Shackleton's Last Voyage: The Story of the QuestWild, Frank
History
Shackleton's Last Voyage: The Story of the Quest
Wild, Frank
Antarctica -- Discovery and exploration -- British; Quest (Ship); Shackleton, Ernest Henry, Sir, 1874-1922
Sir Ernest Shackleton’s body had been brought back to South Georgia
for burial. I insert an account written by Hussey of what had occurred
since I saw him last.
“The journey up to Monte Video was marked by wretched weather. The
ship’s wireless was out of order, so that I was unable to acquaint
the world with my sad news. We arrived on Sunday morning, January
29th, and I immediately went on shore and cabled to Mr. Rowett,
asking him to break the news to Lady Shackleton.
“That afternoon, while I was in Wilson, Sons & Co.’s office, a
telephone message came through from the Uruguayan Government
asking me if they might take charge of any arrangements that
had to be made there as a last tribute to the great explorer. I
acquiesced, and they immediately set about bringing Sir Ernest’s
body ashore. Within half an hour they had sent a naval launch out
to the _Professor Gruvel_ to fetch the coffin. It was met on the
quay by a guard of honour of 100 marines and taken to the military
hospital, where a guard of two soldiers was mounted over it day
and night.
“Next morning the medical officers at the hospital re-embalmed
the body, as it was at first intended to bring it to England for
burial.
“That day, however, a cable came from Mr. Rowett saying that Lady
Shackleton was sure that Sir Ernest would have wished to be buried
on South Georgia, the scene of his greatest exploit, and asking me
to make arrangements to do this.
“The next ship to leave for South Georgia was the _Woodville_,
with Captain Leaste in command. He was most courteous and
sympathetic, and immediately placed such accommodation on his ship
as was necessary at our disposal.
“The day before she sailed a commemoration service was held
in the English church at Monte Video, Canon Blount, and Canon
Brady, an old friend of Sir Ernest, officiating. The coffin had
been transferred from the military hospital to the church on the
previous day.
“While Sir Ernest’s body was lying in state in the military
hospital the matron and one of the nurses placed fresh flowers on
it each day from the hospital garden.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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