Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922)
Famous Freemason - The World
SIR ERNEST HENRY SHACKLETON (1874-1922)
by Bro. B.C. Major, P.G. Lec., P.M.
His Book and Bookplate
While spending some time in London at one of my favoaurite pastimes browsing in a secondhand book shop, my attention was caught by a elegantly bound book titled Expositions of Raphael's Bible (published by Arthur Miall, London 1868). Not having heard of Raphael's Bible 1 took it down for examination. The name, I later learned, has been given to the series of fifty two biblical frescoes of Raphael in the Loggia an open gallery in the Vatican. Raphael did not paint these frescoes himself but it is believed that he did make the cartoons for them from which his scholars completed the actual paintings.
The illustration of one of the frescoes, that of Solomon, is of more than passing interest to us, showing in the backgound the king being consulted by his architect with, in the foreground and elsewhere, men at work. Four of them are muscular figures in Raphael's style, masons poised in their activity of shaping and finishing stones with various implements.
Shackleton at work and on the wheel, and the Endurance trapped by ice
The first land they sighted was the Isle of Saunders in the South Sandwich Group. At 18.00 hours, on the afternoon of 7 December they ran across, for the first time, their worst future enemy. a small section of ice floes. This continued until 11 December when they headed South towards Vahsel Bay. Everything carried on without great obstacle until 10 January, when they sighted land which Shackleton named Caird Coast, in remembrance of the staunchest supporter of the Expedition. That same day at midnight they started on a new stage of their journey. On 16 January they sighted the first compact fields of ice and at the same time a storm broke out. This situation continued until 18 January 1915 when they entered into a zone of great masses of ice, through which they advanced until the 24th when they were trapped by the vast mass of ice. The next six days were cold and cloudy until on 24 January the northwest storm subsided. By this time, the ice surrounded the vessel in a compact mass which extended in every direction the eye could see.
Worsley wrote in his diary; "We have to be patient until a south wind arises, or the ice opens up of its own free will and accord." But what was hoped for did not occur, the vessel was definitely blocked up. As Orde-Lees, the man in charge of provisions said, "as tight as an almond inside a bar of nougat." They struggled on until 24 February 1915 when they gave up all hope. They turned the vessel into a floating depot which they named the "Ritz", the name of a very well known luxury Hotel.
Meanwhile they fed on some of the provisions and hunted seals. In April they began to eat the dogs which died because of the effects of the cold temperature below zero. During the first fifteen days of June the temperature, on the average, went to 17oC below zero. During mid July the average temperature worsened to 29oC below zero. All these variations in temperature were accompanied by storms every ten or fifteen days. As the end of July the sun commenced to shine for a while longer and six days afterwards on 1 August at 10.00 in the morning. Endurance trembled and shook, followed by a noise as if though something had broken, and ended up semiheeled to port, falling once again into the water whilst it rocked slightly. The iceberg which had held it had broken up and the ship was free. All this slow thawing continued during the whole month of August. In the first days of September the temperature commenced to rise considerably, until on the tenth a temperature of 1.9oC above zero was registered, the highest in seven months. From then on they commenced to repair the damage and prepare the provisions for carrying on the voyage.
This situation was prolonged until 30th October 1915 when it was decided to abandon the ship and prepare the salvage expedition. This would be carried out on sledges and boats dragged and pulled by the dogs, the end in view being the obviation of any problem which might arise on the road to salvation. Each sledge carried a load of about 400 kilograms. The instructions were to advance with a maximum separation of 400 metres between sledges so as to forestall any difficulty caused by the opening of crevices. Progress was slow and hard as it was necessary often to retrace their steps. After three hours the caravan was only about a mile away from the Endurance, tracked on a straight line, and the work for the equipment and dogs had been as if they had covered ten miles or more. On 21 November a group returned by the route already drawn up, so as to salvage some provisions, tools and other elements left on Endurance, but they realized on drawing near that it was impossible to reach the vessel. When they were getting ready to return they saw the ship move slowly and commence to heel, a sign of its sinking. That same afternoon the group was overcome by a deep sadness, as they had been present at the sinking and they realized that the vessel meant the last tie with the outside and civilized world. Withal, Christmas arrived and they celebrated Christmas Eve with a big banquet.
