Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gesture of friendship and assistance from one explorer to another.
But it was also designed to confirm the American claim to the discov-
eries made. As we shall see, this gesture was to have serious reper-
cussions. For the moment, we must record that Wilkes next visited
Fiji and Hawaii and made an accurate survey of the western coast of
North America. He paid particular attention to the Oregon territory,
sovereignty of which was currently in dispute between Britain and
the USA. Wilkes then re-crossed the Pacific, returning to New York
via the Philippines, Sulu and the Cape. He completed his circumnav-
igation in June 1842.
When Wilkes arrived home the British expedition still had over
a year to complete what was the most thorough Antarctic survey so
far attempted. Its leader, Captain James Clark Ross, was a seasoned
polar explorer, having been on several expeditions within the Arctic
Circle. He had, in fact, established the position of the north magnetic
pole in 1831. Therefore, when the Admiralty determined, in 1839, to
send two ships in search of the south magnetic pole, Ross was the
obvious choice as commander. He had at his disposal two stout ves-
sels, especially strengthened for work in icy seas: the
Erebus
(370
tons) and the
Terror
(340 tons).
Ross set sail on 30 September 1839 and took the now-estab-
lished 'British' route, via St Helena and Cape Town. He called in at
the remote Crozet and Kerguelen islands and remained some time
at the latter to carry out a survey of its coastline. After leaving their
anchorage the ships were subjected to the full force of the Roar-
ing Forties. They were separated by gales. Then, on 30 July, disaster
struck the
Erebus.
Mr Roberts, the boatswain, whilst engaged about the rigging, fell
overboard and was drowned. The life-buoy was instantly let go, and
two boats lowered down; they reached the spot where we saw him sink
only a few seconds too late! The gloom which the loss of one of our
