Douglas Mawson chose for his expedition a 2,000 mile swath of Antarctica all of
a 2,000 mile swath of Antarctica all of
a 2,000 mile swath of Antarctica all of it unknown he actually says in his diary
it unknown he actually says in his diary
it unknown he actually says in his diary I have no hope of making it back
I have no hope of making it back
I have no hope of making it back amazingly a verse came into his head
amazingly a verse came into his head
amazingly a verse came into his head just have one more try it’s dead easy to
just have one more try it’s dead easy to
just have one more try it’s dead easy to die it’s the keeping on living that’s
die it’s the keeping on living that’s
die it’s the keeping on living that’s hard here’s one of the great stories in
hard here’s one of the great stories in
hard here’s one of the great stories in exploration history that deserves to be
exploration history that deserves to be
exploration history that deserves to be better known
in January 1915 Douglas Mawson spoke to
in January 1915 Douglas Mawson spoke to the National Geographic Society 98 years
the National Geographic Society 98 years
the National Geographic Society 98 years ago so it’s a wonderful tradition that
ago so it’s a wonderful tradition that
ago so it’s a wonderful tradition that the society has of speakers who were
the society has of speakers who were
the society has of speakers who were still celebrating a century later who
still celebrating a century later who
still celebrating a century later who actually came spoke to the Society
actually came spoke to the Society
actually came spoke to the Society Mawson was the contemporary of Scot
Mawson was the contemporary of Scot
Mawson was the contemporary of Scot Shackleton an Amundsen and has been
Shackleton an Amundsen and has been
Shackleton an Amundsen and has been eclipsed ever since by those three great
eclipsed ever since by those three great
eclipsed ever since by those three great figures and I think there’s three
figures and I think there’s three
figures and I think there’s three reasons for it the first is that he was
reasons for it the first is that he was
reasons for it the first is that he was Australian and sadly we in the Western
Australian and sadly we in the Western
Australian and sadly we in the Western Hemisphere and in Europe have always
Hemisphere and in Europe have always
Hemisphere and in Europe have always looked at Australia and Australian deeds
looked at Australia and Australian deeds
looked at Australia and Australian deeds as way out there on the periphery the
as way out there on the periphery the
as way out there on the periphery the second reason is that unlike those other
second reason is that unlike those other
second reason is that unlike those other three greats Mawson was totally
three greats Mawson was totally
three greats Mawson was totally uninterested in going to the South Pole
uninterested in going to the South Pole
uninterested in going to the South Pole he saw that as completely arbitrary and
he saw that as completely arbitrary and
he saw that as completely arbitrary and and pointless he was interested in
and pointless he was interested in
and pointless he was interested in science and science to him meant
science and science to him meant
science and science to him meant collecting everything in sight and
collecting everything in sight and
collecting everything in sight and exploring unknown land so Mawson chose
exploring unknown land so Mawson chose
exploring unknown land so Mawson chose for his expedition not a quest for the
for his expedition not a quest for the
for his expedition not a quest for the pole the South Pole but a survey as
pole the South Pole but a survey as
pole the South Pole but a survey as complete as possible of a 2,000 mile
complete as possible of a 2,000 mile
complete as possible of a 2,000 mile swath of the continents directly south
swath of the continents directly south
swath of the continents directly south of Australia completely unknown land so
of Australia completely unknown land so
of Australia completely unknown land so unknown that it was a flip of the coin
unknown that it was a flip of the coin
unknown that it was a flip of the coin whether it was actually land at all as
whether it was actually land at all as
whether it was actually land at all as opposed to a series of little rocky
opposed to a series of little rocky
opposed to a series of little rocky islands surrounded by sea ice and
islands surrounded by sea ice and
islands surrounded by sea ice and finally the reason he’s neglected or not
finally the reason he’s neglected or not
finally the reason he’s neglected or not so well known today is that he returned
so well known today is that he returned
so well known today is that he returned to Australia with the greatest survival
to Australia with the greatest survival
to Australia with the greatest survival story ever at the same time as the news
story ever at the same time as the news
story ever at the same time as the news about Amundsen and Scott’s race to the
about Amundsen and Scott’s race to the
about Amundsen and Scott’s race to the pole was circling the globe and the
pole was circling the globe and the
pole was circling the globe and the tragic story if Scott reaching the pole
tragic story if Scott reaching the pole
tragic story if Scott reaching the pole a month after Amundsen but dying with
a month after Amundsen but dying with
a month after Amundsen but dying with his four companions on the return
his four companions on the return
his four companions on the return March this so captured not just the
March this so captured not just the
March this so captured not just the British audience but the the attention
British audience but the the attention
British audience but the the attention of the public world over worldwide that
of the public world over worldwide that
of the public world over worldwide that Mawson was sort of eclipsed by this and
