1908: Shackleton sails south
It was New Year’s Day and the Nimrod sailed away.
‘‘All being well, the gallant little vessel, the Nimrod, will leave Lyttelton today on her adventurous voyage to the Antarctic,’’ The Press wrote on January 1, 1908. ‘‘Should the weather prove fine, as we hope it will, Lyttelton will be thronged with such a concourse of humanity as it has never seen before, and Lieutenant Shackleton and his party will receive a fitting send-off.’’
It was a patriotic moment: ‘‘New Zealand with one heart will wish the brave band Godspeed on their mission, and look forward to welcoming them with British heartiness and enthusiasm on their return.’’ The Press even published a poem, ‘‘Farewell to Shackleton’’ by Arnold Wall, but the mood was less pious at the port. ‘‘Portions of the crowd on the wharf bellowed humorous sallies. ‘Come back for some more mutton – don’t forget!’ shouted one. ‘Break us off a bit of an iceberg!’ piped another wag, and each returned a suitable reply.’’
Ernest Shackleton told the crowd that: ‘‘This farewell from New Zealand has been unparalleled in the history of Polar expeditions for the kindness and the warmth of enthusiasm manifested by a genuine people. It is the one final touch. ’’
The first of three Antarctic expeditions led by Shackleton returned to New Zealand in March 1909, when The Press told readers: ‘‘It now appears that they actually got to 88 deg. 23 mm. South, or within about 97 geographical miles, or, say, 113 statute miles of the Pole.
‘‘Needless to add this is a magnificent achievement, far surpassing all previous records. The latter part of the journey was performed on a plateau 10,000 feet in height, and the party experienced many hardships, owing to the shortage of food and rarefied air. The tramp over the great ice plateau will ever remain as one of the most daring and thrilling exploits in the annals of polar exploration.’’
160 Years is a series marking the launch of The Press newspaper in Christchurch on May 25, 1861.