Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration

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Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration Page 40

by David Roberts


  Scott, Peter, 294

  Scott, Robert Falcon, 15, 19, 32, 45–48, 65, 82, 92–93, 169, 171, 301, 312

  background of, 47

  death of, 168, 203, 234, 255, 294

  Discovery expedition of, 40, 45–50, 81, 94, 163, 164, 263

  Mawson compared with, 17, 18, 303, 307

  Mawson’s meeting with, 87–88

  “Message to the Public” of, 234

  Shackleton’s feud with, 45–47, 87, 88

  Shackleton’s pledge to, 48

  South Polar Times and, 263

  Terra Nova expedition of, see Terra Nova expedition

  wife’s last letter from, 294

  Wild compared with, 118

  Scott’s Last Expedition (Scott), 294

  scurvy, 45, 65, 118, 225, 243

  sea leopard hunting, 279–80

  seal meat, 28, 138, 140, 200–201, 204, 205, 211, 249

  BAE and, 64–65, 66, 71, 74, 76

  for dogs, 19, 131, 165

  raw, 130

  seals, 179, 229, 309

  Hurley charade and, 142

  of Macquarie Island, 97, 102, 104, 105

  seasickness, 44, 56

  Seaver, George, 45

  Secret Society of Unconventional Cooks, 128

  sennegrass, 68

  Service, Robert, 129, 233

  sewing, 165–66, 306

  sextants, 59

  Shackleton, Ernest, 15, 18, 19, 43–50, 87–89, 92–129, 169, 303, 312

  background of, 47

  BAE of, see British Antarctic Expedition

  birthday of, 122

  Cape Adare expedition appropriated by, 88–89

  coughing of, 46

  cult of, 299–300

  David’s confusing instructions from, 59–60, 69, 75

  death of, 89, 295, 299

  diary of, 79, 80

  in Discovery expedition, 45–48

  drive and talent of, 45

  Endurance expedition of, 118, 274, 289, 299, 302

  fanaticism of, 80

  fundraising of, 87, 89

  get-rich-quick schemes of, 84, 87, 89

  honors of, 82, 89

  lack of scientific interest of, 50, 59, 92

  on Mawson, 49, 288–89

  as missing, 75, 78–81

  Ninnis’s application to, 94

  Scott’s feud with, 45–47, 87, 88

  in trek toward South Pole, 57–58, 60, 75, 79–80, 92, 301

  Wild compared with, 118

  Wild invited to join expedition of, 274

  Shackleton (dog), 19, 21, 131

  Shackleton Ice Shelf, 122, 162–63, 188, 189, 201, 249, 250, 251

  Denman Glacier compared with, 195

  sheep, 97, 103, 106

  silence, 16, 198

  skis:

  in AAE, 23, 31, 33, 95, 145, 209, 210, 267, 307

  in Amundsen’s expedition, 57, 307

  sky, navigation and, 110

  sledgemeters, 19–20, 26, 60, 63, 176, 240

  sledges:

  in Amundsen’s expedition, 57

  in BAE, 51, 52, 55, 61, 63, 64, 65, 67, 71, 79, 81, 83

  double-hauling of, 61, 63, 64

  sledges, sledging parties, AAE, 18–37, 94, 95, 96, 116, 118, 145–46, 157, 160, 171

  abandonment of, 32

  blowing away of, 133

  crevasse accidents with, 27–29, 34–36, 208–9, 309

  daily fare for, 172–73

  deadline for, 26, 171

  depots of, 188, 190, 192, 193–94

  in Far Eastern Party return, 213–18, 221, 226, 228–31, 235–45, 305

  last journey of, 282–84

  loss of, 135, 193–94

  of Madigan’s Eastern Coastal Party, 180

  Mawson’s hope for reconnaissance with, 132, 136

  Mawson team divided into, 18–19, 96–97, 170–71

  overturning of, 21–22

  sail for, 216, 221, 226, 237

  of Southern Party, 172, 176, 177

  system for use of, 23

  tobagganing with, 145

  of Western Coastal Party, 190, 191

  Western Party and, 182–85

  of Wild’s Eastern Coastal Party, 193, 194, 195, 198, 199

  sledging harnesses, 166, 209

  “Sledging Song” (doggerel), 265

  sleeping bags:

  in AAE, 20, 37, 124, 142, 167, 205–6, 210, 216, 217, 222, 233, 237, 306

  in BAE, 51, 52, 54, 61–63, 74

  of search party, 205–6

  three-man, 61–63

  “slope running,” 166

  smoking, 31, 68

  snowball fight, 113

  snowblindness, 22, 70, 176, 177, 211

  snow bridges (lids):