The following days, they once more carried on with their journey, hunting seals and penguins which constituted delicious food for their maintenance; on 16 April 1916. they reached the very desolate coast of Elephant Island, worn out, fatigued and in a last effort they dug a cave in the ice and decided to await a possible rescue.
Worsley wrote in his diary; "We have to be patient until a south wind arises, or the ice opens up of its own free will and accord." But what was hoped for did not occur, the vessel was definitely blocked up. As Orde-Lees, the man in charge of provisions said, "as tight as an almond inside a bar of nougat." They struggled on until 24 February 1915 when they gave up all hope. They turned the vessel into a floating depot which they named the "Ritz", the name of a very well known luxury Hotel.
Meanwhile they fed on some of the provisions and hunted seals. In April they began to eat the dogs which died because of the effects of the cold temperature below zero. During the first fifteen days of June the temperature, on the average, went to 17oC below zero. During mid July the average temperature worsened to 29oC below zero. All these variations in temperature were accompanied by storms every ten or fifteen days. As the end of July the sun commenced to shine for a while longer and six days afterwards on 1 August at 10.00 in the morning. Endurance trembled and shook, followed by a noise as if though something had broken, and ended up semiheeled to port, falling once again into the water whilst it rocked slightly. The iceberg which had held it had broken up and the ship was free. All this slow thawing continued during the whole month of August. In the first days of September the temperature commenced to rise considerably, until on the tenth a temperature of 1.9oC above zero was registered, the highest in seven months. From then on they commenced to repair the damage and prepare the provisions for carrying on the voyage.
This situation was prolonged until 30th October 1915 when it was decided to abandon the ship and prepare the salvage expedition. This would be carried out on sledges and boats dragged and pulled by the dogs, the end in view being the obviation of any problem which might arise on the road to salvation. Each sledge carried a load of about 400 kilograms. The instructions were to advance with a maximum separation of 400 metres between sledges so as to forestall any difficulty caused by the opening of crevices. Progress was slow and hard as it was necessary often to retrace their steps. After three hours the caravan was only about a mile away from the Endurance, tracked on a straight line, and the work for the equipment and dogs had been as if they had covered ten miles or more. On 21 November a group returned by the route already drawn up, so as to salvage some provisions, tools and other elements left on Endurance, but they realized on drawing near that it was impossible to reach the vessel. When they were getting ready to return they saw the ship move slowly and commence to heel, a sign of its sinking. That same afternoon the group was overcome by a deep sadness, as they had been present at the sinking and they realized that the vessel meant the last tie with the outside and civilized world. Withal, Christmas arrived and they celebrated Christmas Eve with a big banquet.
The following days, they once more carried on with their journey, hunting seals and penguins which constituted delicious food for their maintenance; on 16 April 1916. they reached the very desolate coast of Elephant Island, worn out, fatigued and in a last effort they dug a cave in the ice and decided to await a possible rescue.
John's World
But what did capture my close attention was the bookplate inside the front cover, here reproduced. Since the book was not particularly expensive I had doubts that the bookplate was that of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
However I bought it and took it to Bro. John Hamill, the Grand Lodge librarian for appraisal. Without hesitation he said that it was the bookplate of Sir Ernest, in fact took a photostat for Grand Lodge records. It might be assumed that he considered the book of some masonic merit to have bought it and placed this bookplate inside but the fact that he had a masonic bookplate at all seems to indicate a greater than average interest in Freemasonry. Because of the masonic significance of the bookplate I have endeavoured to research what could be found of his masonic activity.
Ernest Henry Shackleton was born in Kilkee, in Countay Clare on the west coast of Ireland on 15 February 1874, and educated at Dulwich College near London, afterwards entering the mercantile marine service.
