OHYAT: To the Rescue!

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY, after Tom Crean arrived at Hut Point with news that Teddy Evans was incapacitated with scurvy, the weather cleared just enough for Dr Atkinson, Dimitri, and the dogteams to set out to rescue him. They brought with them some fresh fruit and vegetables, which had just been delivered to base by the ship, and fresh seal meat, which the medical people on the expedition believed to be a cure. The weather had cleared enough, but it was hardly clear – it was still so 'thick' that they passed an island in the ice without noticing.

Meanwhile, Lashly was nursing Teddy with their few remaining stores, not knowing if help was on the way ... and when he was conscious they passed their time talking about food.

... although home is one of the foremost thoughts we hardly ever mention it, only what we are going to have to eat when we do arrive there. I think we have got everything that is good down on our list. Of course New Zealand have got to be answerable for a good deal: plenty of apples we are going to have and some nice home-made cake, not too rich, as we think we can eat more.

– William Lashly's journal

... every now and then Lashly would open up the tent door, go out and search the horizon for some possible sign of relief. The end had nearly come, and I was past caring; we had no food, except a few paraffin saturated biscuits, and Lashly in his weakened state without food could never have marched in.

– Teddy Evans, South With Scott

Atch and Dimitri halted their 35-mile dash only once to rest the dogs – they stopped a second time when they reckoned they must be in the neighbourhood of the camp, and sure enough spotted a flag Lashly had erected to mark their spot.

We heard the baying of the dogs, first once, then again. Lashly, who was lying down by my side quietly talking, sprang to his feet, looked out, and saw!
    They galloped right up to the tent door, and the leader, a beautiful gray dog named Krisravitsa, seemed to understand the situation, for he came right into the tent and licked my hands and face. I put my poor weak hands up and gripped his furry ears. Perhaps to hide my feelings I kissed his old hairy, Siberian face with the kiss that was meant for Lashly. We were both dreadfully affected at our rescue.

– Teddy Evans, South With Scott

And Lashly got his apples.

When they returned from the expedition, the king awarded Crean and Lashly the Albert Medal for lifesaving. Teddy dedicated his book to 'these two gallant fellows.' When Tom Crean died in 1938, Teddy drove to his tiny hometown in Ireland and laid an elabourate porcelain wreath on his tomb, which is still there.