28 Men Lost In Antarctica But What They Did to Survive Is Amazing

Summary

Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic expedition became one of history's greatest survival stories. After setting sail on the ship Endurance, Shackleton and his crew were trapped by drifting ice in the Weddell Sea. Despite heroic efforts to free the ship, they were forced to abandon it. Stranded on a drifting ice floe, Shackleton led a daring 800-mile journey to find help. After enduring brutal storms, Shackleton and five men reached South Georgia, where they rescued the rest of the crew. Though the expedition failed to meet its original goals, Shackleton’s leadership and resilience ensured the survival of all 28 men.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic expedition is one of the greatest survival stories in history.
• 😀 An advertisement supposedly appeared in *The Times* calling for men for Shackleton's hazardous journey, though its authenticity is uncertain.
• 😀 Shackleton had already achieved fame for his 1908 Antarctic expedition before embarking on this perilous journey.
• 😀 The ship *Endurance* was built to navigate ice but was ultimately trapped and crushed by the shifting ice of the Weddell Sea.
• 😀 Despite the ship being stuck, Shackleton maintained the morale of his crew through a routine and even organized soccer games on the ice.
• 😀 By October 1915, Shackleton ordered his men to abandon *Endurance* as it was too damaged to survive the growing ice pressure.
• 😀 The crew survived by establishing a camp on drifting ice and preparing to walk toward the nearest land, but their efforts only led them further off course.
• 😀 After reaching Elephant Island, Shackleton realized that no rescue would come, forcing him to embark on a dangerous journey to find help.
• 😀 Shackleton and five men took a lifeboat across 800 miles of treacherous ocean, battling waves and ice buildup, to reach South Georgia.
• 😀 After an exhausting journey, they made a dangerous landing on South Georgia, where they climbed mountains to reach whalers who would help them.
• 😀 Shackleton's crew on Elephant Island was saved by the whalers, and all of them survived, marking the expedition as a miraculous success despite its failure to achieve its original goal.

Q & A

What was the main objective of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition?

The main objective was to cross Antarctica from coast to coast via the South Pole, a daring and unprecedented goal in the early 20th century.

How did Shackleton recruit his crew for the expedition?

Shackleton allegedly placed an advertisement in a newspaper with the phrase, 'Men wanted for hazardous journey,' which attracted many volunteers. He carefully selected 27 men for the journey.

Why was the ship *Endurance* particularly well-suited for the expedition, and what was its weakness?

The *Endurance* was designed with a sturdy hull, a powerful steam engine, and an 85-inch-thick keel, making it capable of breaking through ice. However, it was not built to withstand being trapped in ice, which eventually led to its destruction.

What led to the downfall of the *Endurance* during the expedition?

The *Endurance* became trapped in the Weddell Sea’s pack ice in January 1915, and despite efforts to free the ship, the pressure from the ice ultimately crushed the hull, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

How did Shackleton maintain the morale of his crew while trapped in the ice?

Shackleton maintained discipline and morale by implementing a stable daily routine and keeping the crew busy. They even played soccer on the ice, which helped keep their spirits high despite the dire circumstances.

What was the crew's situation after abandoning the *Endurance*?

After abandoning the *Endurance*, the crew was stranded on drifting ice with limited supplies and no way to communicate with the outside world. They were isolated and faced an uncertain future.

How did Shackleton and his small team attempt to secure their rescue?

Shackleton and five men took one of the lifeboats and embarked on an 800-mile journey across the stormy Southern Ocean to South Georgia Island, hoping to find help.

What challenges did Shackleton and his men face during their journey across the ocean?

They encountered massive waves, freezing conditions, and the constant threat of their lifeboat sinking due to ice buildup. The journey was a test of endurance, courage, and survival.

What was the condition of Shackleton and his men upon reaching South Georgia Island?

Upon reaching South Georgia Island, Shackleton and his men were in a severely weakened state, exhausted from the long and perilous journey. They still had to climb steep mountain ridges to reach civilization.

What was the outcome of the expedition?

Despite failing to complete the original goal of crossing Antarctica, Shackleton's leadership ensured that all 28 men survived. His determination and the miraculous rescue of the crew on Elephant Island marked the expedition as one of the greatest survival stories in history.