The Worst Journey in the World · Chapter
XVI: The Search Journey explained
The search party, led by Atkinson, sets out from Hut Point on October 29, 1912, with mules and dog teams to find the Polar Party.
What happens
The search party, led by Atkinson, sets out from Hut Point on October 29, 1912, with mules and dog teams to find the Polar Party. They discover the tent containing the bodies of Scott, Wilson, and Bowers, along with Scott's diary and letters. They build a cairn and cross over the remains, leaving a note. The party also searches for Oates' body and reflects on the oil shortage and the final days of the Polar Party. The chapter details the challenges of the journey, including soft snow, fog, and the mules' struggles.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and Sacrifice
The chapter highlights the heroism of the Polar Party, especially Oates' self-sacrifice, and the search party's respectful burial.
Tragedy and Futility
The discovery of the bodies just 11 miles from One Ton Depot underscores the tragic futility of their deaths due to blizzards and oil shortage.
Companionship and Loyalty
The search party's dedication to finding and honoring their comrades, and the Polar Party's mutual support until the end, exemplify loyalty.
Human Endurance and Suffering
The search party endures harsh conditions, soft snow, and cold, while the Polar Party suffered frostbite, hunger, and blizzards.
Characters to notice
- Edward Atkinson
Leads the search party, reads Scott's diary and the Message to the Public, and directs the building of the cairn.
- Charles S. Wright
Leads the mule party, navigates using ski tracks, and helps locate depots and gear.
- Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Narrates the chapter from his diary, describing the search journey and the discovery of the Polar Party's bodies.
- Dimitri Gerov
Assists Atkinson with the dog teams during the search.
- Tryggve Gran
Part of the mule party under Wright, leaves Cape Evans for the search.
- Tom Crean
Member of the mule party, participates in the search journey.
- William Lashly
Part of the mule party, helps with the search.
- Patrick Keohane
Member of the mule party, involved in the search.
Key passages
“Atkinson said he was only going to read sufficient to know what had happened—and after that they were brought home unopened and unread.”
Atkinson read only enough of the diary to understand the events, then sealed it for return home.
Shows Atkinson's respect for Scott's privacy and the solemnity of the discovery.
“We took the bamboos of the tent away, and the tent itself covered them. And over them we built the cairn.”
The search party removed the tent poles, let the tent fall over the bodies, and constructed a cairn on top.
Describes the burial process for Scott, Wilson, and Bowers.
“Titus did not show his foot till about three days before he died. The foot was then a great size, and almost every night it would be frostbitten again.”
Oates concealed his severely frostbitten foot until three days before his death, when it was swollen and constantly refreezing.
Details Oates' suffering and his decision to sacrifice himself.
“They had a terrible time from 80° 0′ on to their last camp. There Bill was very bad, and Birdie and the Owner had to do the camping.”
From latitude 80° south onward, the Polar Party suffered greatly; Wilson was ill, so Bowers and Scott handled camp duties.
Highlights the physical decline of the party in their final days.
