From the Archives, 1916: Antarctic explorers rescued after 137 days

On August 30, 1916, 22 men from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration team were rescued after being marooned on Elephant Island. The explorers had been left in a hole in the ice cliffs while Shackleton sailed for help in a rowboat.

First published in The Age on September 5, 1916

MAROONED EXPLORERS

SIR E. SHACKLETON’S TRIP

Party Rescued, “All Well”

Shackleton’s rowing boat being launched from Elephant Island in 1916 to get help.Credit:National Library of Australia

New York, 3rd September

Success has attended the journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who recently sailed in the yacht Yelcho, placed at his disposal by the Chilean Government, to enable him to reach Elephant Island, where on 24th April last he left 22 of his Antarctic exploration party in a hole in the ice cliffs before his eventful voyage in a boat for help.

A message from Chile states that Sir Ernest Shackleton rescued the Elephant Island party and returned to Chile on Sunday, reporting “All well.”

First published in The Age on September 12, 1916

MAROONED EXPLORERS

LIFE ON ELEPHANT ISLAND

PARTY FLOODED OUT DAILY

“WHEN WAS THE WAR OVER”

The explorers rescued from Elephant Island in 1916.Credit:Frank Hurley courtesy Scott Polar Research Institute

Punta Arenas, 10th September

The 22 members of the Antarctic expedition who were marooned at Elephant Island from 25th April until they were rescued by Sir Ernest Shackleton, who brought them to Punta Arenas last week, are making good progress towards recovery from the effects of their privations. They will arrive in England at the end of October. Mr F. Wild, who was in charge of the party, has been interviewed, and has given a vivid description of life on Elephant Island. He said:

“Realising that existence in the ice hole was impossible, we turned two boats upside down, and made canvas walls. Chronometer cases formed windows, and thwarts provided upper bunks for some of us. Others had to be content with beds made from pebbles on the beach. The hut was constantly flooded, and 70 gallons of water had to be bailed out nightly.

“The only hot meal was served at dawn. It consisted of penguin friend in blubber. Lunch was taken at 1 o’clock, and the bill of fare was biscuits and raw blubber. The afternoon was spent in exercising over a track 100 yards long. Dinner, taken at 5 o’clock, consisted of a penguin’s breast and Bovril, the only hot beverage. One day we greatly enjoyed a half digested fish found in a seal’s stomach.

“The men smoked grass from padding in their boots, and their pipes were carved from wood, with birds’ bones for stems. I decided that, failing relief by the end of October, I would try to reach Deception Island, where whalers came in the summer. Biscuits, sugar and sledging rations were reserved for a party. We went to bed at 5.30 p.m., and took turns to read aloud the Bible, the “Encyclopaedia Britannica,” Browning, Carlyle’s French Revolution and Bacon’s essays. A concert was held on Saturdays, Mr L. H. Hussey playing the banjo. The toast of the King’s health was drunk on his Majesty’s birthday in a hot sledging ration.

“When Mr F. Hurley and Mr G. E. Marston sighted the rescue yacht Yelcho she was apparently steaming past the camp, but I improvised smoke signals, and the Yelcho swung in. The first question asked was, “When was the war over?”

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