Masonic Activity
Shackleton was initiated in Navy Lodge No.2612 on 9 July 1901, the same lodge in which George VI and the Duke of Edinburgh were later to be initiated and in which Robert Falcon Scott became a Joining Member on 13 December 1904. Shackleton was described as aged twenty four of Edinburgh. Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. It was to be another ten years before he made any further progress in Masonry, years of course when he was elsewhere occupied. At the first regular meeting after its consecration on 15 June 1911. Shackleton was one of the visitors to the Guild of Freemen Lodge No.3525, his signature appearing in the attendance book as Ernest Shackleton (E.A. Navy Lodge No.2612)'. He joined this Lodge soon after as its history (1961) shows: 'At Emergency Meeting of the Lodge held on 2 November 1911 Bro. Sir Ernest Shackleton, who had been initiated into the Navy Lodge No.2612 on 9 July 1901. was passed to the Second Degree and at another Emergency Meeting held on 30 May 1913, he was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. At a Regular Meeting held on the 28 April 1914, which he attended, he was unanimously elected as Honorary Member of the Lodge.' It was at a Ladies Festival of this lodge that he announced to the public his last Antarctic Expedition in 1921 via New Zealand, the expedition that resulted in his death.
However I bought it and took it to Bro. John Hamill, the Grand Lodge librarian for appraisal. Without hesitation he said that it was the bookplate of Sir Ernest, in fact took a photostat for Grand Lodge records. It might be assumed that he considered the book of some masonic merit to have bought it and placed this bookplate inside but the fact that he had a masonic bookplate at all seems to indicate a greater than average interest in Freemasonry. Because of the masonic significance of the bookplate I have endeavoured to research what could be found of his masonic activity.
Ernest Henry Shackleton was born in Kilkee, in Countay Clare on the west coast of Ireland on 15 February 1874, and educated at Dulwich College near London, afterwards entering the mercantile marine service.
Masonic Activity
Shackleton was initiated in Navy Lodge No.2612 on 9 July 1901, the same lodge in which George VI and the Duke of Edinburgh were later to be initiated and in which Robert Falcon Scott became a Joining Member on 13 December 1904. Shackleton was described as aged twenty four of Edinburgh. Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. It was to be another ten years before he made any further progress in Masonry, years of course when he was elsewhere occupied. At the first regular meeting after its consecration on 15 June 1911. Shackleton was one of the visitors to the Guild of Freemen Lodge No.3525, his signature appearing in the attendance book as Ernest Shackleton (E.A. Navy Lodge No.2612)'. He joined this Lodge soon after as its history (1961) shows: 'At Emergency Meeting of the Lodge held on 2 November 1911 Bro. Sir Ernest Shackleton, who had been initiated into the Navy Lodge No.2612 on 9 July 1901. was passed to the Second Degree and at another Emergency Meeting held on 30 May 1913, he was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. At a Regular Meeting held on the 28 April 1914, which he attended, he was unanimously elected as Honorary Member of the Lodge.' It was at a Ladies Festival of this lodge that he announced to the public his last Antarctic Expedition in 1921 via New Zealand, the expedition that resulted in his death.
The Shackleton bookplate
Antarctic Expeditions
Shackleton had joined Scott's Antarctic expedition of 1901-04, acting as lieutenant but had to return home because of illness. His second voyage was in command of Nimrod which left on New Years Day 1908. this expedition reaching a point about 97 miles from the South Pole. On his return in 1909 he was honoured with a Knighthood and also made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
During his next, and ill fated, expedition which sailed on the Erebus on 1 August 1914. he attended in March 1917 a meeting of Lodge Tutanekai No.156 in Wellington. He said at that time that eight members of the Craft accompanied him on his Antarctic expeditions. Of this voyage more appears below. Finally in September 1921 he set out in the Quest and, on 5 January following, succumbed off South Georgia Island to an attack of angina after a bout of influenza. being buried on that island.
Shackleton remained a member of Navy Lodge until his death and appears also to have remained an Honorary Member of the Guild of Freemen Lodge.
