[Paddlewise] The crew of the Endurance

Peter Rattenbury wrote:
> 
>         G'Day PaddleWisers,
>         Ralph has lured me out of lurk mode with his unabashed plug for the NY
> exhibition on Shackleton [ let us not forget his fantastic crew ].

Certainly, Peter, they should not be forgotten.  I was concentrating on
the leadership aspect because we have had discussions about that on
Paddlewise in group paddling trips.  The crew obviously was probably
9/10ths of the story of survival especially the 22 who stayed behind on
Elephant Island living under two overturned row boats.

Again, the question of what sort of persons were they came up in the
lectures I attended at the museum.  One was by Ms. Alexander herself,
another by a fellow from the Royal Geographical Society who used
original lantern slides and the original script of lectures given by
Hussey, one of the crew, back in the 1920s, speaking as if he were he.

They were not supermen although they were the product of a highly
selective process.  Some 5,000 people applied to go on the Endurance and
the Aurora (the supply boat that was supposed to set up supply depots on
the other side of the planned trek across Antarctica) and just some 50
or so were selected.  They were for the most part countrymen of yours
from Down Under as well as Irish, English and Scots (and one American
who pretended to be Canadian).  A large part were seafaring men or field
scientists.  Shackleton went through great pains to interview them to
weed out malcontents and non-convival types.  He seemed to be looking
for cheerful people with a sense of humor who also knew or had some
skills he needed for the voyage.  Some did not turn out to be that way
but they were the exception and a slim minority.

The key for personal survival seemed to be what Alexander observed in
all the diaries and letters and referred to as "no one wanted to _let
the side down_" attitude or not want to let your mates down.  So while,
individuals could be petty, vindicative, pricks, whatever, there was
this overriding idea of "your mates."  Other things helped.  While
conditions were generally horrible, there was always an attempt to make
hot meals of seal or milk or both and that helped keep spirits and
bodies up.  They took their time doing things and weighing the odds. 
Team work was encouraged and bonded the crew close.

And you still have to get back to Shackleton's leadership and example. 
When the Endurance was stuck in the ice and the ship basically went on
winter quarters, Shackleton choose as his sleeping spot, the coldest
most exposed position in an on deck cabin away from the warmth of the
main group and smaller groups.  Several of the crew in their private
papers and diaries later made note of that and it inspired an enormous
trust in their leader, confidence that helped see them all through their
ordeal.

It is interesting to contrast the Endurance example and, say, that of
the teams on the Eco-Challenge we talked about here last week.

What does this all have to do with paddling?  I think a lot. Somewhere
toward the end of his account, Shackleton wrote "we have pierced the
veneer of outside things."   Paddling puts us too at the whim of the
elements in quite vulnerable little boats.  While most of us will never
be in the dire straits the Endurance crew endured, we do find ourselves
sometimes in minor, transitory versions of our very own.  Somewhere in
the diaries or Alexander's book, we are all likely to find something to
remember when those times come.

auf wierdersehn

ralph diaz  
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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