Monthly Archives: November 2015

“Epidemic proportions”

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Word arrived on 11/26 that somebody in No. 5 tent had unearthed a fresh deck of playing cards. Along with McIlroy, [Shackleton] spent hours teaching them how to play bridge. Within forty-eight hours, the popularity of the game reached epidemic … Continue reading →

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Naming of the boats

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Crews have been allotted to the three boats, which have been christened the James Caird, the Dudley Docker and the Stancombe Wills, and a list of responsible duties drawn up to be performed by individuals in case of emergency. Since … Continue reading →

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Penguin-skinning

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

Shackleton, with Hurley skinning a penguin.

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“She’s going, boys.”

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

Break-up of the Endurance: Frank Hurley’s 1915 footage, plus new animation. Directed by Sarah Galloway for @AMNH “Hurley meanwhile had rigged his kinematograph-camera and was getting pictures of the Endurance in her death-throes. While he was engaged thus, the ice, … Continue reading →

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I shot the Albatross

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1834 […] And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he Was tyrannous and strong: He struck with his o’ertaking wings, And chased us south along. With sloping masts and dipping prow, … Continue reading →

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The Encyclopedia Britannica

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“For descriptions of every American town that ever has been, is, or ever will be, and for full and complete biographies of every statesman since the time of George Washington and long before, the Encyclopedia would be hard to beat. … Continue reading →

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A bloody business

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Killing the seal was usually a bloody business. Wild had brought from the ship a revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun, and .33-caliber rifle, but ammunition was limited. As a result, the men killed the seals by hand whenever possible. This involved … Continue reading →

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It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

[It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, sung by Tom Yorke, 1914; as played on a 78] “The ship is now a deplorable wreck, hard down by the bows, almost waterlogged, and the ice has absolutely over-ridden her forward. The funnel … Continue reading →

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The surface is awful!

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“The temperature still continued to rise, reaching 33° Fahr. on November 14. The thaw consequent upon these high temperatures was having a disastrous effect upon the surface of our camp. ‘The surface is awful!—not slushy, but elusive. You step out … Continue reading →

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The usefulness of skis

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“I had been back and forth four times, when Shackleton said to me… ‘Do you know, I had no idea how quickly it was possible for a man on ski to get about. In that respect you’d have been quite … Continue reading →

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