Commemoration of Rescue
On 8 July 1980 a special meeting took place in Lodge of Harmony No.1411, an English lodge at Valparaiso in Chile, to commemorate the rescue of Shackleton's expedition in 1916. The Master, Bro. Mario Pino Carvajal read a paper describing the events of the disastrous expedition and the drama in which Shackleton and his comrades were rescued by a brother mason. This is his account, in his words, with minor grammatical editing, of those stirring events; At the end of 1912 Shackleton commenced to plan the last attempt which was lacking, the crossing of the Antarctic Continent. His plan was to sail to the Weddell Sea and disembark a group of six men with sledges and seventy dogs. near to the Bay of Vahsel. More or less at the same time a ship was to sail to the McMurdo Straits in the Ross Sea, almost directly across the Continent. The Ross Sea group would establish a series of provisioning bases, starting from their base and heading directly to the Pole. Whilst all this was being done the Weddell Sea group would advance on their sledges toward the Pole, carrying on up to almost the proximity of the powerful Beardmore glacier where they would replenish their provisions at the southerly depot established by the Ross Sea group. The rest of the provision depots along the route would keep the group supplied until they arrived at the McMurdo Straits. Such was the plan theoretically, certainly typical of Shackleton: audacious, sensible and clear.
He was then forty years old, a man of middle height, a thick neck and broad shoulders. slightly bent, dark brown hair parted in the middle and an iron jaw. His eyes were greyish blue, he spoke softly and with the typical accent of his native County of Clare. Notwithstanding, all his plans received one disappointment after another when the financial help he had been offered did not materialise. He finally obtained $120.000 from Sir James Caird, a rich Scots manufacturer of jute articles, and the Government granted him a sum equivalent to $50,000 whereas the Royal Geographic Society contributed with a symbolic sum of $5,000, sums which under no circumstances covered the plans of the expedition. Towards the end of July 1914, everything was ready and the provisions were stored on the Endurance. The vessel set sail from the East India Docks in London on 1 August 1914, a few days before the First World War was declared. After long debates it was the Government's decision that the Expedition should be carried on with in any case. The Endurance sailed from Plymouth five days afterwards heading for Buenos Aires, leaving Shackleton and his Second in Command on shore to take care of the last moment preparations, to follow later on a passenger vessel to join the expedition in the Argentine.
Endurance's trip lasted more than two months under the Command of Frank Worsley, a New Zealander who had sailed from the age of 16. Finally she arrived at Buenos Aires on 9 October 1914. A few days after Shackleton and Wild arrived; the expedition sailed a few days later at 10.30 on the morning of 26 October 1914 towards their last port of call, the desolate Island of South Georgia, a short distance from the extreme south of the South American Continent. They arrived at the Whale Processing Plant of Grytviken in South Georgia on 5 November finding that a period of bad weather had set in, a fact which caused Shackleton great discouragement. There they waited until 4 December with hopes that conditions would improve. This occured a day later when the ship sailed at 8.45 in the morning. advancing slowly seawards from Cumberland Bay.
Shackleton had joined Scott's Antarctic expedition of 1901-04, acting as lieutenant but had to return home because of illness. His second voyage was in command of Nimrod which left on New Years Day 1908. this expedition reaching a point about 97 miles from the South Pole. On his return in 1909 he was honoured with a Knighthood and also made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
During his next, and ill fated, expedition which sailed on the Erebus on 1 August 1914. he attended in March 1917 a meeting of Lodge Tutanekai No.156 in Wellington. He said at that time that eight members of the Craft accompanied him on his Antarctic expeditions. Of this voyage more appears below. Finally in September 1921 he set out in the Quest and, on 5 January following, succumbed off South Georgia Island to an attack of angina after a bout of influenza. being buried on that island.
Shackleton remained a member of Navy Lodge until his death and appears also to have remained an Honorary Member of the Guild of Freemen Lodge.