Mawson was sort of eclipsed by this and
Mawson was sort of eclipsed by this and has been ever since the famous studio
has been ever since the famous studio
has been ever since the famous studio portrait of him taken when he was 28
portrait of him taken when he was 28
portrait of him taken when he was 28 there the quote from Washington Post his
there the quote from Washington Post his
there the quote from Washington Post his mind impossibly handsome he was 6 feet 3
mind impossibly handsome he was 6 feet 3
mind impossibly handsome he was 6 feet 3 with sparkling blue eyes and but he was
with sparkling blue eyes and but he was
with sparkling blue eyes and but he was also a great he was as great a leader of
also a great he was as great a leader of
also a great he was as great a leader of men as Shackleton
men as Shackleton
men as Shackleton the photos from here on or her lease and
the photos from here on or her lease and
the photos from here on or her lease and Hurley was a young up-and-coming
Hurley was a young up-and-coming
Hurley was a young up-and-coming Australian photographer who attracted
Australian photographer who attracted
Australian photographer who attracted boss’s attention but almost didn’t go on
boss’s attention but almost didn’t go on
boss’s attention but almost didn’t go on the expedition because Mom because his
the expedition because Mom because his
the expedition because Mom because his Hurley’s mother wrote Mawson a letter
Hurley’s mother wrote Mawson a letter
Hurley’s mother wrote Mawson a letter saying for God’s sake don’t take my son
saying for God’s sake don’t take my son
saying for God’s sake don’t take my son on the expedition he’ll never survive
on the expedition he’ll never survive
on the expedition he’ll never survive he’s in very poor health and without
he’s in very poor health and without
he’s in very poor health and without Hurley knowing mom had written this
Hurley knowing mom had written this
Hurley knowing mom had written this letter so Moss and grilled and examined
letter so Moss and grilled and examined
letter so Moss and grilled and examined and questioned Hurley at length and
and questioned Hurley at length and
and questioned Hurley at length and finally decided to let him come along
finally decided to let him come along
finally decided to let him come along and history is that much the richer for
and history is that much the richer for
and history is that much the richer for it most of the other members were so
it most of the other members were so
it most of the other members were so green they’ve never been on expeditions
green they’ve never been on expeditions
green they’ve never been on expeditions before they averaged an age only about
before they averaged an age only about
before they averaged an age only about 24 a lot of them were University
24 a lot of them were University
24 a lot of them were University graduate students of Mawson’s and others
graduate students of Mawson’s and others
graduate students of Mawson’s and others something like a third of them had never
something like a third of them had never
something like a third of them had never seen snow there’s a lot of snow in
seen snow there’s a lot of snow in
seen snow there’s a lot of snow in Australia and they say things like on
Australia and they say things like on
Australia and they say things like on their diaries on the first first days on
their diaries on the first first days on
their diaries on the first first days on shore my first day in his sleeping bag
shore my first day in his sleeping bag
shore my first day in his sleeping bag when they got to Cape Denison they had a
when they got to Cape Denison they had a
when they got to Cape Denison they had a snowball fight
they were like kids they were like frat
they were like kids they were like frat boys you know running wild one of their
boys you know running wild one of their
boys you know running wild one of their first favorite occupations was to push
first favorite occupations was to push
first favorite occupations was to push penguins off the cliffs into the water
so he set out with 38 men 31 men in late
so he set out with 38 men 31 men in late nineteen eleven with a completely
nineteen eleven with a completely
nineteen eleven with a completely radical new plan for how to approach
radical new plan for how to approach
radical new plan for how to approach Antarctica the plan was to use as a way
Antarctica the plan was to use as a way
Antarctica the plan was to use as a way station halfway between Antarctica
station halfway between Antarctica
station halfway between Antarctica Australia Antarctica Macquarie Island a
Australia Antarctica Macquarie Island a
Australia Antarctica Macquarie Island a long time sealing station fairly
long time sealing station fairly
long time sealing station fairly desolate place in its own right but
desolate place in its own right but
desolate place in its own right but where he hoped to drop off five men to
where he hoped to drop off five men to
where he hoped to drop off five men to erect radio masts and transmitting
erect radio masts and transmitting
erect radio masts and transmitting equipment
equipment
equipment Mawson hoped to be the first expedition
Mawson hoped to be the first expedition
Mawson hoped to be the first expedition ever to have radio contact with the
ever to have radio contact with the
ever to have radio contact with the outside and yeah it was a brilliant plan
outside and yeah it was a brilliant plan
outside and yeah it was a brilliant plan that that was wrecked by some very
that that was wrecked by some very
that that was wrecked by some very strange factors I’ll get into later the
strange factors I’ll get into later the
strange factors I’ll get into later the the ship having dropped off the 5-minute
the ship having dropped off the 5-minute
the ship having dropped off the 5-minute Macquarie what went straight south
