Category Archives: Other Voices

Amundsen shooting the sun

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

“Taking an observation at the pole”. In: “The South Pole”, by Roald Amundsen, 1872-1928. P. 112, Volume II, Library Call Number M82.1/99 A529s, NOAA Photo Library. “Using Amundsen’s diary, Roland Huntford (in The Amundsen Photographs) describes the photo as “Shooting … Continue reading →

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Amundsen reaches the South Pole

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole on 14 December 1911. “Roald Amundsen, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting (l–r) at “Polheim”, the tent was upright at the South Pole on 16 December 1911. The top flag is … Continue reading →

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Crucial adjustments

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

Olav Bjaaland shaving off 2/3 of the sledges’ weight without compromising their sturdiness; Amundsen’s South Pole Expedition, 1910-12. “[Oscar] Wisting is sitting in the Great Ice Barrier and sewing tents on his Singer—in +14°…He is sewing new, light groundsheets in … Continue reading →

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Tabard Cigarette Company

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

Tabard cigarette tin, price realized: £1,076 on 25 September 2002, Christie’s London. From the auction catalog description: “The ‘Tabard’ Cigarette & Tobacco Co. Ltd.’ a ‘Tabard’ cigarette tin, 5¼in. (13.3cm.) long, containing Shackleton’s petty cash, the majority South American small … Continue reading →

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He who goes first into the fray

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

— F. S. Welhaven, 1807-1873, Norwegian: Protesilaos (1839-45).

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A command of vivid, forceful English

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

“If I said that any chapter was simply the transcription of notes taken down from Shackleton’s dictation, I should be telling an untruth. If I said that any chapter was entirely mine, I should be telling an untruth. My work … Continue reading →

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The undisputed Lion

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

“A green and blue gauze were put together to look like the sea, and between the folds fishes were placed. On the top of this a large sheet of plate glass was laid, edged around with seaweed. In the centre … Continue reading →

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The Lone Trail

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

THE LONE TRAIL Ye who know the Lone Trail fain would follow it, Though it lead to glory or the darkness of the pit. Ye who take the Lone Trail, bid your love good-by; The Lone Trail, the Lone Trail … Continue reading →

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Thousands of pounds for one biscuit

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

“Thousands of pounds would not have bought that one biscuit.” — Frank Wild, 1909 Nimrod Expedition biscuit sold at Christie’s in 2000 for £4,935. Nimrod Expedition biscuit sold at Christie’s in 2011 for £1,250. (photo: Ben Stansall for AFP)

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Forced March Tablets

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Ernest Shackleton

“Cocaine was dripped in the eye to cure snowblindness, and chalk ground up with opium was used for diarrhoea. No antibiotics in 1907 of course. Perhaps the only medications that Shackleton carried that we would still use today were aspirin … Continue reading →

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