  BAE and, 67, 78, 79

  Far Eastern Party and, 24, 25, 27, 33, 35–36, 209, 210, 231, 235

  Western Party and, 167

  snow caves, see Aladdin’s Cave

  socks, 52, 61, 193, 215, 227

  Socks (pony), 79

  sounds, 33, 228

  South Australia Hotel, 288

  South Australian Museum, Mawson Collection at, 156–57, 267, 305–6

  Southcott, R. V., 224–25

  Southern Cross depot, 172, 176

  Southern Party, 170–81, 185, 208, 283

  accomplishments of, 177–78

  plan of, 172

  supporting team of, 170, 172

  South Georgia Island, 118, 295, 299, 302

  South Magnetic Pole, 57–72, 82–84, 111

  David’s discovery about, 83

  Shackleton’s instructions and, 59–60

  Southern Party and, 171, 172, 175

  true discovery of, 83–84

  Union Jack unfurled at, 71, 83

  South Pacific Ocean, 83–84

  South Polar Times, 263

  South Pole, 18, 40, 45, 47, 307, 312

  Amundsen’s race to, 48, 57, 95, 169, 182, 225, 239, 253, 301

  Scott’s second quest for, 87, 88, 168, 169, 182, 203, 232, 255, 301, 312

  Shackleton’s trek toward, 57–58, 60, 75, 92, 169, 301

  South Victoria Land, 178

  South with Mawson (Laseron), 164, 304

  spectrographs, 184

  Stevenson, Robert Louis, 129

  Stillwell, Frank, 149, 170, 177

  storms, 15, 20, 22, 24, 29, 30

  Stoukalo, Evgeny, 308–10

  stoves, 37, 53, 139, 172, 216, 241

  coal for, 132, 140, 254

  missing piece of, 124

  Shackleton’s accident with, 46

  suicide pill, 232

  supplies, see gear and supplies

  Switzerland, 296–97

  diet in, 225

  Switzerland (dog), 193–99

  Sydney, 40, 43, 69, 101, 160, 304

  radio contact with, 148

  Sydney, University of, 39–43, 82–83, 189, 271

  Commemoration Day at, 42

  tea, 173, 212, 214, 309

  temperature, 26, 30, 33, 34, 136, 192

  in BAE, 52

  of hut, 132

  Southern Party and, 175

  at Western Base, 165

  tents, 168, 203

  in Amundsen’s expedition, 121–22

  in BAE, 52, 53, 66, 67, 72, 74, 76, 77, 81

  tents, AAE, 20, 25–26, 33

  being confined to, 29, 30, 31, 237, 238, 283

  cooking in, 216

  in Far Eastern Party return, 210, 216, 217, 219–21, 233, 237, 238, 239, 241, 305

  improvising of, 210

  loss of, 35, 37, 209

  pitching of, 173–74, 193, 216, 233

  replacement, 37

  Western Party and, 167, 185

  Terra Nova expedition (1910–13), 47, 87, 182, 183, 239, 294, 295

  deaths in, 168, 203, 234, 255, 294

  land sighted by, 19, 26, 32, 108, 202, 208

  Mawson’s turning down of, 88

  Ninnis rejected by, 15, 94

  opium
tablets in, 232

  preserving the memory of, 234

  science and, 92

  second wintering over in, 203

  Terre Adélie, see Adélie Land

  Thackeray, William Makepeace, 281

  theatricals, 56, 127

  theodolites, 59, 215, 240

  thermograph, 136

  Through the First Antarctic Night (Cook), 156

  toasts, 141, 152

  tobacco, 68, 141, 264

  tobogganing, 146

  Toroa (ship), 97–99, 103, 106–7

  tractors, 312

  ultraviolet rays, 22

  United Kingdom, 299

  United States:

  expedition from (1840), 108, 109

  Mawson in, 87, 290, 297, 298, 299

  uranium, 84–85

  Venus, 59

  Vickers manufacturing firm, 96, 182, 294

  Victoria Land, 26, 29, 32, 48, 64, 65, 171, 208

  Shackleton’s instructions and, 59, 75

  “Virginibus Puerisque” (Stevenson), 129

  vision, 22

  vitamin A, 224–25

  vitamin C deficiency, 65

  Vixere Fortes (D. Madigan), 151–53, 156, 257–58, 297

  volcanos, see Erebus, Mount; Gaussberg

  water:

  for bathing, 141–42

  drinking, 98, 107, 154–55, 252, 254

  water sky, 110

  Watkins, Hugh, 96

  Watson, Andrew, Eastern Coastal Party, 193–200

  weather, 55

  see also blizzards; storms; temperature; wind

  Webb, Eric “Azi,” 130, 131, 154, 202, 298, 302, 303

  in Southern Party, 171–81

  Weddell Sea, 274, 289, 299

  Wegener, Alfred, 307

  Western Base, 111, 162–66, 171, 188–201, 273–74

  Aurora’s return to, 187, 188, 189, 200–201, 203, 204, 244, 246–52

  caretakers at, 193, 194, 196–200

  departure preparations at, 200

  disappearance of snow ramp at, 165

  exploration from, 188–200

  huskies sent to, 131, 165, 193

  hut built at (the Grottoes), 162–63, 188–89, 192, 194, 196–200, 250, 251

  ordeals and close calls of, 164–69

  return of exploration parties to, 200

  selection of site for, 117–23

  snugness at, 165

  supply depots laid by, 167, 188, 190, 192, 193–94, 196

  tensions at, 169

  Western Coastal Party, 189–92, 200, 208

  human artifacts encountered by, 191–92

  Western Party, 75, 161, 170, 178, 181–88, 204, 208

  achievements of, 187

  meteorite discovered by, 184

  mishap of, 184–85

  whale boat, 114, 117

  disappearance of, 135

  “Where Is Harrisson?” memo, 197–98

  Whetter, Leslie “Error,” 130, 149, 154–58, 160

  drinking problem of, 155–56

  laziness of, 154–55, 156

  post-AAE life of, 158

  in Western Party, 161, 182–88

  “whirlies,” 29, 135–36

  whiskey, 199

  Who’s Who in Australia, 83

  Wild, Frank, 162–69, 187, 192–201, 203, 204, 246–51

  appearance of, 164

  background of, 118, 163–64

  in BAE, 57–58, 79–82, 94, 118, 163, 164

  at Cape Denison, 112, 113

  in Discovery expedition, 94, 118, 163, 164

  in Eastern Coastal Party, 189, 193–200, 209

  in Endurance expedition, 274, 289, 302

  equipment improvised by, 106, 116, 122

  huskies sent with, 131, 165, 193

  as leader, 111, 118, 163, 165–66, 169, 171, 188, 189

  lecturing of, 273

  memoirs of, 163–64

  on monoplane accident, 96

  in search for Western Base site, 117, 118, 120–23

  second-winter preparations of, 200–201

  selected for AAE, 94

  territory named by, 273–74

  Wilkes, Charles, 108, 109, 110

  Wilson, Edward, 45, 46, 48, 88, 168, 203

  wind, 25, 26, 27, 173, 191, 192

  in blizzards, 20, 31, 114, 133–34, 148–49

  at Cape Denison, 132–39, 141, 145, 146, 148–49, 152, 159, 160, 164, 259, 260, 268, 283

  cargo unloading and, 114, 115, 116

  Far Eastern Party return and, 216, 219–20, 237, 240, 243

  Southern Party and, 172, 176, 177

  at Western Base, 164, 165

  Western Party and, 184–85

  “whirlies,” 29, 135–36, 260

  wind-walking, 134

  wine, 109, 117, 141, 156

  champagne, 289, 290

  wintering over, 118, 125, 129–61, 252–85

  AAE second, selection of men for, 202–4, 291

  in Belgica expedition, 156

  as domestic idyll, 149–50

  Winter Quarters, see Cape Denison

  Wireless Hill, 106

  World War I, 296–300

  Xenophon, 281

  Yorkshire, 38

  Zip (dog), 193–99, 252

  PICTURE SECTION

  Douglas Mawson at 28

  (Courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Near the South Magnetic Pole, January 16, 1909. From left, Mackay, David, Mawson

  (Photograph by T. W. Edgeworth David courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Belgrave Ninnis in uniform of the Royal Fusiliers

  (Courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Xavier Mertz, Swiss lawyer and ski champion

  (Courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Penguins near the remains of a wrecked ship, Macquarie Island

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Enraged elephant seal, Macquarie Island

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Ice mushroom near Cape Denison

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Chopping ice off the Aurora after a storm

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  The Aurora anchored off Cape Denison

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  The Main Base hut covered in deep snow

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Mertz emerging from trap door in the roof of the hut

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Mertz ice climbing on a coastal serac

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Frank Wild

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Gathering ice outside the hut during a fierce blizzard

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  A winter evening around the gramophone

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  A petrel on its nest

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  An Adelie penguin with eggs

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Blizzard, one of the husky pups born during the expedition

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Two sledge dogs chained to a box

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Two men standing in an ice hole

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Mertz at the entrance of the hut

&
nbsp; (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  A “grotto of mysteries” in the ice

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Keeping one’s balance in a 100-mile-an-hour wind

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  The ice cliff coastline east of Winter Quarters

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Man with iced-up mask

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Penguins covered with ice after a blizzard

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Sledging with a sail

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Sledging across sastrugi

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Man traversing coastal slope

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Man in cavern beneath ice cliffs

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Man peering into open crevasse

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Penguins at mid-summer midnight

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Man in icefall chaos

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Mawson’s half-sledge, which saved his life

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  The Aurora returns

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Frank Hurley at work (from later Endurance expedition)

  (Photograph by Frank Hurley courtesy of the National Library of Australia)

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2013 by David Roberts

  All rights reserved

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Edition

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