Commemoration of Rescue
On 8 July 1980 a special meeting took place in Lodge of Harmony No.1411, an English lodge at Valparaiso in Chile, to commemorate the rescue of Shackleton's expedition in 1916. The Master, Bro. Mario Pino Carvajal read a paper describing the events of the disastrous expedition and the drama in which Shackleton and his comrades were rescued by a brother mason. This is his account, in his words, with minor grammatical editing, of those stirring events; At the end of 1912 Shackleton commenced to plan the last attempt which was lacking, the crossing of the Antarctic Continent. His plan was to sail to the Weddell Sea and disembark a group of six men with sledges and seventy dogs. near to the Bay of Vahsel. More or less at the same time a ship was to sail to the McMurdo Straits in the Ross Sea, almost directly across the Continent. The Ross Sea group would establish a series of provisioning bases, starting from their base and heading directly to the Pole. Whilst all this was being done the Weddell Sea group would advance on their sledges toward the Pole, carrying on up to almost the proximity of the powerful Beardmore glacier where they would replenish their provisions at the southerly depot established by the Ross Sea group. The rest of the provision depots along the route would keep the group supplied until they arrived at the McMurdo Straits. Such was the plan theoretically, certainly typical of Shackleton: audacious, sensible and clear.
He was then forty years old, a man of middle height, a thick neck and broad shoulders. slightly bent, dark brown hair parted in the middle and an iron jaw. His eyes were greyish blue, he spoke softly and with the typical accent of his native County of Clare. Notwithstanding, all his plans received one disappointment after another when the financial help he had been offered did not materialise. He finally obtained $120.000 from Sir James Caird, a rich Scots manufacturer of jute articles, and the Government granted him a sum equivalent to $50,000 whereas the Royal Geographic Society contributed with a symbolic sum of $5,000, sums which under no circumstances covered the plans of the expedition. Towards the end of July 1914, everything was ready and the provisions were stored on the Endurance. The vessel set sail from the East India Docks in London on 1 August 1914, a few days before the First World War was declared. After long debates it was the Government's decision that the Expedition should be carried on with in any case. The Endurance sailed from Plymouth five days afterwards heading for Buenos Aires, leaving Shackleton and his Second in Command on shore to take care of the last moment preparations, to follow later on a passenger vessel to join the expedition in the Argentine.
Endurance's trip lasted more than two months under the Command of Frank Worsley, a New Zealander who had sailed from the age of 16. Finally she arrived at Buenos Aires on 9 October 1914. A few days after Shackleton and Wild arrived; the expedition sailed a few days later at 10.30 on the morning of 26 October 1914 towards their last port of call, the desolate Island of South Georgia, a short distance from the extreme south of the South American Continent. They arrived at the Whale Processing Plant of Grytviken in South Georgia on 5 November finding that a period of bad weather had set in, a fact which caused Shackleton great discouragement. There they waited until 4 December with hopes that conditions would improve. This occured a day later when the ship sailed at 8.45 in the morning. advancing slowly seawards from Cumberland Bay.
Shackleton's men watch hime set of to fetch help, Shackletons jround trip from South Georgia, and the rescue boat the Yelcho
Shackleton decided to launch north in search of help, with five men accompanying him and, leaving behind twenty two of his crew, he started a trip through stormy seas covering 75 miles to South Georgia and arriving on 24 April 1916.