Macquarie what went straight south
Macquarie what went straight south hoping to find a good Anchorage on the
hoping to find a good Anchorage on the
hoping to find a good Anchorage on the continent itself and all they found was
continent itself and all they found was
continent itself and all they found was ice cliffs so they kept skirting west
ice cliffs so they kept skirting west
ice cliffs so they kept skirting west and west and west looking for any kind
and west and west looking for any kind
and west and west looking for any kind of an inlet and meanwhile the ship got
of an inlet and meanwhile the ship got
of an inlet and meanwhile the ship got terribly iced up every day finally they
terribly iced up every day finally they
terribly iced up every day finally they came to a plausible Inlet which they
came to a plausible Inlet which they
came to a plausible Inlet which they named Commonwealth Bay unwittingly it
named Commonwealth Bay unwittingly it
named Commonwealth Bay unwittingly it turns out to be the windiest place in
turns out to be the windiest place in
turns out to be the windiest place in the world at sea level
the world at sea level
the world at sea level the summit of k2 may be windier but
the summit of k2 may be windier but
the summit of k2 may be windier but scientists 70 years later proved that
scientists 70 years later proved that
scientists 70 years later proved that the the winds here are literally the
the the winds here are literally the
the the winds here are literally the fiercest and most continuous anywhere in
fiercest and most continuous anywhere in
fiercest and most continuous anywhere in the world any other part of Antarctica
the world any other part of Antarctica
the world any other part of Antarctica any other place in the world and this
any other place in the world and this
any other place in the world and this created tremendous stress and hampered
created tremendous stress and hampered
created tremendous stress and hampered all of the research efforts of the team
all of the research efforts of the team
all of the research efforts of the team to give you an idea what that means that
to give you an idea what that means that
to give you an idea what that means that in the month of May 1912 which is one of
in the month of May 1912 which is one of
in the month of May 1912 which is one of the coldest and darkest months in
the coldest and darkest months in
the coldest and darkest months in Antarctica the average wind velocity day
Antarctica the average wind velocity day
Antarctica the average wind velocity day and night
and night
and night hours a day for a month was sixty point
hours a day for a month was sixty point
hours a day for a month was sixty point seven miles an hour I mean some of you
seven miles an hour I mean some of you
seven miles an hour I mean some of you have been in sixty mile an hour winds
have been in sixty mile an hour winds
have been in sixty mile an hour winds for a few hours it’s rough I love this
for a few hours it’s rough I love this
for a few hours it’s rough I love this photo of a bunch of penguins right after
photo of a bunch of penguins right after
photo of a bunch of penguins right after a blasting sleet storm
a blasting sleet storm
a blasting sleet storm the poor guy on the Left doesn’t know
the poor guy on the Left doesn’t know
the poor guy on the Left doesn’t know what hit a many others the others are
what hit a many others the others are
what hit a many others the others are wondering what hit him too
wondering what hit him too
wondering what hit him too all they can do this winging summer an
all they can do this winging summer an
all they can do this winging summer an early autumn of 1912 is make
early autumn of 1912 is make
early autumn of 1912 is make reconnaissance ‘as the big expeditions
reconnaissance ‘as the big expeditions
reconnaissance ‘as the big expeditions are going to happen next summer so they
are going to happen next summer so they
are going to happen next summer so they have to win her over
have to win her over
have to win her over then the autumn wanes and winter sets in
then the autumn wanes and winter sets in
then the autumn wanes and winter sets in but inside the hut you could have a
but inside the hut you could have a
but inside the hut you could have a certain coziness and camaraderie they
certain coziness and camaraderie they
certain coziness and camaraderie they they always centered around the
they always centered around the
they always centered around the gramophone and Mawson was very collegial
gramophone and Mawson was very collegial
gramophone and Mawson was very collegial he would share messes with it with his
he would share messes with it with his
he would share messes with it with his man always and was one of the guys and
man always and was one of the guys and
man always and was one of the guys and you get a sense of how beleaguered the
you get a sense of how beleaguered the
you get a sense of how beleaguered the snowpack made living in the hut you
snowpack made living in the hut you
snowpack made living in the hut you couldn’t get in the doorways after walls
couldn’t get in the doorways after walls
couldn’t get in the doorways after walls he had to climb out these escape hatches
he had to climb out these escape hatches
he had to climb out these escape hatches in the roof that’s the actual doorway
in the roof that’s the actual doorway
in the roof that’s the actual doorway which has turned into a tunnel of snow
which has turned into a tunnel of snow
which has turned into a tunnel of snow this illustrates the difficulty of
this illustrates the difficulty of
this illustrates the difficulty of working in the wind
working in the wind
working in the wind Hurley called this wind walking he said
Hurley called this wind walking he said
Hurley called this wind walking he said that you could wind walk in an 80 mile
that you could wind walk in an 80 mile
