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Robert,
I disagree that this has nothing to do with navigation.It has everything to
do with it in my opinion.The board is rather dead at the moment anyway.These
guy's personality had much to do with their abilities as exporers and
navigators.Some of the people I had to serve with had egos that were
directly porportional to their abilities as navigators,ship handlers or
offices.While some did not.Both kinds got the job done but how much more
pleasant it was to take direction from and learn with the latter.
Think of what Bligh and his people;Shackleton,Worsley and the men went
through on each of their transits.To even get a good sight off and a pos
reduced,or make a correct life altering decision was quite something.I'm not
so sure I or anyone on the list could have pulled it off 1/4 as
well.Fatigued,hungrey,cold and sore takes a toll on ones mental and physical
ability to make sound decisions and accomplish simple tasks.
Plus the doubts that must have knawed the leaders and men as time went
on.Increadable.The skill involved to pull this off.Perhaps luck also played
a part as she usually does.
Wasn't Sir Ernest a member(2nd or 3rd in command)of a previous Antarctic
Expedition?I can't remember who with but believe it to be true.
Reading accounts of Scott's run to the S. pole and the team's feelings when
they reached it and found Admunson was there and gone were heart renching.As
were the accounts of his team's slow death going back to base camp.There is
a person who made all the wrong choises for the right reasons and payed
dearly for it.
An interesting topic.




If you read the various biographies of the noted polar explorers you will
find that they were mostly cut from the same cloth; albeit with different
degrees of competency. They all had big egos, bad tempers and demanded
absolute and unquestioning loyalty from their men.

Roald Amundsen, whom I consider to be the greatest ever polar explorer,
had a huge blowup with one of his more experienced men -- Johanssen --
during his South Pole expedition. Amundsen did not like having his
authority being questioned, nor was he comfortable in having anyone
around him who, due to their experience, threatened his supremacy in that
field. Johanssen was pressed upon Amundsen by Frijtof Nansen. To make a
long story short, Johanssen berated Amundsen after a particularly bad
false start towards the pole, where the team had to retreat back to their
base camp due to weather, frostbite and generally bad conditions.
Amundsen raced back to camp leaving Johanssen a day or so behind. Upon
his return, Amundsen made some comment to Johanssen to the effect
of "what took you so long?" whereupon Johanssen lit into him with full
fury, questioning his leadership and his competency.

Amundsen never spoke to Johanssen again -- not even to pass the salt --
and removed Johanssen from the South Pole assault. Amundsen further
isolated Johanssen by having each of the men sign a declaration of 100%
allegiance to Amundsen. Amundsen never forgave Johanssen.

Robert Peary was the same type of guy; only even more brutal and nasty.
Robert Scott was also a martinet and unforgiving of anyone who questioned
his authority. He and Shackelton did not get along at all.

But I've gotten way off topic. This haslittle to do with navigation. My
apologies to the list for the ramble.

Robert
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