[Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his companions perished in the Antarctic in 1912 on their return journey from the South Pole. The tragic story of their endurance and heroism has been learned from the following last entries in Scott"s diary, which the relief party found in the explorers" last camp-only eleven miles from the depot in which food and fuel had been stored.]
Friday, March 16 or Saturday 17.-Lost track of dates, but think the last correct. Tragedy all along the line. At lunch, the day before yesterday, poor Titus Oates said he couldn"t go on; he proposed we should leave him in his sleeping-bag. That we could not do, and induced him to come on, on the afternoon march. In spite of its awful nature for him, he struggled on and we made a few miles. At night he was worse, and we knew the end had come.
Should this be found I want these facts recorded. Oates"s last thoughts were of his mother, but immediately before he took pride in thinking that his regiment would be pleased with the bold way in which he met his death. We can testify to his bravery. He has borne intense suffering for weeks without complaint, and to the very last was able and willing to discuss outside subjects. He did not-would not-give up hope to the very end. He was a brave soul. This was the end. He sleptthrough the night before last, hoping not to wake; but he woke in the morning-yesterday. It was blowing a blizzard. He said, "I am just going outside and may be some time. " He went out into the blizzard, and we have not seen him since.
We knew that poor Oates was walking to his death; but,The last page of Scott" diary.
though we tried to dissuade him, we knew it was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman. We all hope to meet the end with a similar spirit, and assuredly the end is not far.
Wednesday, March 21.-Got within eleven miles of depot,Monday night; had to lay up all yesterday in severe blizzard. To-day forlorn hope, Wilson and Bowers going to depot for fuel.
22 and 23.-Blizzard bad as ever-Wilson and Bowersunable to start-to-morrow last chance-no fuel and only one or two of food left-must be near the end. Have decided it shall be natural-we shall march for the depot with or without our effects and die in our tracks.
Thursday, March 29.-Since the 21st we have had acontinuous gale from W.S.W. and S.W. We had fuel to make two cups of tea apiece and bare food for two days on the 20th. Every day we have been ready to start for our depot eleven miles away, but outside the door of the tent it remains a scene of whirling drift. I do not think we can hope for any better things now. We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more.
R. Scott.
［Wilson and Bowers were found in the attitude of sleep, their sleeping-bags closed over their heads as they would naturally close them.
Scott died later. He had thrown back the flaps of hissleeping-bag and opened his coat. The little wallet containing the three notebooks was under his shoulders, and his arm flung across Wilson. So they were found, eight months later.］Author.-Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912), born in Devonport, England, in 1868. At the age of fourteen, he joined the British Navy and by 1900 had received the rank of commander. He led several Antarctic expeditions, in the last of which he, together with some companions, met his death, about March, 1912.
General Notes.-See a map of Antarctica. What do you think ofOates"s last exploit? What good comes to Antarctic exploration ? Compare Scott"s death with that of Sir John Franklin.
Titus Oates is a notorious figure in English history. See what you can find out about him. Since his time nearly every one called Oates has been given the nickname of Titus.