Wonderous! Thank you.
Posted by onar at March 8, 2009 06:34 PMThis is perhaps my favorite (packaged at that link as part of a Kodak website).
Oh, hell yes! Was this when Shackleton was setting out for Georgia Island? Is that the James Caird? Woo hoo! I love Shackleton! Good god, his story excited me as a kid! And the account of his attempted crossing of the continent was the first book I read that my father and I spent hours discussing together as equals. Shackleton's marvelous leadership, guffawing over the decisions he made...the first truly shared camaraderie as equals I ever had with my Dad.
Shackleton made every wrong decision from the type of ship to killing the dogs, and his leadership still saved everyone. Am I correct in thinking that no one has ever been able to replicate his crossing of South Georgia Island in the time Shackleton completed the crossing? Several have crossed it, just not as quickly as Shackleton.
I'm printing this to frame, and I thank you so very much.
Posted by phidipides at March 8, 2009 07:02 PMIndeed, the little lifeboat James Caird, caulked with oil paints and seal blood. Hurley captured the image as the boat was leaving. In that image I see the inspirational quality of a good leader. Those men expected their commander to come back.
We should not forget, however, Frank Wild's leadership of the crew remaining on Elephant Island and of course Worsley's navigational skill.
Do you know the story of the Ross Sea Party on the other side of the traverse route? Their job was to depot provisions for the the traverse team. Their ship, the Aurora, (and its crew) blew away in a storm. The depot party set the caches anyway, enduring some intense conditions. Three of the ten died before they were rescued two years later (by Shackleton, on the Aurora).
Posted by Christina at March 8, 2009 07:57 PMIndeed, the little lifeboat James Caird, caulked with oil paints and seal blood.
I thought McNish used flour and seal blood. No matter.
Do you know the story of the Ross Sea Party on the other side of the traverse route?
I know it in passing. Do you know if the Aurora was round-hulled or for speed? She survived the ice quite well...fairly well. As I remember the Endeavor was chosen over another ship (can't remember the name) for speed to get the expedition to the continent quickly rather than for her ability to survive sea ice.
These were amazing people.
Posted by phidipides at March 8, 2009 08:59 PMChristina, just you walking in the room always makes me feel ten times smarter and more curious about everything I don't know. I will explore your links over the next few days. Thanks and good to see you.
I don't know much about the ships but the Aurora was built as a northern whaler and made several Antarctic voyages. I think it sank (was sunk?) during WWI. The Antarctic Heritage Trust website is a treasure trove. I just learned that the Aurora hobbled into port (after 10 months adrift in the sea ice) at Port Chalmers, where I did a little walking and visited the Hotere Garden Oputae just yesterday. Nifty.
Posted by Christina at March 9, 2009 01:59 AM