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Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
20-Sep-2011
Lot No.
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Description:
1913 (Sept.6) autographed letter on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead to 'Silas' Wright, from Edward Evans, writing to ask Wright for 'the Chronometer journal that was used in the hut.' Scott had offered Evans a position with his second expedition as a means of persuading him to drop plans for his own competing expedition to explore King Edward VII Land. However, it was an uneasy working relationship, as Scott continued to regard Evans as a rival. In Antarctica, Evans was initially in charge of Scott's motor-sledge party. After the sledges broke down, he continued south, man-hauling, as the leader of the last supporting party to accompany Scott to the Pole. After hearing from Scott that he was not going to be one of the men making the final push to the South Pole, Evans turned back on 4 January 1912, within 150 miles of the Pole, leaving another of his party, Henry Bowers, to join Scott's Polar party. On the return journey, Evans became seriously ill with scurvy and by February 11, still 100 miles from base camp, could no longer stand unaided and had to be pulled on the sledge by his remaining two companions, Tom Crean and William Lashly. Evans ordered them to leave him behind as he feared all three would otherwise die, but they refused. Because of his resultant illness, Evans was sent home in the expedition's ship Terra Nova in March 1912, but he recovered and returned the following year in command of the ship to take off the Expedition's survivors.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Printed & Written Material: Historical Documents