The Endurance
Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
by Caroline Alexander
with the astonishing unpublished photographs of Frank Hurley
ISBN 0-375-40403-1
The Endurance
Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
by Caroline Alexander
with the astonishing unpublished photographs of Frank Hurley
ISBN 0-375-40403-1
It was The Heroic Age: 'Antarctic exploration of the early twentieth century was unlike exploration of anywhere else on earth. No dangerous beasts or savage natives barred the pioneering explorer's way. Here, with wind speeds up to nearly 200 miles an hour and temperatures as extreme as -100 deg F, the essential competitions were pure and uncomplicated, being between man and the unfettered force of raw nature, and the limits of his own endurance' writes Caroline Alexander
October 26, 1914 the Endurance with Shackleton and Hurley (the photographer) on board left Buenos Airies, Argentine and sailed South. James Francis Hurley the photographer a 26 year old Australian made the twentyseventh member of the crew under Shackleton.
While WW1 had broken out - it was a war that was going to be over by Christmas - the Endurance was instructed to sail-on, entering pack ice December 17, 1914 at 25 West, 57 South. Some 1200 miles further south, she became 'beset' in the ice January 18, 1915 at 35W 84S in the Weddell Sea and was carried for nine months by the ice, North until she was crushed and sank October 27, 1915.
The crew survived dragging the 2 ships boats' some 600 miles across the ice flows north to Elephant Island and made camp. They worked on the larger boat, the James Caird and on April 24 1916, Shackleton and six companions started their perilous 800 mile sea voyage to reach South Georgia - the nearest point of civilization to mount an operation to rescue their comrades, left on Elephant Island.
Launching the James Caird the food supplies on board for the 800 miles, were calculated to last the Caird's
six men four weeks -- "For if we did not make South Georgia in that time, " Shackleton wrote, "we were sure to go under"
Photo copyright: Royal Geographical Society.
Log of James Caird Tuesday April 25th Fine WSW breeze running all day sky overcast. Wed 26th WSW Gale squally & cloudy run 105 mile. Thurs 27 Northerly Gale overcast & heavy squally a hove too. Friday 28th Light NW to W winds mostly high NW swell. Sat 29th Fresh W to SW breeze squally running high seas. Sunday 30th hove too at 8AM and put out sea anchor at 3 PM heavy sprays breaking over the boat & freezing solid. Mon May 1st SSW Gale laying at sea anchor & mizzen.... sailing and weathering gales, for another nine days.....They made land on the southern side of King Haakon Bay, South Georgia on May 10th 1916. After four days resting and repairing the Caird they launched and made the northern shore. Time was running out with winter approaching. Shackleton and two others set off by foot May 16 to cross the mountains between King Haakon Bay and the whaling station the other side of the Island. The risk was enormous.
An old Norwegian whaler gave an account of their arrival in broken english. "Manager say: 'Who the hell are you?' and terrible bearded man in center of three say very quietly: 'My name is shackleton.' Me -- I turn away and weep."
The next day a whaler was sent to pick up the three crew of the Caird and May 23rd a relief ship with Shackleton was on its way to Elephant Island, and not one man was lost.
Not only an incredible story, well told but the photographs are just outstanding - the cold - the pack-ice - the Endurance beset and then being crushed.
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