that you could wind walk in an 80 mile an hour wind this is maybe 80 miles an
an hour wind this is maybe 80 miles an
an hour wind this is maybe 80 miles an hour but a hundred miles an hour at not
hour but a hundred miles an hour at not
hour but a hundred miles an hour at not g-flat
g-flat
g-flat Hurley shot a lot of these this is a guy
Hurley shot a lot of these this is a guy
Hurley shot a lot of these this is a guy who’s just gone out for an hour to check
who’s just gone out for an hour to check
who’s just gone out for an hour to check the wind gauge and other scientific
the wind gauge and other scientific
the wind gauge and other scientific instruments and by the time he gets back
instruments and by the time he gets back
instruments and by the time he gets back into the hut that’s what his hood and
into the hut that’s what his hood and
into the hut that’s what his hood and face look like most of the work was man
face look like most of the work was man
face look like most of the work was man hauling sledges with makeshift sails to
hauling sledges with makeshift sails to
hauling sledges with makeshift sails to help and moss had divided all his 18 men
help and moss had divided all his 18 men
help and moss had divided all his 18 men into three-man parties that would go out
into three-man parties that would go out
into three-man parties that would go out every which way the simple point was
every which way the simple point was
every which way the simple point was just discovered new land go every
just discovered new land go every
just discovered new land go every direction possible finally the next
direction possible finally the next
direction possible finally the next summer came six parties set out in six
summer came six parties set out in six
summer came six parties set out in six different directions three-man parties
different directions three-man parties
different directions three-man parties all of the man’s
all of the man’s
all of the man’s man hauling except the three-man team
man hauling except the three-man team
man hauling except the three-man team that was the most ambitious that by
that was the most ambitious that by
that was the most ambitious that by maussan his two teammates were Savior
maussan his two teammates were Savior
maussan his two teammates were Savior merge pictured here a 28-year old lawyer
merge pictured here a 28-year old lawyer
merge pictured here a 28-year old lawyer from Switzerland and also the Swiss
from Switzerland and also the Swiss
from Switzerland and also the Swiss national ski jump champion he was a
national ski jump champion he was a
national ski jump champion he was a great athlete they all said he was the
great athlete they all said he was the
great athlete they all said he was the best athlete on the expedition he was
best athlete on the expedition he was
best athlete on the expedition he was the only guy who knew how to ski and the
the only guy who knew how to ski and the
the only guy who knew how to ski and the third member was a 26 year old British
third member was a 26 year old British
third member was a 26 year old British soldier in the Royal Fusiliers named
soldier in the Royal Fusiliers named
soldier in the Royal Fusiliers named Belgrave ninnis who was nicknamed cherub
Belgrave ninnis who was nicknamed cherub
Belgrave ninnis who was nicknamed cherub for his youthful complexion but he was a
for his youthful complexion but he was a
for his youthful complexion but he was a great favorite of the whole team so
great favorite of the whole team so
great favorite of the whole team so these three set out on the far eastern
these three set out on the far eastern
these three set out on the far eastern journey which aimed at going 350 miles
journey which aimed at going 350 miles
journey which aimed at going 350 miles to the southeast to try to link up with
to the southeast to try to link up with
to the southeast to try to link up with the land that Scott had discovered in
the land that Scott had discovered in
the land that Scott had discovered in Ross in the Ross Sea the year before all
Ross in the Ross Sea the year before all
Ross in the Ross Sea the year before all of it unknown these pictures are not
of it unknown these pictures are not
of it unknown these pictures are not actually from the expedition itself
actually from the expedition itself
actually from the expedition itself because as I explained in a minute no
because as I explained in a minute no
because as I explained in a minute no photographs survived from the three-man
photographs survived from the three-man
photographs survived from the three-man party but these are Hurley photos of the
party but these are Hurley photos of the
party but these are Hurley photos of the very kinds of obstacles they had to
very kinds of obstacles they had to
very kinds of obstacles they had to overcome a nice fall like this is tough
overcome a nice fall like this is tough
overcome a nice fall like this is tough enough to just climb through with an ice
enough to just climb through with an ice
enough to just climb through with an ice axe let alone try to get sledges and
axe let alone try to get sledges and
axe let alone try to get sledges and dogs through and the big threat was
dogs through and the big threat was
dogs through and the big threat was crevasses an open crevasse like this is
crevasses an open crevasse like this is
crevasses an open crevasse like this is no problem except you have to find a way
no problem except you have to find a way
no problem except you have to find a way around it but the really fiendish thing
around it but the really fiendish thing
around it but the really fiendish thing was a hidden crevasse one covered by a
was a hidden crevasse one covered by a
was a hidden crevasse one covered by a snow bridge so it’s almost invisible but
snow bridge so it’s almost invisible but
snow bridge so it’s almost invisible but which you can plunge into if you break
which you can plunge into if you break
