South with Scott | Page 2

POLAR PARTY
XVIII. ADVENTURES OF THE NORTHERN PARTY
XIX. NARRATIVE OF THE "TERRA NOVA"
CHAPTER I

SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION--OUTFIT AND AIMS
It is nine years since the last supporting party bid farewell to Captain
Scott and his four brave companions, whose names are still fresh in the
memory of those who were interested in Captain Scott's last Polar
Expedition. The Great War has come and gone and the majority of us
wish to forget it, but the story of Scott undoubtedly appeals still to a
great number of people. It is a good story, and my only hope is that I
can retell it well enough to make my volume worth while reading after
so much has already been published concerning the work of the British
Antarctic Expedition of 1910.
The main object of our expedition was to reach the South Pole and
secure for the British nation the honour of that achievement, but the
attainment of the Pole was far from being the only object in view, for
Scott intended to extend his former discoveries and bring back a rich
harvest of scientific results. Certainly no expedition ever left our shores
with a more ambitious scientific programme, nor was any enterprise of
this description ever undertaken by a more enthusiastic and determined
personnel. We should never have collected our expeditionary funds
merely from the scientific point of view; in fact, many of our largest
supporters cared not one iota for science, but the idea of the Polar
adventure captured their interest. On the other hand, a number of our
supporters affected a contempt for the Polar dash and only interested
themselves in the question of advanced scientific study in the Antarctic.
As the expedition progressed, however, the most unenthusiastic
member of the company developed the serious taste, and in no case did
we ever hear from the scientific staff complaints that the Naval
members failed to help them in their work with a zeal that was quite
unexpected. This applies more particularly to the seamen and stokers.
Captain Scott originally intended to make his winter quarters in King
Edward VII. Land, but altered the arrangement after the fullest
discussion with his scientific friends and advisers, and planned that a
small party of six should examine this part of the Antarctic and follow
the coast southward from its junction with the Great Ice Barrier,
penetrating as far south as they were able, surveying geographically

and geologically. This part of the programme was never carried out,
owing to the ice conditions thereabouts preventing a landing either on
the Barrier or in King Edward VII. Land itself.
The main western party Scott planned to command himself, the base to
be at Cape Crozier or in McMurdo Sound, near the site of the
"Discovery's" old winter quarters at Cape Armitage, the exact position
to be governed by the ice conditions on arrival.
Dogs, ponies, motor sledges and man-hauling parties on ski were to
perform the Polar journey by a system of relays or supporting parties.
Scott's old comrade, Dr. E.A. Wilson of Cheltenham, was selected as
chief of the scientific staff and to act as artist to the expedition. Three
geologists were chosen and two biologists, to continue the study of
marine fauna and carry out research work in depths up to 500 fathoms.
The expeditionary ship was to be fitted for taking deep-sea soundings
and magnetic observations, and the meteorological programme
included the exploration of the upper air currents and the investigation
of the electrical conditions of the atmosphere. We were fortunate in
securing as meteorologist the eminent physicist, Dr. G. Simpson, who
is now head of the Meteorological Office in London. Dr. Simpson was
to have charge of the self-recording magnetic instruments ashore at the
main base.
Study of ice structure and glaciation was undertaken by Mr. C.S.
Wright, who was also assistant physicist. The magnetic work of the
ship was entrusted to Lieut. Harry Pennell, R.N., an officer of more
than ordinary scientific attainments and a distinguished navigator. Lieut.
Henry Rennick was given control of the hydrographical survey work
and deep-sea sounding. Two surgeons were lent by the Royal Navy for
the study of bacteriology and parasitology in addition to their medical
duties, and Mr. Herbert G. Ponting was chosen as camera artist and
cinematographer to the Expedition.
To my mind the outfit and preparations were the hardest part of our
work, for we were not assure of funds until the day of our departure.
This did not lighten Scott's burden. The plans of the British Antarctic
Expedition of 1910 were first published on September 13, 1909, but

although Scott's appeal to the nation was heartily endorsed by the Press,
it was not until the spring of 1910 that we had collected the first 10,000
pounds. Personally, I was despatched to South Wales