79.5°.
MY DEAR SIR EDGAR,
I hope this may reach you. I fear we must go and that it leaves the Expedition in a bad muddle. But we have been to the Pole and we shall die like gentlemen. I regret only for the women we leave behind.
I thank you a thousand times for your help and support and your generous kindness. If this diary is found it will show how we stuck by dying companions and fought the thing out well to the end. I think this will show that the Spirit of pluck and power to endure has not passed out of our race ...
Wilson, the best fellow that ever stepped, has sacrificed himself again and again to the sick men of the party ...
I write to many friends hoping the letters will reach them some time after we are found next year.
We very nearly came through, and it's a pity to have missed it, but lately I have felt that we have overshot our mark. No one is to blame and I hope no attempt will be made to suggest that we have lacked support.
Good-bye to you and your dear kind wife.
Yours ever sincerely, R. SCOTT.
TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR FRANCIS CHARLES BRIDGEMAN, K.C.V.O., K.C.B.
MY DEAR SIR FRANCIS,
I fear we have shipped up; a close shave; I am writing a few letters which I hope will be delivered some day. I want to thank you for the friendship you gave me of late years, and to tell you how extraordinarily pleasant I found it to serve under you. I want to tell you that I was not too old for this job. It was the younger men that went under first... After all we are setting a good example to our countrymen, if not by getting into a tight place, by facing it like men when we were there. We could have come through had we neglected the sick.
Good-bye, and good-bye to dear Lady Bridgeman.
Yours ever,
R. SCOTT.
Excuse writing--it is -40°, and has been for nigh a month.
TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE LE CLEARC EGERTON. K.C.B.
MY DEAR SIR GEORGE,
I fear we have shot our bolt--but we have been to Pole and done the longest journey on record.
I hope these letters may find their destination some day.
Subsidiary reasons of our failure to return are due to the sickness of different members of the party, but the real thing that has stopped us is the awful weather and unexpected cold towards the end of the journey.
This traverse of the Barrier has been quite three times as severe as any experience we had on the summit.
There is no accounting for it, but the result has thrown out my calculations, and here we are little more than 100 miles from the base and petering out.
Good-bye. Please see my widow is looked after as far as Admiralty is concerned.
R. SCOTT.
My kindest regards to Lady Egerton. I can never forget all your kindness.
TO MR. J.J. KINSEY--CHRISTCHURCH
March 24th, 1912.
MY DEAR KINSEY,
I'm afraid we are pretty well done--four days of blizzard just as we were getting to the last depot. My thoughts have been with you often. You have been a brick. You will pull the expedition through, I'm sure.
My thoughts are for my wife and boy. Will you do what you can for them if the country won't.
I want the boy to have a good chance in the world, but you know the circumstances well enough.
If I knew the wife and boy were in safe keeping I should have little regret in leaving the world, for I feel that the country need not be ashamed of us--our journey has been the biggest on record, and nothing but the most exceptional hard luck at the end would have caused us to fail to return. We have been to the S. pole as we set out. God bless you and dear Mrs. Kinsey. It is good to remember you and your kindness.
Your friend, R. SCOTT.
Letters to his Mother, his Wife, his Brother-in-law (Sir William Ellison Macartney), Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, and Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Smith were also found, from which come the following extracts:
The Great God has called me and I feel it will add a fearful blow to the heavy ones that have fallen on you in life. But take comfort in that I die at peace with the world and myself--not afraid.
Indeed it has been most singularly unfortunate, for the risks I have taken never seemed excessive.
... I want to tell you that we have missed getting through by a narrow margin which was justifiably within the risk of such a journey ... After all, we have given our lives for our country--we have actually made the longest journey on record, and we have been the first Englishmen at the South Pole.
You must understand that it is too cold to write much.
... It's a pity the luck doesn't come our way, because every detail of equipment is right.
I shall not have suffered any pain, but leave the world fresh from harness and full of good health and vigour.
Since writing the above we got to within 11 miles of our depot, with one hot meal and two days' cold food. We should have got through but have been held for four days by a frightful storm. I think the best chance has gone. We have decided not to kill ourselves, but to fight to the last for that depot, but in the fighting there is a painless end.
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games; they encourage it at some schools. I know you will keep him in the open air.
Above all, he must guard and you must guard him against indolence. Make him a strenuous man. I had to force myself into being strenuous as you know--had always an inclination to be idle.
There is a piece of the Union Jack I put up at the South Pole in my private kit bag, together with Amundsen's black flag and other trifles. Send a small piece of the Union Jack to the King and a small piece to Queen Alexandra.
What lots and lots I could tell you of this journey. How much better has it been than lounging in too great comfort at home. What tales you would have for the boys. But what a price to pay.
Tell Sir Clements--I thought much of him and never regretted him putting me in command of the Discovery .
Message to the Public
The causes of the disaster are not due to faulty organisation, but to misfortune in all risks which had to be undertaken.
1. The loss of pony transport in March 1911 obliged me to start later than I had intended, and obliged the limits of stuff transported to be narrowed.
2. The weather throughout the outward journey, and especially the long gale in 83° S., stopped us.
3. The soft snow in lower reaches of glacier again reduced pace.
We fought these untoward events with a will and conquered, but it cut into our provision reserve.
Every detail of our food supplies, clothing and depots made on the interior ice-sheet and over that long stretch of 700 miles to the Pole and back, worked out to perfection. The advance party would have returned to the glacier in fine form and with surplus of food, but for the astonishing failure of the man whom we had least expected to fail. Edgar Evans was thought the strongest man of the party.
The Beardmore Glacier is not difficult in fine weather, but on our return we did not get a single completely fine day; this with a sick companion enormously increased our anxieties.
As I have said elsewhere we got into frightfully rough ice and Edgar Evans received a concussion of the brain--he died a natural death, but left us a shaken party with the season unduly advanced.
But all the facts above enumerated were as nothing to the surprise which awaited us on the Barrier. I maintain that our arrangements for returning were quite adequate, and that no one in the world would have expected the temperatures and surfaces which we encountered at this time of the year. On the summit in lat. 85° 86° we had -20°, -30°. On the Barrier in lat. 82°, 10,000 feet lower, we had -30° in the day, -47° at night pretty regularly, with continuous head wind during our day marches. It is clear that these circumstances come on very suddenly, and our wreck is certainly due to this sudden advent of severe weather, which does not seem to have any satisfactory cause. I do not think human beings ever came through such a month as we have come through, and we should have got through in spite of the weather but for the sickening of a second companion, Captain Oates, and a shortage of fuel in our depots for which I cannot account, and finally, but for the storm which has fallen on us within 11 miles of the depot at which we hoped to secure our final supplies. Surely misfortune could scarcely have exceeded this last blow. We arrived within 11 miles of our old One Ton Camp with fuel for one last meal and food for two days. For four days we have been unable to leave the tent--the gale howling about us. We are weak, writing is difficult, but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last. But if we have been willing to give our lives to this enterprise, which is for the honour of our country, I appeal to our countrymen to see that those who depend on us are properly cared for.
Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.
R. SCOTT.
APPENDIX