which you can plunge into if you break through the snow bridge the set out in
through the snow bridge the set out in
through the snow bridge the set out in the early November from the main base
the early November from the main base
the early November from the main base Hut they’re having all kinds of problems
Hut they’re having all kinds of problems
Hut they’re having all kinds of problems here lots of crevasses scores of
here lots of crevasses scores of
here lots of crevasses scores of crevasses they cross successfully they
crevasses they cross successfully they
crevasses they cross successfully they get out here they’re five weeks out
get out here they’re five weeks out
get out here they’re five weeks out December 14th they’re going across what
December 14th they’re going across what
December 14th they’re going across what looks like an absolute ordinary crevasse
looks like an absolute ordinary crevasse
looks like an absolute ordinary crevasse and Mertz in the lead Scouts they had
and Mertz in the lead Scouts they had
and Mertz in the lead Scouts they had waves back there’s a little crevasse
waves back there’s a little crevasse
waves back there’s a little crevasse here Mawson makes a signal back to Nana
here Mawson makes a signal back to Nana
here Mawson makes a signal back to Nana to Dennis
to Dennis
to Dennis Mawson took the dirty job he took a
Mawson took the dirty job he took a
Mawson took the dirty job he took a second sledge with all the less valuable
second sledge with all the less valuable
second sledge with all the less valuable equipment on it figuring that if anybody
equipment on it figuring that if anybody
equipment on it figuring that if anybody broke through would be he and his sledge
broke through would be he and his sledge
broke through would be he and his sledge and his dogs that were six dogs and that
and his dogs that were six dogs and that
and his dogs that were six dogs and that the really precious stuff with minused
the really precious stuff with minused
the really precious stuff with minused we would be safe for coming second but
we would be safe for coming second but
we would be safe for coming second but they costed this ordinary crevasse Murch
they costed this ordinary crevasse Murch
they costed this ordinary crevasse Murch looks back an alarm
looks back an alarm
looks back an alarm Mawson looks back and there’s no sign of
Mawson looks back and there’s no sign of
Mawson looks back and there’s no sign of menace they go right back to the edge
menace they go right back to the edge
menace they go right back to the edge and here’s a sudden hole punched in the
and here’s a sudden hole punched in the
and here’s a sudden hole punched in the eleven feet across punched in the snow
eleven feet across punched in the snow
eleven feet across punched in the snow bridge and they look down into this
bridge and they look down into this
bridge and they look down into this gigantic chasm and all they can see a
gigantic chasm and all they can see a
gigantic chasm and all they can see a hundred and fifty feet down is a single
hundred and fifty feet down is a single
hundred and fifty feet down is a single dog groaning its back broken resting on
dog groaning its back broken resting on
dog groaning its back broken resting on a snow ledge another dog dead a few
a snow ledge another dog dead a few
a snow ledge another dog dead a few pieces of broken parts of the sledge no
pieces of broken parts of the sledge no
pieces of broken parts of the sledge no sign of meanness no sign of the sledge
sign of meanness no sign of the sledge
sign of meanness no sign of the sledge to the rest of the gear the they shout
to the rest of the gear the they shout
to the rest of the gear the they shout for three hours they don’t have a rope
for three hours they don’t have a rope
for three hours they don’t have a rope to get down in there they string
to get down in there they string
to get down in there they string together all their cord just to figure
together all their cord just to figure
together all their cord just to figure out that it’s 150 feet down they
out that it’s 150 feet down they
out that it’s 150 feet down they suddenly realize what a predicament
suddenly realize what a predicament
suddenly realize what a predicament they’re in because on that sledge was
they’re in because on that sledge was
they’re in because on that sledge was all the dogs food and all but one and a
all the dogs food and all but one and a
all the dogs food and all but one and a half weeks of men’s food so they’re five
half weeks of men’s food so they’re five
half weeks of men’s food so they’re five weeks out three hundred miles to get
weeks out three hundred miles to get
weeks out three hundred miles to get back they take a route farther south
back they take a route farther south
back they take a route farther south hoping to avoid the worst of these
hoping to avoid the worst of these
hoping to avoid the worst of these glaciers they’ve got six dogs the six
glaciers they’ve got six dogs the six
glaciers they’ve got six dogs the six weakest dogs they’re each playing out
weakest dogs they’re each playing out
weakest dogs they’re each playing out they pull as hard as they can and then
they pull as hard as they can and then
they pull as hard as they can and then moss and emerge has to shoot the dog
moss and emerge has to shoot the dog
moss and emerge has to shoot the dog feed part of it to themselves part of it
feed part of it to themselves part of it
feed part of it to themselves part of it to the other dogs by the time they get
to the other dogs by the time they get
to the other dogs by the time they get to here there are no dogs left there man
to here there are no dogs left there man
to here there are no dogs left there man hauling they only have a scraps of food
hauling they only have a scraps of food
hauling they only have a scraps of food a little bit of chocolate raisins tea
