Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
small party, at the outset of our voyage, occasioned, was for a time
merged in feelings of painful anxiety, and afterwards of heartfelt grat-
itude, for the merciful preservation of the whole crew of one of the
boats, who, in their humane endeavours to save the life of our unfor-
tunate shipmate, very nearly sacrificed their own. Mr Oakley, mate,
and Mr Abernethy, the gunner, had returned to the ship with one boat,
when the other, still at a considerable distance from us, was struck by
a sea, which washed four of the crew out of her. Mr Abernethy imme-
diately again pushed off from the ship, and succeeded in saving them
from their perilous situation, completely benumbed and stupefied with
the cold. The boats were, with much difficulty, owing to the sea that
was running, hoisted up, and not until after one of them had been
again swamped alongside.
11
The two ships were reunited in Tasmania and it was at Hobart
that Ross received news of the French and American expeditions.
The information was both disturbing and comforting. Ross was
piqued that his rivals had both chosen the route that he had pro-
posed. On the other hand, by following it D'Urville and Wilkes had
met an impenetrable barrier around 66°S. Ross, therefore, decided
to travel further east before making his ascent towards the pole. It
was his best decision of the entire voyage. He sailed towards New
Zealand, then turned south along the 170°E line of longitude. On 10
January he broke through the pack ice into open water and found
himself able to proceed unhindered until he crossed the 78° parallel.
But reaching a more southerly point on the globe than any other hu-
man beings had yet attained was not the only excitement Ross and
his colleagues experienced. For day after day, except when it was ob-
scured by bad weather, they had a clear view of a coastline to the
west, running almost due south. They observed mountains and a
smouldering volcano (named Mount Erebus). They called the whole
stretch of coast Victoria Land. The expanse of water, which was to
