Read Online An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor by Michael Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Smith
Tags: General, History, Biography & Autobiography, Read, Adventurers & Explorers, Polar Regions, Antarctica
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were ceasing to be of much value.
Despite their deterioration, the three men made some progress and each day brought sightings of new land and mountains. On 28 December, weakened by lack of adequate food, heavy pulling and developing scurvy, the party pitched camp at 82° 11′ south and Scott wrote:
‘We have almost shot our bolt.’ 2
Shackleton was feeling the effects more than the others and on 30 December, Scott and Wilson left him behind in the tent with the dogs and equipment and skied south for a few miles. Observations placed them at between 82° 16′ and 82° 17′, a new record ‘furthest south’ and about 480 statute miles from the Pole itself. Shackleton never forgot the slight at being left behind and not sharing the honour.
The journey home became a desperate race against time, with the trio constantly hungry and scurvy beginning to take a grip. There is little doubt that they had underestimated the strain of the heavy work and their need for food. Food and supply depots, on which their lives depended, were poorly marked and difficult to spot. One lengthy blizzard at this critical stage, confining them to their tent, would probably have killed them.
Disaster threatened when Shackleton’s health deteriorated and he came close to breaking down. Two exhausted, hungry men would have to haul about 500 lb (225 kg) meant for three. Scott jettisoned everything he could and killed the remaining dogs. Shackleton was forced to stumble alongside the sledges, gasping for breath while Scott and Wilson man-hauled for their lives. Significantly, Scott jettisoned all but one pair of skis.
Shackleton, who was coughing blood, collapsed and was placed on the sledge and pulled by the two weary haulers. It was readily apparent to Wilson, as the doctor, that the pair could not possibly survive if they continued to haul the extra weights and carry the burden of their sick companion, Shackleton. At one point Wilson told Scott he did not expect Shackleton to survive the night. Shackleton overheard and remembered that conversation years later when both Scott and Wilson had perished not far from the same spot on the Barrier on their way back from the South Pole.
However, Shackleton’s phenomenal strength and mental resolve, which were to be a feature of his later exploits, surfaced and he somehow managed to get through the ordeal. He may have been driven by a growing dislike of Scott, who had reacted badly to Shackleton’s illness. Scott was irritated by Shackleton’s ‘failure’ and Wilson had to intervene to prevent Scott from berating the sick man, even though all three faced a race for their very lives.
On 3 February, still 11 miles from the safety of
Discovery
, the party unexpectedly ran into Bernacchi and Skelton. Afterthree months on the Barrier, undernourished and struck with scurvy, the three men were almost unrecognisable. Scott wrote:
‘There is every reason to think however that our return was none too soon.’ 3
While the southern party ordeal was unfolding, Barne’s party, including Crean, enjoyed a tough but manageable exploratory trip to the southwest. The party, pulling almost 1,200 lb (543 kg) on two sledges, set off on 20 December 1902, with five weeks’ supply of food and six weeks’ supply of oil. Five days later, the six men were crammed into their little tents for the first recorded Christmas party on the Barrier.
Shipmates from
Discovery
had thoughtfully written greetings cards which were dutifully carried across the ice by Williamson and the men were happy to improvise, even in the coldest conditions, to ensure that the celebrations did not falter. After dinner, the six men somehow crowded into one three-man tent for what Barne described as a ‘concert’. Barne said each man did a ‘turn’, which would have suited the big Irishman.
Crean was well known for breaking into song even under normal circumstances and now his voice was lubricated by a special gift which had been
Despite their deterioration, the three men made some progress and each day brought sightings of new land and mountains. On 28 December, weakened by lack of adequate food, heavy pulling and developing scurvy, the party pitched camp at 82° 11′ south and Scott wrote:
‘We have almost shot our bolt.’ 2
Shackleton was feeling the effects more than the others and on 30 December, Scott and Wilson left him behind in the tent with the dogs and equipment and skied south for a few miles. Observations placed them at between 82° 16′ and 82° 17′, a new record ‘furthest south’ and about 480 statute miles from the Pole itself. Shackleton never forgot the slight at being left behind and not sharing the honour.
The journey home became a desperate race against time, with the trio constantly hungry and scurvy beginning to take a grip. There is little doubt that they had underestimated the strain of the heavy work and their need for food. Food and supply depots, on which their lives depended, were poorly marked and difficult to spot. One lengthy blizzard at this critical stage, confining them to their tent, would probably have killed them.
Disaster threatened when Shackleton’s health deteriorated and he came close to breaking down. Two exhausted, hungry men would have to haul about 500 lb (225 kg) meant for three. Scott jettisoned everything he could and killed the remaining dogs. Shackleton was forced to stumble alongside the sledges, gasping for breath while Scott and Wilson man-hauled for their lives. Significantly, Scott jettisoned all but one pair of skis.
Shackleton, who was coughing blood, collapsed and was placed on the sledge and pulled by the two weary haulers. It was readily apparent to Wilson, as the doctor, that the pair could not possibly survive if they continued to haul the extra weights and carry the burden of their sick companion, Shackleton. At one point Wilson told Scott he did not expect Shackleton to survive the night. Shackleton overheard and remembered that conversation years later when both Scott and Wilson had perished not far from the same spot on the Barrier on their way back from the South Pole.
However, Shackleton’s phenomenal strength and mental resolve, which were to be a feature of his later exploits, surfaced and he somehow managed to get through the ordeal. He may have been driven by a growing dislike of Scott, who had reacted badly to Shackleton’s illness. Scott was irritated by Shackleton’s ‘failure’ and Wilson had to intervene to prevent Scott from berating the sick man, even though all three faced a race for their very lives.
On 3 February, still 11 miles from the safety of
Discovery
, the party unexpectedly ran into Bernacchi and Skelton. Afterthree months on the Barrier, undernourished and struck with scurvy, the three men were almost unrecognisable. Scott wrote:
‘There is every reason to think however that our return was none too soon.’ 3
While the southern party ordeal was unfolding, Barne’s party, including Crean, enjoyed a tough but manageable exploratory trip to the southwest. The party, pulling almost 1,200 lb (543 kg) on two sledges, set off on 20 December 1902, with five weeks’ supply of food and six weeks’ supply of oil. Five days later, the six men were crammed into their little tents for the first recorded Christmas party on the Barrier.
Shipmates from
Discovery
had thoughtfully written greetings cards which were dutifully carried across the ice by Williamson and the men were happy to improvise, even in the coldest conditions, to ensure that the celebrations did not falter. After dinner, the six men somehow crowded into one three-man tent for what Barne described as a ‘concert’. Barne said each man did a ‘turn’, which would have suited the big Irishman.
Crean was well known for breaking into song even under normal circumstances and now his voice was lubricated by a special gift which had been
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