a little bit of chocolate raisins tea
a little bit of chocolate raisins tea and there’s still more than 100 miles
and there’s still more than 100 miles
and there’s still more than 100 miles out Mertz
out Mertz
out Mertz at this point cannot cannot sledge any
at this point cannot cannot sledge any
at this point cannot cannot sledge any more he just lies in the tenses I can go
more he just lies in the tenses I can go
more he just lies in the tenses I can go today we’ll try it tomorrow
today we’ll try it tomorrow
today we’ll try it tomorrow and destroys Mawson mad he says I think
and destroys Mawson mad he says I think
and destroys Mawson mad he says I think I could make it back myself but but I
I could make it back myself but but I
I could make it back myself but but I can’t abandon my comrade finally on
can’t abandon my comrade finally on
can’t abandon my comrade finally on January 8th Mertz goes into a delusion
January 8th Mertz goes into a delusion
January 8th Mertz goes into a delusion he starts hysterically swinging his arms
he starts hysterically swinging his arms
he starts hysterically swinging his arms around breaks a tentpole Mawson sits on
around breaks a tentpole Mawson sits on
around breaks a tentpole Mawson sits on his chest to hold him down
his chest to hold him down
his chest to hold him down Mertz is screaming in German
Mertz is screaming in German
Mertz is screaming in German unintelligible words and then he he dies
unintelligible words and then he he dies
unintelligible words and then he he dies in the night Mawson waits till morning
in the night Mawson waits till morning
in the night Mawson waits till morning and buries him on the cache of snow
and buries him on the cache of snow
and buries him on the cache of snow blocks and now realizes that he has a
blocks and now realizes that he has a
blocks and now realizes that he has a hundred miles to go with almost nothing
hundred miles to go with almost nothing
hundred miles to go with almost nothing left and he means to cut the sledge in
left and he means to cut the sledge in
left and he means to cut the sledge in half he was able to get his supplies
half he was able to get his supplies
half he was able to get his supplies onto this and man haul it but he
onto this and man haul it but he
onto this and man haul it but he actually says in his diary I have no
actually says in his diary I have no
actually says in his diary I have no hope of making it back alive but what
hope of making it back alive but what
hope of making it back alive but what drives him on is the idea that if I can
drives him on is the idea that if I can
drives him on is the idea that if I can only get my my diary and merchants diary
only get my my diary and merchants diary
only get my my diary and merchants diary to somewhere and cash it and some some
to somewhere and cash it and some some
to somewhere and cash it and some some time later searchers will find the
time later searchers will find the
time later searchers will find the Diaries and learn what happened to us
Diaries and learn what happened to us
Diaries and learn what happened to us that’s worth the struggle in its own
that’s worth the struggle in its own
that’s worth the struggle in its own right
right
right I can’t illustrate this because as I say
I can’t illustrate this because as I say
I can’t illustrate this because as I say Mawson had to throw away his camera and
Mawson had to throw away his camera and
Mawson had to throw away his camera and his film packs so sadly there are no
his film packs so sadly there are no
his film packs so sadly there are no pictures of this ultimate survival story
pictures of this ultimate survival story
pictures of this ultimate survival story his hair was coming out in clumps his
his hair was coming out in clumps his
his hair was coming out in clumps his skin was festering boils forming all
skin was festering boils forming all
skin was festering boils forming all over his face he about three days out he
over his face he about three days out he
over his face he about three days out he takes off his socks which he hasn’t
takes off his socks which he hasn’t
takes off his socks which he hasn’t taken off for days and discovers to his
taken off for days and discovers to his
taken off for days and discovers to his horror that his soles have detached from
horror that his soles have detached from
horror that his soles have detached from his feet they turned into these hard and
his feet they turned into these hard and
his feet they turned into these hard and almost leather like skins that are no
almost leather like skins that are no
almost leather like skins that are no longer attached to the fleshy the flesh
longer attached to the fleshy the flesh
longer attached to the fleshy the flesh underneath or up above well On January
underneath or up above well On January
underneath or up above well On January 17th only about 20 miles of the hundred
17th only about 20 miles of the hundred
17th only about 20 miles of the hundred bet on the way back he falls into a
bet on the way back he falls into a
bet on the way back he falls into a crevasse and a really bad one and he
crevasse and a really bad one and he
crevasse and a really bad one and he plunges through a snow bridge he’s taxed
plunges through a snow bridge he’s taxed
plunges through a snow bridge he’s taxed to his to his sledge by a 14-foot robe
to his to his sledge by a 14-foot robe
to his to his sledge by a 14-foot robe and he anticipates the end and the
and he anticipates the end and the
and he anticipates the end and the sledge is pulled towards the edge of the
sledge is pulled towards the edge of the
sledge is pulled towards the edge of the crevasse if it goes in with him he’s
crevasse if it goes in with him he’s
crevasse if it goes in with him he’s suffering the same fate as notice it’s
suffering the same fate as notice it’s
suffering the same fate as notice it’s gone and nobody will ever find him
