Category: Douglas Mawson

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, April 11, 1916: “. . . we gazed spellbound on a terrifying spectacle.. . . .”

April 12, 2016

–from Frank Hurley’s account published as “Shackleton’s Argonauts”— “The dawn broke, foggy, cheerless, and sinister. A piercing wind was blowing from the north-west, bringing sleet which froze in a glassy veneer. While we were making ready to get under way, fields of pack came rapidly driving down from the north. There was no choice. Our … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, April 11, 1916: “. . . we gazed spellbound on a terrifying spectacle.. . . .”

April 3, 1916: Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’ lands in New Zealand, 312 days after being carried away from Cape Evans

April 8, 2016

–from Shackleton’s account “South”— “Stenhouse displayed throughout fine seamanship and dogged perseverance. He accomplished successfully one of the most difficult voyages on record, in an ocean area notoriously stormy and treacherous. On March 23 he established wireless communication with Bluff Station, New Zealand, and o the next day was in touch with Wellington and Hobart. … More April 3, 1916: Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’ lands in New Zealand, 312 days after being carried away from Cape Evans

March 13-14, 1916: The of the end of the drift of the ‘Aurora’ “We ‘spliced the main brace’”

March 19, 2016

–from Shackleton’s account “South” quoting from Captain J. R. Stenhouse— “Early in the afternoon [of March 13] a little progress was made, with all hands standing by to fend off high ice, and at 4.50 p.m. the ‘Aurora’ cleared the main pack. An hour was spent shipping the jury rudder under the counter, and the … More March 13-14, 1916: The of the end of the drift of the ‘Aurora’ “We ‘spliced the main brace’”

The Drift of Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’, February 12-14, 1916: “The ship was floating now amid fragments of floe, and bumping considerably in the swell. . . .”

February 17, 2016

–from Shackleton’s account ‘South’— “The break-up of the floe came on February 12. Strong northeast to southeast winds put the ice in motion and brought a perceptible swell. The ship was making some water, a foretaste of trouble to come, and all hands spent the day at the pumps, reducing the water from three feet … More The Drift of Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’, February 12-14, 1916: “The ship was floating now amid fragments of floe, and bumping considerably in the swell. . . .”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, February 2, 1916: “The venture was entirely successful”

February 3, 2016

–from Frank Hurley’s account “Shackleton’s Argonauts”— “Observations showed that the distance between our old Ocean Camp and our new Patience Camp had decreased from ten miles to six, owing to the shuffling of the ice floes. Since it was still light all night, Crean and I with the dogs left camp at one a.m. to … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, February 2, 1916: “The venture was entirely successful”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 29, 1916: “I decided to send Macklin and Hurley back with their dogs.”

January 30, 2016

–from Shackleton’s account “South”— “The ice between us and Ocean Camp, now only about five miles away and actually to the south-west of us, was very broken, but I decided to send Macklin and Hurley back with their dogs [the two teams yet remaining] to see if there were any more food that could be … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 29, 1916: “I decided to send Macklin and Hurley back with their dogs.”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 1916: “….a doubtful mixture not unlike haggis.. . .”

January 24, 2016

–from Frank Hurley’s account “Shackleton’s Argonauts”— “Occasionally meals were modified with a ration of dog pemmican. This was canned by the makers in one-pound tins, and the ‘Peggy’ for the next day took the tin into his sleeping bag overnight to thaw it out. For breakfast the square of pemmican was cut into four equal … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 1916: “….a doubtful mixture not unlike haggis.. . .”

Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’ Adrift, mid-January 1916: “. . . the ‘Aurora’ still lay in the ice. . . .”

January 23, 2016

–adapted by Shackleton from the log of Captain J. R. Stenhouse of the ‘Aurora’— “The middle of January was passed and the ‘Aurora’ still lay in the ice. The period of continuous day was drawing towards its close, and there was appreciable twilight at midnight. A dark water-sky could be seen on the northern horizon. … More Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’ Adrift, mid-January 1916: “. . . the ‘Aurora’ still lay in the ice. . . .”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 14, 1916: “The decision was made this morning to shoot most of the dogs. . . .”

January 14, 2016

–from the diary of Sir James Wordie– “14 January. Position 66º 57’ S., 52º 41’ W. Some important developments took place today; the Boss suddenly got anxious over the absence of seals which has held for some days, i.e. a possible shortage of dog food. “Now there seems to be only two alternatives as regards … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 14, 1916: “The decision was made this morning to shoot most of the dogs. . . .”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 1916: “To lose a spoon or a knife was a calamity.”

January 11, 2016

–from Frank Hurley’s account “Shackleton’s Argonauts”— “Table furniture was of the simplest. Our tent [Hurley shared a tent with Shackleton, Hudson, and James] possessed a sheath-knife which was common property. Each man had, in addition to a tin lid which served as a plate, a spoon, either a souvenir from the ‘Endurance’ or one carved … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, January 1916: “To lose a spoon or a knife was a calamity.”