

This eBook was converted to HTML and given additional editing by
Jose Menendez from the text edition produced by Geoffrey Cowling
gcowling@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au.  Illustrations added by Eric Eldred.
Computer-generated MP3 audio was generated by Bud Alverson.

___________________________________________________________________


                             SOUTH!

                          THE STORY OF
                  SHACKLETON'S LAST EXPEDITION
                           1914-1917

                 BY SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON C.V.O.



                               TO

                           MY COMRADES

                  WHO FELL IN THE WHITE WARFARE
                    OF THE SOUTH AND ON THE
                      RED FIELDS OF FRANCE
                          AND FLANDERS




CONTENTS


I.     INTO THE WEDDELL SEA
II.    NEW LAND
III.   WINTER MONTHS
IV.    LOSS OF THE 'ENDURANCE'
V.     OCEAN CAMP
VI.    THE MARCH BETWEEN
VII.   PATIENCE CAMP
VIII.  ESCAPE FROM THE ICE
IX.    THE BOAT JOUY
X.     ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA
XI.    THE RESCUE
XII.   ELEPHANT ISLAND
XIII.  THE ROSS SEA PARTY
XIV.   WINTERING IN McMURDO SOUND
XV.    LAYING THE DEPOTS
XVI.   THE 'AURORA'S' DRIFT
XVII.  THE LAST RELIEF
XVIII. THE FINAL PHASE

APPENDIX I:
  SCIENTIFIC WORK
  SEA-ICE NOMENCLATURE
  METEOROLOGY
  PHYSICS
  SOUTH ATLANTIC WHALES AND WHALING

APPENDIX II:
  THE EXPEDITION HUTS AT McMURDO SOUND

INDEX



PREFACE


After the conquest of the South Pole by Amundsen, who, by a narrow
margin of days only, was in advance of the British Expedition under
Scott, there remained but one great main object of Antarctic
journeyings--the crossing of the South Polar continent from sea to sea.

When I returned from the 'Nimrod' Expedition on which we had to turn
back from our attempt to plant the British flag on the South Pole,
being beaten by stress of circumstances within ninety-seven miles of
our goal, my mind turned to the crossing of the continent, for I was
morally certain that either Amundsen or Scott would reach the Pole on
our own route or a parallel one.  After hearing of the Norwegian
success I began to make preparations to start a last great journey--so
that the first crossing of the last continent should be achieved by a
British Expedition.

We failed in this object, but the story of our attempt is the subject
for the following pages, and I think that though failure in the actual
accomplishment must be recorded, there are chapters in this book of
high adventure, strenuous days, lonely nights, unique experiences, and,
above all, records of unflinching determination, supreme loyalty, and
generous self-sacrifice on the part of my men which, even in these days
that have witnessed the sacrifices of nations and regardlessness of
self on the part of individuals, still will be of interest to readers
who now turn gladly from the red horror of war and the strain of the
last five years to read, perhaps with more understanding minds, the
tale of the White Warfare of the South.  The struggles, the
disappointments, and  the endurance of this small party of Britishers,
hidden away for nearly two years in the fastnesses of the Polar ice,
striving to carry out the ordained task and ignorant of the crises
through which the world was passing, make a story which is unique in
the history of Antarctic exploration.

Owing to the loss of the 'Endurance' and the disaster to the 'Aurora',
certain documents relating mainly to the organization and preparation
of the Expedition have been lost; but, anyhow, I had no intention of
presenting a detailed account of the scheme of preparation, storing,
and other necessary but, to the general reader, unimportant affairs, as
since the beginning of this century, every book on Antarctic
exploration has dealt fully with this matter.  I therefore briefly
place before you the inception and organization of the Expedition, and
insert here the copy of the programme which I prepared in order to
arouse the interest of the general public in the Expedition.


"The Trans-continental Party.

"The first crossing of the Antarctic continent, from sea to sea via
the Pole, apart from its historic value, will be a journey of great
scientific importance.

"The distance will be roughly 1800 miles, and the first half of this,
from the Weddell Sea to the Pole, will be over unknown ground. Every
step will be an advance in geographical science. It will be learned
whether the great Victoria chain of mountains, which has been traced
from the Ross Sea to the Pole, extends across the continent and thus
links up (except for the ocean break) with the Andes of South America,
and whether the great plateau around the Pole dips gradually towards
the Weddell Sea.

"Continuous magnetic observations will be taken on the journey. The
route will lead towards the Magnetic Pole, and the determination of the
dip of the magnetic needle will be of importance in practical
magnetism.  The meteorological conditions will be carefully noted, and
this should help to solve many of our weather problems.

"The glaciologist and geologist will study ice formations and the
nature of the mountains, and this report will prove of great scientific
interest.

"Scientific Work by Other Parties.

"While the Trans-continental party is carrying out, for the British
Flag, the greatest Polar journey ever attempted, the other parties will
be engaged in important scientific work.

"Two sledging parties will operate from the base on the Weddell Sea.
One will travel westwards towards Graham Land, making observations,
collecting geological specimens, and proving whether there are
mountains in that region linked up with those found on the other side
of the Pole.

"Another party will travel eastward toward Enderby Land, carrying out
a similar programme, and a third, remaining at the base, will study the
fauna of the land and sea, and the meteorological conditions.

"From the Ross Sea base, on the other side of the Pole, another party
will push southward and will probably await the arrival of the Trans-
continental party at the top of the Beardmore Glacier, near Mount
Buckley, where the first seams of coal were discovered in the
Antarctic.  This region is of great importance to the geologist, who
will be enabled to read much of the history of the Antarctic in the
rocks.

"Both the ships of the Expedition will be equipped for dredging,
sounding, and every variety of hydrographical work.  The Weddell Sea
ship will endeavour to trace the unknown coast-line of Graham Land, and
from both the vessels, with their scientific staffs, important results
may be expected.

"The several shore parties and the two ships will thus carry out