gone and nobody will ever find him
gone and nobody will ever find him miraculously the sledge catches in the
miraculously the sledge catches in the
miraculously the sledge catches in the snow and acts like an anchor and holds
snow and acts like an anchor and holds
snow and acts like an anchor and holds him but Nissen Mawson is hanging
him but Nissen Mawson is hanging
him but Nissen Mawson is hanging dangling free can’t his feet can’t even
dangling free can’t his feet can’t even
dangling free can’t his feet can’t even touch the edges of the crevasse he’s 14
touch the edges of the crevasse he’s 14
touch the edges of the crevasse he’s 14 feet down he actually thinks about
feet down he actually thinks about
feet down he actually thinks about slipping out of the harness and ending
slipping out of the harness and ending
slipping out of the harness and ending his life rather than dangling and
his life rather than dangling and
his life rather than dangling and suffocating his first thought is a great
suffocating his first thought is a great
suffocating his first thought is a great regret that he didn’t have a chance to
regret that he didn’t have a chance to
regret that he didn’t have a chance to eat the very last of the food and but he
eat the very last of the food and but he
eat the very last of the food and but he finally decides to summon up enough at
finally decides to summon up enough at
finally decides to summon up enough at the extreme effort so he pulls he tied
the extreme effort so he pulls he tied
the extreme effort so he pulls he tied knots thank God he tied knots in the
knots thank God he tied knots in the
knots thank God he tied knots in the harness rope she grabs a knot tries to
harness rope she grabs a knot tries to
harness rope she grabs a knot tries to go hand over hand
go hand over hand
go hand over hand he’s completely debilitated he gets no
he’s completely debilitated he gets no
he’s completely debilitated he gets no purchase from the sides of the walls and
purchase from the sides of the walls and
purchase from the sides of the walls and after this tremendous effort he pulls up
after this tremendous effort he pulls up
after this tremendous effort he pulls up onto the surface only to have the lip
onto the surface only to have the lip
onto the surface only to have the lip break back again he plunges all the way
break back again he plunges all the way
break back again he plunges all the way down to the fourteen feet and this time
down to the fourteen feet and this time
down to the fourteen feet and this time in true despair anticipates the antis
in true despair anticipates the antis
in true despair anticipates the antis so this is the end he says to himself
so this is the end he says to himself
so this is the end he says to himself what pulled him out he says is two
what pulled him out he says is two
what pulled him out he says is two things his trust in Providence and
things his trust in Providence and
things his trust in Providence and whether by that he meant God is unclear
whether by that he meant God is unclear
whether by that he meant God is unclear but he talks about Providence over and
but he talks about Providence over and
but he talks about Providence over and over again
over again
over again Providence always helping him but
Providence always helping him but
Providence always helping him but amazingly averse from Roberts service
amazingly averse from Roberts service
amazingly averse from Roberts service came into his head which is
and he quote it just have one more try
and he quote it just have one more try it’s dead easy to die it’s the keeping
it’s dead easy to die it’s the keeping
it’s dead easy to die it’s the keeping on living that’s hard that’s what made
on living that’s hard that’s what made
on living that’s hard that’s what made the difference for him keeping on living
the difference for him keeping on living
the difference for him keeping on living that’s hard
that’s hard
that’s hard he made this second effort tried to pull
he made this second effort tried to pull
he made this second effort tried to pull himself out and completely exhausted did
himself out and completely exhausted did
himself out and completely exhausted did what we climbers call up a heel hook he
what we climbers call up a heel hook he
what we climbers call up a heel hook he put his feet up onto this surface before
put his feet up onto this surface before
put his feet up onto this surface before the rest of his body and used his heels
the rest of his body and used his heels
the rest of his body and used his heels to yank the rest of his body up and
to yank the rest of his body up and
to yank the rest of his body up and crawled up onto the shelf passed out
crawled up onto the shelf passed out
crawled up onto the shelf passed out because he woke up two hours later it
because he woke up two hours later it
because he woke up two hours later it covered with new snow anyway he still
covered with new snow anyway he still
covered with new snow anyway he still took him another twenty some days to get
took him another twenty some days to get
took him another twenty some days to get back the last eighty miles to the hut
back the last eighty miles to the hut
back the last eighty miles to the hut and at the end he’s stuck in an
and at the end he’s stuck in an
and at the end he’s stuck in an eight-day storm at Aladdin’s cave only
eight-day storm at Aladdin’s cave only
eight-day storm at Aladdin’s cave only five miles from the hut and he’s
five miles from the hut and he’s
five miles from the hut and he’s thinking about that January 15th
thinking about that January 15th
thinking about that January 15th deadline it’s long past he thinks will
deadline it’s long past he thinks will
deadline it’s long past he thinks will there be anybody at the hut or will be
there be anybody at the hut or will be
there be anybody at the hut or will be gone and on February 8th he comes back
