Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Today's picture shows Captain Lawrence
Edward Grace Oates, of the Terra Nova Antarctic Expedition. He
was chosen for the mission because of his financial support for
the effort, and his expertise with horses. He was at odds with
Captain Scott for most of the expedition, and felt the horses
provided for the mission were not suitable. Scott felt Oates was
a permanent pessimist. Oates was one of the five men on the
expedition to make the last leg of the trek, to the South Pole.
During the return march from the Pole, Oates grew weak,
suffering from frostbite. He was having difficulty keeping pace
with the party, yet they refused to leave him behind. He
realized that his weakened condition, and inability to maintain
the required pace was endangering the entire party. Realizing
the predicament, on March 16 he told his companions that "I am
just going outside and may be some time". Without even putting
his shoes on, he walked out into a blizzard, sacrificing himself
for the sake of the remai