Part 13 (1/2)
Neither the _Terra Nova_ nor the _Morning_ had yet arrived, and the days of waiting were spent in making their s.h.i.+p as smart as possible before the eyes of the mult.i.tude gazed upon her. Thus, in a few days, the _Discovery_ looked as though she had spent her adventurous years in some peaceful harbor.
On March 19 the _Terra Nova_ hove in sight, and was followed on the next day by the _Morning_. Both s.h.i.+ps had experienced the most terrible weather, and everyone on board the little _Morning_ declared that she had only been saved from disaster by the consummate seamans.h.i.+p of Captain Colbeck.
A few days later the small fleet again set sail, and after a most favorable voyage was at daybreak on April 1 [Page 199]
off the Heads of Lyttelton Harbor; and before noon they were safely berthed alongside the jetty, from which they had sailed with such hearty wishes more than two years before.
'New Zealand,' Scott said, 'welcomed us as its own, and showered on us a wealth of hospitality and kindness which a.s.suredly we can never forget, however difficult we may have found it to express our thanks. In these delightful conditions, with everything that could make for perfect rest and comfort, we abode for two full months before we set out on our last long voyage.'
June 8, however, found them at sea again, and a month or so later they anch.o.r.ed in Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), where they replenished their stock of coal and took the last series of magnetic observations in connection with their Southern Survey. And from the Falkland Islands, Scott wrote a letter which is yet another testimony of the admiration he felt for his companions. 'The praise,' he wrote, 'for whatever success we have had is really due to the s.h.i.+p's company as a whole rather than to individuals. That is not very clear, perhaps; what I mean is that the combination of individual effort for the common good has achieved our results, and the absence of any spirit of self-seeking. The motto throughout has been ”share and share alike,” and its most practical form lies, perhaps, in the fact that throughout our three years there has been no distinction between the food served to officers and men.
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'Under these circ.u.mstances I naturally feel that I can claim no greater share of achievement than those who have stood by me so loyally, and so I regard myself merely as the lucky figure-head.
'But it is good news to hear that the Admiralty are sympathetic, for I feel that no effort should be spared to gain their recognition of the splendid qualities displayed by officers and men.'
Early on the morning of September 9 the homeland was sighted, and for those who gazed longingly over the bulwarks and waited to welcome and be welcomed, there was only one cloud to dim the joy of their return. For with the happiness came also the sad thought that the end had come to those ties, which had held together the small band of the _Discovery_ in the closest companions.h.i.+p and most unswerving loyalty.
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THE LAST EXPEDITION
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PREFACE TO 'SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION'
By Sir CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, K.C.B.
Fourteen years ago Robert Falcon Scott was a rising naval officer, able, accomplished, popular, highly thought of by his superiors, and devoted to his n.o.ble profession. It was a serious responsibility to induce him to take up the work of an explorer; yet no man living could be found who was so well fitted to command a great Antarctic Expedition. The undertaking was new and unprecedented. The object was to explore the unknown Antarctic Continent by land. Captain Scott entered upon the enterprise with enthusiasm tempered by prudence and sound sense. All had to be learnt by a thorough study of the history of Arctic traveling, combined with experience of different conditions in the Antarctic Regions. Scott was the initiator and founder of Antarctic sledge-traveling.
His discoveries were of great importance. The survey and soundings along the Barrier cliffs, the discovery of King Edward Land, the discovery of Ross Island and the other volcanic islets, the examination of the Barrier surface, the discovery of the Victoria Mountains--a range of great height and many hundreds [Page 204]
of miles in length, which had only before been seen from a distance out at sea--and above all the discovery of the great ice cap on which the South Pole is situated, by one of the most remarkable Polar journeys on record. His small but excellent scientific staff worked hard and with trained intelligence, their results being recorded in twelve large quarto volumes.
The great discoverer had no intention of losing touch with his beloved profession though resolved to complete his Antarctic work.
The exigencies of the naval service called him to the command of battles.h.i.+ps and to confidential work of the Admiralty; so that five years elapsed before he could resume his Antarctic labours.
The object of Captain Scott's second expedition was mainly scientific, to complete and extend his former work in all branches of science. It was his ambition that in his s.h.i.+p there should be the most completely equipped expedition for scientific purposes connected with the Polar regions, both as regards men and material, that ever left these sh.o.r.es. In this he succeeded. He had on board a fuller complement of geologists, one of them especially trained for the study, of physiography, biologists, physicists, and surveyors than ever before composed the staff of a Polar expedition. Thus Captain Scott's objects were strictly scientific, including the completion and extension of his former discoveries. The results will be explained in the second volume of this work. They will be found to be extensive and important. Never before, in the [Page 205]
Polar regions, have meteorological, magnetic and tidal observations been taken, in one locality, during five years. It was also part of Captain Scott's plan to reach the South Pole by a long and most arduous journey, but here again his intention was, if possible, to achieve scientific results on the way, especially hoping to discover fossils which would throw light on the former history of the great range of mountains which he had made known to science.
The princ.i.p.al aim of this great man--for he rightly has his niche among the Polar _Dii Majores_--was the advancement of knowledge.
From all aspects Scott was among the most remarkable men of our time, and the vast number of readers of his journal will be deeply impressed with the beauty of his character. The chief traits which shone forth through his life were conspicuous in the hour of death.
There are few events in history to be compared, for grandeur and pathos, with the last closing scene in that silent wilderness of snow. The great leader, with the bodies of his dearest friends beside him, wrote and wrote until the pencil dropped from his dying grasp. There was no thought of himself, only the earnest desire to give comfort and consolation to others in their sorrow. His very last lines were written lest he who induced him to enter upon Antarctic work should now feel regret for what he had done.
'If I cannot write to Sir Clements, tell him I thought much of him, and never regretted his putting me in command of the _Discovery_.'
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The following appointments were held in the Royal Navy by Captain Scott between 1905 and 1910:
January to July, 1906 Admiralty (a.s.sistant Director of Naval Intelligence.) Aug. 21, 1906, to Jan. 1, 1907 _Victorious_ (Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Egerton, Rear-Admiral in the Atlantic Fleet).