There they remained until 23 May when they were able to reach a whaling vessel and returned to Elephant Island, but the icebergs did not allow them to advance and they decided to return to the Falkland Islands and from there they requested help from England. Uruguay charatered a ship for the salvage expedition, but they failed. Various countries offered their help but it was impossible to reach them. Untiring and with an irreducible faith in the face of adversity, Shackleton decided to go from the Falklands to Punta Arenas, with his hope based on Chile. Here he chartered, with the contacts of the British Colony, the 70 ton schooner Emma with which he started on a new journey. This time the tender Yelcho, commanded by Lt. Commander Luis A. Pardo Villalon, tugged Emma and escorted it to open waters, avoiding its consumption of fuel and thus prolonging its radius of action. It is sad to have to say that the Emma was not successful in its mission. She was detained by the ice pack and in her obstinate struggle was damaged by the ice, having to return to Punta Arenas. Sir Ernest Shackleton then approached the Director General of the Chilean Navy, Vice-Admiral Joaquin Munoz Hurtado, whom he had met during his stay at Port Stanley and was now returning from London to take over his new post. The Admiral requested the Government's authorization to send the Yelcho as requested by Shackleton, authorization which was granted. The authorization Order having being transmitted to Rear Admiral Luis V. Lopez, Head of the Magellan Naval Base, Yelcho was put at the brave explorer's order. The Yelcho with a total displacement of 647 tons was old, lacked heating, electric lighting or wireless telegraphy; it had a low gunwale and no double bottom. It was simply audacious to send it when its sole provable quality was the outstanding spirit of its crew, their skill and bravery.
The vessel was prepared as rapidly as possible with what was at hand and on it sailed Shackleton and his companion Green. The Yelcho sailed on 25 August 1916, navigating through the Canals and heading for the Beagle. It cast anchor at Ushuaia where Shackleton was very well received and then at the Isle of Picton, where it recharged its coal bunkers, so as to sail. August 27 and 28 were of continuous good weather, with the temperature constantly descending until it hit 10o C. below zero. At 23.30 hours on the 28th the fog enveloped them completely so that Pardo was obliged to reduce speed to only three knots and had to set a special watch. Next day the fog cleared up and it was possible to continue heading, full speed ahead, towards Elephant Island where they arrived during daylight.
On Wednesday 30 August at 10.40 they sighted the first breakers of the extreme northern end of Elephant Island and the Seal Rocks were recognized at two and a half miles distance. Avoiding the icebergs Yelcho began to circumnavigate the island looking out for the Camp, until at 13.30 hours when with great general happiness, the stranded seamen were seen on a shoal, with a huge glacier on one side and on the other the Island's high peaks.
Holding engines, the Yelcho rapidly lowered a boat on which Shackleton, Green and four men climbed and headed for land immediately, where the enthusiasm was indescribable, with hurrahs and the waving of handkerchiefs. The men saved cried on the shoulders of the Chilean sailors, babbling the name of Chile in the midst of their anguished crying.
After an hour's hard work the survivors found themselves on board Yelcho where they were received with full honours as ordered by Brother Luis A. Pardo. The mission had been completed with success.
During the return voyage, the ship had to bear a strong north storm. An entry to the Beagle Channel was tried but it was so closed that it turned out to be more prudent to carry on and enter the eastern entrance of the Straits. In the midst of very bad weather, Pardo finally arrived at Point Dungeness on 2 September. From there a boat was sent to communicate the success of the mission to Admiral Lopez, and the very heavy seas and the strong wind prevailing obliged the vessel to carry on to Rio Seco, where it cast anchor at 16.00 hours that day.
The mission carried out by the Yelcho can be considered as a very special mission, if we bear in mind its frailty and its precarious means to face an adventure in the Antartic in the middle of winter. Brother Lt. Commander Lois Alberto Pardo Villalon used good judgment and intelligence. The decisions taken during the voyage were wise and opportune. He took advantage, with firm decision, of the favourable conditions of the weather, all of which led to the most complete success.
The arrival of Yelcho at Punta Arenas constituted a popular occurrence. In the city the people had lived Shackleton's odyssey and they knew the details of the sufferings of those men who remained ten months undergoing the most severe privations. An ambience of anxiety had been gone through awaiting the results of the expedition of the Yelcho, and because of the thought that the vessel might not arrive in time to save those shipwrecked men who had undergone such great sufferings. So, when the ship came into Punta Arenas the whole town turned up at the dock and the adjacent streets to show sympathy for those saved, and for the untiring crew of the Yelcho, their admiration and affection. The British Colony, as a whole, turned up at the dockside, together with the authorities and there were formations of Public and Private Institutions who wished to express their admiration, affection and happiness.
