“It is very good of him to go off like this for our benefit, but as we could quite well exist here through the winter, provided we lay in an adequate store of penguins, and made for Deception Island next spring, only 200 miles off, I think he is really risking his life needlessly.”
— Thomas Orde-Lees
“Six proven veterans, seasoned by the salt & experience of the Sea. The distance to… South Georgia is 700 miles, 700 miles of wintry sea, the most tempestuous zone of the oceans. The Caird is an excellent sailer, & guided by providence, should make Sth. Georgia in 14 days. It is intended to commission the “Undine” of the Grytviken Whaling Coy, & rescue this party immediately. How we shall count the days.”
— Frank Hurley
“With a final wave of the hand, and three squawky cheers from us and the penguins, Sir Ernest and his crew set off on their perilous voyage. We watched them until they were out of sight, which was not long, for such a tiny boat was soon lost to sight on the great heaving ocean; as she dipped into the trough of each wave, she soon disappeared, sail and all.”
— Thomas Orde-Lees
April 23rd, 1916 Elephant Island
Dear Sir
In the event of my not surviving the boat journey to South Georgia you will do your best for the rescue of the party. You are in full command from the time the boat leaves this island, and all hands are under your orders. On your return to England you are to communicate with the Committee. I wish you, Lees & Hurley to write the book. You watch my interests. In another letter you will find the terms as agreed for lecturing you to do England Great Britain & Continent. Hurley the U.S.A. I have every confidence in you and always have had, May God prosper your work and your life. You can convey my love to my people and say I tried my best.
Yours sincerely
E.H. SHACKLETON
FRANK WILD
Stores:
30 boxes of matches.
6 1/2 gallons paraffin.
1 tin methylated spirit.
10 boxes of flamers.
1 box of blue lights.
2 Primus stoves with spare parts and prickers.
1 Nansen aluminum cooker.
6 sleeping bags.
A few spare socks.
A few candles and some blubber oil in an oil bag.
Food:
3 cases sledging rations = 300 rations.
2 cases nut food = 200 ”
2 cases biscuits = 600 biscuits.
1 case lump sugar.
30 packets of Trumilk.
1 tin of Bovril cubes.
1 tin of Cerebos salt.
36 gallons of water.
112 lb. of ice.
Instruments:
Sextant.
Binoculars.
Prismatic compass.
Sea anchor.
Charts.
Aneroid.
Also ballast: about 1000 lb. of sand-and gravel-filled sewn blankets, and a number of round boulders.
“21st April, 1916
To whom this may concern viz. my executors assigns etc. Under is my signature to the following instructions.
In the event of my not surviving the boat journey to South Georgia I here instruct Frank Hurley to take complete charge & responsibility for exploitation of all films & photographic reproductions of all films & negatives taken on this Expedition the aforesaid films & negatives to become the Property of Frank Hurley after due exploitation, in which, the moneys to be paid to my executors will be according to the contract made at the start of the expedition. The exploitation expires after a lapse of eighteen months from date of first public display.
I bequeath the big binoculars to Frank Hurley.
E. H. SHACKLETON
Witness
JOHN VINCENT”
“[The carpenter] fitted the mast of the Stancomb Wills fore and aft inside the James Caird as a hog-back and thus strengthened the keel with the object of preventing our boat ‘hogging’—that is, buckling in heavy seas. He had not sufficient wood to provide a deck, but by using the sledge runners and box lids he made a framework extending from the forecastle aft to a well. It was a patched-up affair, but it provided a base for a canvas covering.
“We had a bolt of canvas frozen stiff, and this material had to be cut and then thawed out over the blubber stove, foot by foot, in order that it might be sewn into the form of a cover.
“When it had been nailed and screwed into position it certainly gave an appearance of safety to the boat, though I had an uneasy feeling that it bore a strong likeness to stage scenery, which may look like a granite wall and is in fact nothing better than canvas and lath.”
— Ernest Shackleton, South
top row: Shackleton, Worsley, Crean; bottom row: McNeish, McCarthy, Vincent
“There is a party of 6 going to Georgia in the Caird. The party includes:
Sir Ernest
Skipper
Creen
Macnish
McCarthy
Vincent.”
— Harry McNeish
“The conclusion was forced upon me, that a boat journey in search of relief was necessary… the hazards were obvious, but I calculated that at worst this venture would add nothing to the risks of the men left on the island… Worsley and Wild realised that the attempt must be made and asked to be allowed to accompany me on the voyage.
“I had at once, to tell Wild that he must stay behind, for I relied upon him to hold the party together while I was away, and, should our attempt… end in failure, to make the best of his way to Deception Island in the spring. I determined to take Worsley with me as I had a very high opinion of his accuracy and quickness as a navigator.”
— Ernest Shackleton, South
Shackleton. 