Comments on: Shackleton’s Dogs

By: Jocelin Kagan

Jocelin Kagan — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:58:21 +0000

Thank you. Your synopsis is heartening. I agree, the men loved the dogs. There was no need to eat them – they had plenty of food and a ‘banquet’ before they left the ice. Dog meat did not become a regular item on the menu for Shackleton’s men. It appears as if it was served two or three times at the most and as an addition to the hoosh and whatever else they had with them. Let’s not forget that Shackleton gave the order to collect the last of the supplies from the sunken Endurance after the route was blocked and the food reclaim party were forced to turn back. In this regard Shackleton’s procrastination cost the party dearly.
And yes, Antarctic dogs in early polar exploration were viewed as working dogs and where necessary, a source of food. Hard to stomach from a 2018 perspective.

By: Geri L Mitchell

Geri L Mitchell — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 07:38:49 +0000

I’ve just seen the Endurance exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA, today. Not sure where you saw Hurley’s footage, but they have a room full of his film playing with a very creative timeline full of photos and a few artifacts. We so enjoyed everything about the dogs, being on this journey. We kept worrying about what happened to them. An unfortunate Google search tells me they ate them. a fortunate Google search landed me on your page. Thanks for your post.

By: beverly boynton

beverly boynton — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 15:29:11 +0000

hey–what about Mrs. Chippy, the ship’s cat? chippy is the nickname of carpenters in england, and the ship’s carpenter brought his kitten for the trip. they called the cat mrs. chippy, thinking it was female. when they found he was male, they kept the name. mrs. chippy was also killed, chippy the carpenter (and maybe others) lamented this too. there is a sculpture of mrs. chppy on chippy’s grave in new zealand. and our cat’s name is mrs. chippy, a male. shackleton historian caroline alexander wrote a wonderful book called Mrs. Chippy’s Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal of Shackleton’s Polar-Bound Cat, based on diary entries and other factual info.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:34:30 +0000

That sounds like a cool flick. I’m more of a Scott man myself, and humbly suggest you track down the British Film Institute’s restoration of the footage shot by the photographer for Scott’s Antarctic expedition, this dude Herbert Ponting. It’s called “The Great White Silence”. The soundtrack is, and I quote. “a new score by Simon Fisher Turner featuring the composer, the Elysian Quartet, Sarah Scutt, David Coulter and Alexander L’Estrange.” The soundtrack doesn’t try to be period, it just responds to the footage itself. Ponting applied this weird colour thing to his b/w film tho, it’s kind of ??????

By: ericka

ericka — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 16:49:49 +0000

This is the best thing I have ever read in the history of the internet

By: Mary R

Mary R — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 04:45:07 +0000

As a long-time novice researcher on said subject: thank you.

By: Yours Truly

Yours Truly — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 15:23:00 +0000

Yes, “South.” Lemme know what you think!

By: Yours Truly

Yours Truly — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 15:22:46 +0000

Awesome!!!!

By: freddy

freddy — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 15:09:31 +0000

Nacho just checked a book out of the library for Calvin about this trip. It’s a beautiful book. https://www.amazon.com/Shackletons-Journey-William-Grill/dp/1909263109

By: ro6

ro6 — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:50:42 +0000

is it “south” or what is the specific film or DVD?

cheers