There they remained until 23 May when they were able to reach a whaling vessel and returned to Elephant Island, but the icebergs did not allow them to advance and they decided to return to the Falkland Islands and from there they requested help from England. Uruguay charatered a ship for the salvage expedition, but they failed. Various countries offered their help but it was impossible to reach them. Untiring and with an irreducible faith in the face of adversity, Shackleton decided to go from the Falklands to Punta Arenas, with his hope based on Chile. Here he chartered, with the contacts of the British Colony, the 70 ton schooner Emma with which he started on a new journey. This time the tender Yelcho, commanded by Lt. Commander Luis A. Pardo Villalon, tugged Emma and escorted it to open waters, avoiding its consumption of fuel and thus prolonging its radius of action. It is sad to have to say that the Emma was not successful in its mission. She was detained by the ice pack and in her obstinate struggle was damaged by the ice, having to return to Punta Arenas. Sir Ernest Shackleton then approached the Director General of the Chilean Navy, Vice-Admiral Joaquin Munoz Hurtado, whom he had met during his stay at Port Stanley and was now returning from London to take over his new post. The Admiral requested the Government's authorization to send the Yelcho as requested by Shackleton, authorization which was granted. The authorization Order having being transmitted to Rear Admiral Luis V. Lopez, Head of the Magellan Naval Base, Yelcho was put at the brave explorer's order. The Yelcho with a total displacement of 647 tons was old, lacked heating, electric lighting or wireless telegraphy; it had a low gunwale and no double bottom. It was simply audacious to send it when its sole provable quality was the outstanding spirit of its crew, their skill and bravery.
The vessel was prepared as rapidly as possible with what was at hand and on it sailed Shackleton and his companion Green. The Yelcho sailed on 25 August 1916, navigating through the Canals and heading for the Beagle. It cast anchor at Ushuaia where Shackleton was very well received and then at the Isle of Picton, where it recharged its coal bunkers, so as to sail. August 27 and 28 were of continuous good weather, with the temperature constantly descending until it hit 10o C. below zero. At 23.30 hours on the 28th the fog enveloped them completely so that Pardo was obliged to reduce speed to only three knots and had to set a special watch. Next day the fog cleared up and it was possible to continue heading, full speed ahead, towards Elephant Island where they arrived during daylight.
On Wednesday 30 August at 10.40 they sighted the first breakers of the extreme northern end of Elephant Island and the Seal Rocks were recognized at two and a half miles distance. Avoiding the icebergs Yelcho began to circumnavigate the island looking out for the Camp, until at 13.30 hours when with great general happiness, the stranded seamen were seen on a shoal, with a huge glacier on one side and on the other the Island's high peaks.
Holding engines, the Yelcho rapidly lowered a boat on which Shackleton, Green and four men climbed and headed for land immediately, where the enthusiasm was indescribable, with hurrahs and the waving of handkerchiefs. The men saved cried on the shoulders of the Chilean sailors, babbling the name of Chile in the midst of their anguished crying.
After an hour's hard work the survivors found themselves on board Yelcho where they were received with full honours as ordered by Brother Luis A. Pardo. The mission had been completed with success.
During the return voyage, the ship had to bear a strong north storm. An entry to the Beagle Channel was tried but it was so closed that it turned out to be more prudent to carry on and enter the eastern entrance of the Straits. In the midst of very bad weather, Pardo finally arrived at Point Dungeness on 2 September. From there a boat was sent to communicate the success of the mission to Admiral Lopez, and the very heavy seas and the strong wind prevailing obliged the vessel to carry on to Rio Seco, where it cast anchor at 16.00 hours that day.
The mission carried out by the Yelcho can be considered as a very special mission, if we bear in mind its frailty and its precarious means to face an adventure in the Antartic in the middle of winter. Brother Lt. Commander Lois Alberto Pardo Villalon used good judgment and intelligence. The decisions taken during the voyage were wise and opportune. He took advantage, with firm decision, of the favourable conditions of the weather, all of which led to the most complete success.
