OHYAT: Terra Nova Rendezvous

[tealin]

On January 17th, two years and thirteen days after they'd landed at Cape Evans, there was still no sign of the ship which was to come and take them home. No doubt unpleasantly reminded of the ship's failure to land at his camp the previous autumn, and the consequences thereof, Lt. Campbell (who had taken over command from Atch) ordered rationing to begin, and a slaughter of seals to lay up for a winter meat supply.

But ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY* —

I went off seal hunting after breakfast, and having killed and cut up two, came back across the Cape at midday. All the men were out working in the camp. There was nothing to be seen in the Sound, and then, quite suddenly, the bows of the ship came out from behind the end of the Barne Glacier, two or three miles away. We watched her cautious approach with immense relief.

– Apsley Cherry-Garrard, The Worst Journey in the World

Teddy Evans was back in command of the Terra Nova – he had returned to England and made a full recovery from his scurvy, and as someone who had been in the outside world for the past year, he bore the news of Amundsen's triumph. Still, being reunited with old friends and seeing to the close of a mighty endeavour was cause for a party, and the Terra Nova was decked out.

A tremendous feast was prepared, the table in the wardroom decked with little flags and silk ribbons. Letters were done up in neat packets for each member, and even champagne was got up from the store: chocolates, cigarettes, cigars, and all manner of luxury placed in readiness.
    The ship was specially scrubbed and cleaned, yards were squared, ropes hauled taut and neatly coiled down, and our best Jacks and Ensigns hoisted in gala fashion to meet and acclaim our leader and our comrades. Glasses were levelled on the beach, and soon we discerned little men running hither and thither in wild excitement; a lump stuck in my throat at the idea of greeting the Polar Party with the knowledge that Amundsen had anticipated us, it was something like having to congratulate a dear friend on winning second prize in a great hard-won race – which is exactly what it was. But it was not even to be that: the ship rapidly closed the beach, engines were stopped, and a thrill of excitement ran through us. The shore party gave three cheers, which we on board replied to, and espying Campbell I was overjoyed, for I feared more on his behalf than on the others, owing to the small amount of provisions we had left him at Evans Coves. I shouted out, "Campbell, is every one well?"

– Teddy Evans, South With Scott

"The Polar Party died on the return from the Pole, we have their records." A pause, and then a boat.

– Worst Journey

The boat brought Campbell and Atkinson to the ship, where they told Evans & Co. the whole story, while the champagne was put away, the flags lowered, and the celebratory table settings clattered back into their cupboards.

They couldn't linger on mournful silence, though – the tardiness of the ship meant that a lot had to be done in a hurry, and in a 28-hour sprint they loaded the ship with the equipment, possessions, and specimens they wished to take back to civilisation. There were errands to be run and loose ends to be tied up in the other locations, but those come later ...

*This photo is actually from 1911, but I couldn't find one from 1913, and it did a good job of illustrating. Now you know.