ROSS ISLAND, Antarctica (ACNI) – The early 20th century race to the South Pole has often been likened to a terrestrial version of the 1960s Russia vs. USA race to the moon. In both cases, the competition was fierce and nationalistic and generated intense public interest.
Among those who attempted to plant their country’s flag first at the geographic southern extreme of Antarctica was Captain Robert Falcon Scott. He and his team of British explorers left Cardiff, Wales in June 1910 on what became known as the ill-fated “Terra Nova Expedition.” They reached the South Pole in January of 1912, only to discover that Roald Amundsen’s Norwegian crew had beaten them to the earth’s southern antipodes by 33 days.
Prior to their trek to the South Pole, Scott and his four associates had set up camp in a building located on the north shore of Cape Evans on Antarctica’s Ross Island. Known as Scott’s Hut, the 50 ft. by 25 ft. structure was prefabricated in England and efficiently insulated by seaweed-lined quilted fabric that was placed between double-planked inner and outer walls. The hut was divided into working and sleeping areas, with acetylene gas lighting and a coal stove for heating. A stable to house 19 Siberian ponies was later added to the north wall of the main building. Terra Nova team members described the hut as being “warm to the point of being uncomfortable.”
Tragically, the Scott team did not survive the return journey from the South Pole to their docked ship. The bodies of all five men were discovered the following spring by a few members of their base team, who had stayed through the winter with the purpose of forming a search party.
Scott’s Hut was left well stocked with food and oil, and was re-occupied from 1915 to 1917 by several of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton’s “Ross Sea” party after their ship Aurora broke free from its tethers in May 1915 and drifted north. The 10 marooned men survived in relative comfort until rescued by Shackleton in January 1917. At that point, Shackleton ordered the hut tidied and locked up.
Remarkably, the abundant provisions left behind in Scott’s Hut have remained well preserved to this day, due to the consistent sub-freezing temperatures in Antarctica. The structure itself is another story. The cyclical melting of ice has caused the timbers to rot, and the building is in need of restoration.
In 2007, the World Monuments Fund became involved by adding Scott’s Hut to its list of the world’s most endangered historic, architectural and cultural treasures. The WMF identified climate change as the biggest threat to the hut.
Now, after eight years of fundraising, the $5.4 million target set by experts to ensure the long-term future of Scott’s Hut has been achieved. Some of the money came from British government grants and matched donations from the nonprofit organization The February Foundation. The remainder came from individuals and corporations all across Britain, with a sizable percentage attributable to Welsh contributors.
Charles Stuart Smith of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust told BBC News Wales that the response throughout Britain had been “incredible, especially considering how terrible the economy has been over the last few years.”
Stuart Smith went on to say that he didn’t know why the Welsh people, in particular, had been so generous with their support. “[They] seem to particularly identify with the cause. Whether that’s because Scott set out from Cardiff, or because the UKAHT is based in Monmouthshire [Wales], I honestly couldn’t tell you.”
The restoration work will be carried out by specialist teams from New Zealand. Organizers hope to complete the project in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scott’s death, on March 29, 1912.
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Some of the historical information contained in this article was sourced through Wikipedia.org.
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