The arrival of Yelcho at Punta Arenas constituted a popular occurrence. In the city the people had lived Shackleton's odyssey and they knew the details of the sufferings of those men who remained ten months undergoing the most severe privations. An ambience of anxiety had been gone through awaiting the results of the expedition of the Yelcho, and because of the thought that the vessel might not arrive in time to save those shipwrecked men who had undergone such great sufferings. So, when the ship came into Punta Arenas the whole town turned up at the dock and the adjacent streets to show sympathy for those saved, and for the untiring crew of the Yelcho, their admiration and affection. The British Colony, as a whole, turned up at the dockside, together with the authorities and there were formations of Public and Private Institutions who wished to express their admiration, affection and happiness.
A postcard and stamp struck to celebrate the rescue of Shackleton and his men with images of the Yelcho and its heroic skipper Lois Pardo
The Government itself took part in this really national festivity, because the news had spread like lightning. It was necessary therefore to take Brother Shackleton and his brave companions to the heart of the country itself, to render them the just homage for their notable prowess. So because of this the Yelcho was put at the orders of Shackleton to transport him to Valparaiso.
On arrival at the First Port of the Republic the reception for the Yelcho was extraordinary. On 27 September the little vessel came into port, all flags flying, and passed before the Fleet which saluted them, with their crews on parade in formation on deck, standing to attention, and surrounded by hundreds of small vessels and boats, she was escorted to her anchorage with a tremendous chorus of whistles and sirens. At the dockside the Governor of the Province Mr.Anibal Pinto Cruz awaited Brother Shackleton and Brother Pardo; also present was the Mayor, Vice Admiral Jorge Montt, who received both of them in the midst of the hurrahs of a great number of citizens.
On the following day, Shackleton and Pardo were received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Juan Luis Sanfuentes. At that moment Sir Ernest took advantage of the opportunity of thanking the Government for its kind help.
On 7 September 1916 Brother Pardo was raised to the Rank of Commander, for his outstanding deed. Subsequently to these facts, the British Government sent him the sum of twenty thousand pounds as a gift, but this very correct Officer refused the gift, stating that for him it was sufficient to have complied with his duty.
Brother Pardo soon retired from the Navy, and the classical Chilean forgetfulness had let him pass into anonymity when the President of the Republic rewarded him by naming him Consuladjunct of Chile in Liverpool.
During his stay in England, Brother Pardo was once again honoured by Sir Ernest Shackleton's home country with renewed honours, and up to the time of his death which took place in Valparaiso in 1935, the British Colony in Chile continued to grant him the best or their attentions.
To-day, a river in the Magellan Straits zone has the name Pardo, a street in Punta Arenas honours his name and the Isles of Elephant and Clarence, the main ones, as well as Aspland and Gibbs are called the Islands of the Piloto Pardo. They are situated northeast of the Southern Shetlands. A ship of the Chilean Navy, as well, also now bears his name.
To-day we find ourselves in a meeting under the same roof and in the same Temple in which, on 30 September 1916, Lodge of Harmony No.1411 rendered them a very well deserved homage, in the Lodge's name and that of the Lodges under the Grand Lodge of Chile which were in existence at the time and were: Aurora (Dawn) No.6, Progreso (Progress) No.4 and Independencia (Independence) No.38, Brother Luis A. Pardo Villalon's mother Lodge.
SOURCE OF TEXT (and Bookplate graphic): UML V26N15 p290-296
The Centenniary Issue of stamps by the British post office, from photographs documenting the amazing journey and rescue.
EDITORS NOTE:
It is not forgotten as a glorious example of bravery, we should not forget the actions of one brother for another in distressed circumastances
It is not forgotten as a glorious example of bravery, we should not forget the actions of one brother for another in distressed circumastances
Two very brave brothers in the Craft with a special signed photograph, held by one of Bro. Pardo's descendants, of what brought them together