gone and on February 8th he comes back
gone and on February 8th he comes back to the hut the men there six men who
to the hut the men there six men who
to the hut the men there six men who have been left to search for him and the
have been left to search for him and the
have been left to search for him and the man seemed and run up the slope and
man seemed and run up the slope and
man seemed and run up the slope and embrace him and they can’t even tell
embrace him and they can’t even tell
embrace him and they can’t even tell which one he is he so emaciated and
which one he is he so emaciated and
which one he is he so emaciated and wasted Mawson missed the ship through
wasted Mawson missed the ship through
wasted Mawson missed the ship through leave ship by five hours so those seven
leave ship by five hours so those seven
leave ship by five hours so those seven men are condemned to a second winter in
men are condemned to a second winter in
men are condemned to a second winter in Antarctica but they have the radio they
Antarctica but they have the radio they
Antarctica but they have the radio they brought a new radio operator the mast
brought a new radio operator the mast
brought a new radio operator the mast never worked the first year because it
never worked the first year because it
never worked the first year because it got blown down by the winds they got
got blown down by the winds they got
got blown down by the winds they got sturdier now at least they’re going to
sturdier now at least they’re going to
sturdier now at least they’re going to have contact with Australia they get two
have contact with Australia they get two
have contact with Australia they get two or three weeks of blissful contact they
or three weeks of blissful contact they
or three weeks of blissful contact they learn about moss and actually is able to
learn about moss and actually is able to
learn about moss and actually is able to exchange telegrams with his fiancee they
exchange telegrams with his fiancee they
exchange telegrams with his fiancee they they learn about Scott’s demise they
they learn about Scott’s demise they
they learn about Scott’s demise they learn about cricket matches in Australia
learn about cricket matches in Australia
learn about cricket matches in Australia and horse races and then the radio
and horse races and then the radio
and horse races and then the radio operator Sydney Jefferies goes insane
operator Sydney Jefferies goes insane
operator Sydney Jefferies goes insane and he ends up completely refusing to
and he ends up completely refusing to
and he ends up completely refusing to broaden his the only guy knows how to
broaden his the only guy knows how to
broaden his the only guy knows how to work the radio he ends up vacillating
work the radio he ends up vacillating
work the radio he ends up vacillating through the whole winter between the
through the whole winter between the
through the whole winter between the conviction that the others are going to
conviction that the others are going to
conviction that the others are going to murder him and the attempt to murder
murder him and the attempt to murder
murder him and the attempt to murder them can you imagine the second winter
them can you imagine the second winter
them can you imagine the second winter with the constant tension of a crazy man
with the constant tension of a crazy man
with the constant tension of a crazy man who is your only hope of radioing to the
who is your only hope of radioing to the
who is your only hope of radioing to the outside world it gets so tensed they
outside world it gets so tensed they
outside world it gets so tensed they have to keep a day-and-night watch on
have to keep a day-and-night watch on
have to keep a day-and-night watch on Jeffrey’s finally in November early
Jeffrey’s finally in November early
Jeffrey’s finally in November early summer late spring comes again the men
summer late spring comes again the men
summer late spring comes again the men are just frantic for the return of the
are just frantic for the return of the
are just frantic for the return of the ship they write things like a hundred to
ship they write things like a hundred to
ship they write things like a hundred to only a hundred days till the ship comes
only a hundred days till the ship comes
only a hundred days till the ship comes finally the Aurora does come and pick
finally the Aurora does come and pick
finally the Aurora does come and pick them up they go back to Australia and
them up they go back to Australia and
them up they go back to Australia and Mawson is immediately greeted as
Mawson is immediately greeted as
Mawson is immediately greeted as tremendous hero he’s knighted by George
tremendous hero he’s knighted by George
tremendous hero he’s knighted by George v Sidney Jeffries sadly spends the rest
v Sidney Jeffries sadly spends the rest
v Sidney Jeffries sadly spends the rest of his life he lived in 1942 and insane
of his life he lived in 1942 and insane
of his life he lived in 1942 and insane asylum but all in all what an incredible
asylum but all in all what an incredible
asylum but all in all what an incredible story what a great survival story what
story what a great survival story what
story what a great survival story what an amazing expedition well I hope you
an amazing expedition well I hope you
an amazing expedition well I hope you become as enthralled this amazing trip
become as enthralled this amazing trip
become as enthralled this amazing trip as I did and emerge as I began with the
as I did and emerge as I began with the
as I did and emerge as I began with the greatest admiration for one of the great
greatest admiration for one of the great
greatest admiration for one of the great exploratory heroes of all time Douglas
exploratory heroes of all time Douglas
exploratory heroes of all time Douglas Mawson
Mawson
Mawson thank you
”
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