Viewing page 19 of 51

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]] 28 [[/preprinted]]

As I served myself supper, a call by radio came from John Annexstad.

After 260 days in the Antarctic, 40 of them tenting, John began by apologizing for not calling me before he left Houston in October. He has had a spectacular season & is planning to vacate Allan Hills on the 30th -- and Antarctica by Jan 15. It was nice to talk to him --  seemed much himself. We are to go to McM ASAP where Bill is waiting to take us to the Allan Hills.

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

[[preprinted]] 29 [[/preprinted]]

December 25: Awoke early, ~ 5:30, with wind shrieking outside (Antarctica as it should be). Slept again until ~9:30 when heat insufferable in Jamesway. Had to get out to revive. No real breakfast today; preparations for Xmas feast began yesterday with pans of rolls & cornbread, 3 or 4 types of pies; Xmas tree decorated w. popcorn & beercan openers arr. in chains. 3 large turkeys began thawing on the 23rd. New bread baked yesterday so I had coffee, canned pineapple, & toast for breakfast. 
The wind was stopped by then & the thermometer read +10[[degree symbol]]C at 1:15. All parties, incl. Ed Stump's, in from field for a day of celebration & relaxation. Nothing flies today. At noon I realized it was X-mas Eve in Dorset & I had a clear picture of the fireside and conviviality. I'm sure they are thinking of Tom in AZ & me here. 

There are extensive safety precautions exercised here. The 1st requirement of Darwin Camp is that noone get hurt. One search & rescue helo remains on ground at all times; no party takes of without emergency equipment including k-rations, tent, signalling mirror, etc. & one's own warm extra clothing. That gear, plus our backpacks, plus boxes for collecting meteorites means a pile of stuff on each of our flights.

Strolled about & read all PM until ~5 when Christmas feast was served: Trays of cold lobster tails, oysters, shrimp & red sauce: 3 huge roast turkeys, roast ham a fruit sauce; mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, succotash, gravy cranberry sauce. Tables arr. lengthwise of room. Sev. bottles of wine offered and Drambuie by Spletstavssen. A lovely party w many camera flashing throughout. A small German plastic Xmas tree w candles lit on table. 

Borrowed copy of Elspeth Huxley's book on Scott from Ward [[strikethrough]] Chayne [[/strikethrough]] Cheney. ^[[H&N]] He had penciled in margin some comments: A local legend persists that Oates may have taken off because he was in best condition & sick of staying behind OR Oates knew his case hopeless & offered to be eaten or dying -- and was eaten" And/or there was something ghastly in Scott's tent - cannibalism. No evidence. But Oates' Diary was kept secret and destroyed by his mother.