The Great Boat Journey "Thurs. April 20th. A bitter day with
ocasional snow squalls. I don't think there are ever many fine
days on this forlorn island... I dont think there will be many
survivers if they have to put in a winter here." - Henry
"Chippy" McNish, Diary In early March, Orde-Lees reported
feeling seasick--the ice was so thin that the swell of the ocean
was now apparent. On April 9, 1916, the 28 men struck camp and
piled into the three life boats. At the mercy of prevailing
winds, the boats set course for a splinter of land called
Elephant Island, some 100 miles north. This terrible journey,
made in heaving seas, nearly cost many of the men their lives;
it did cost some their sanity. On the seventh day out from
Patience Camp, the boats arrived at Elephant Island. Knowing
that rescue would never come to the remote island, Shackleton
made a momentous decision: selecting five of the toughest and
best sailors--Worsley, Crean, McNish, McCarthy, and Vincent--he
announced that they would sail the largest