Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Spectacular landscape. And you focus on faces for a long time. These are amazing people. Straight and clean, are there any now? On these faces only will and faith - in different proportions, but only they. Features of photography of the early twentieth century, make anyone more monumental. And let's realize that one of these monumental people was Ukrainian Anton Omelchenko

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Antarctica is a white desert of the mainland with an area of ​​more than 14 million square kilometers

 

Gentlemen, explorers, dreamers and adventurers competed for the conquest of this continent in the early 20th century. Entire nations, countries, governments, scientists and philanthropists were involved in the polar race. Whose strategy turned out to be victorious? What path, trials, joys and fears did the Ukrainian Anton Omelchenko, a native of Poltava region, go through in the team of the British captain Robert Scott?

 

The most detailed information about the abilities and character of Anton Omelchenko can be found in the memoirs of the photographer of the expedition Herbert George Ponting - "The Great White South".

It is known that Ponting did not keep a diary, as did most officers and scholars, but instead carefully recorded when and where he took his photographs. By the time of the expedition, he had already established himself as an experienced traveler, cinematographer and photographer and had successful exhibitions in Japan and the United Kingdom. We owe the filming of Ponting to the first video footage of Hopak, performed by Anton Omelchenko.

Fortunately, Anton often helped Ponting in his photo expeditions, and we owe four photographs of Anton Omelchenko to Herbert Ponting.

 

Ponting's notes differ in date from the diaries of other members of the expedition, but are vividly illustrated with photographs and videos. He confirms, for example, Omelchenko's musical abilities:  "It's a pity that there were so few musical talents among us, Nelson could play the mandolin by ear; Russian Anton from time to time gave us busts on the balalaika and I played the banjo ..." [1].

 

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Ponting also shows us that, despite his tireless work with the pony, Anton also helped in other aspects of the expedition's work. One of the most significant contributions is Anton's participation in the hunt for the emperor penguin. As we know, from the beginning, the Antarctic expedition of 1910 -1912, was planned as a scientific, not as a race with the Norwegians under the leadership of Roald Amundsen, to be the first to reach the South Pole.

The expedition aimed at geographical research, detailed cartography of the coast and the mainland, collection of geological samples and the collection of eggs of emperor penguins, the study of the contents of which could actually confirm Darwin's theory of evolution. Since it was believed that the study of the embryo of emperor penguins should prove the survival of an extremely primitive form of birds in transitional form from reptiles, therefore, was of great importance for understanding evolution [2].

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

 

"The first of the three emperor penguins we saw on Cape Evans before the onset of winter darkness appeared when the sea froze so far that the shore stretched two hundred yards from our cape (about 370 meters).

 

While I was testing the new ice, which was six inches thick near the shore (about 15.25 cm - bus) , I shot it (the emperor penguin) about a quarter of a mile, standing completely still, whether he slept or was lost in meditation is unknown.

 

The penguin looked like a perfect giant, but when I started taking pictures, I found that the gigantic size was due to the fact that the creature was reflected in the ice mirror on which he stood. Calling two men, Anton and Klisold, who were nearby, I walked around him on one side to meet.

 

As we approached, he also approached and bowed his head in greeting - "please", any skillful court servant could envy his correction. We awkwardly responded to this greeting, after which His Majesty made a few more nods. Then, ceremoniously, he looked at us, and then, walking a distance of two yards (about 1.82 cm - ed.), Gave a short speech in his penguin language, to which we tried to give a polite answer.

 

It was obvious that the compliant bird had never seen people, and took us for his companions, and conveyed to us a friendly greeting; but he seems to have been very perplexed by our speech and cheerful demeanor. Realizing that the penguin could be concerned about our defiant behavior at any time, we hurried to follow Captain Scott's instructions to each member of the expedition to detain any emperor penguins.

 

I betrayed the trust and tightened the noose on his chest, which I hastily made from the camera straps. As soon as he felt a squint on himself, the bird lost all confidence, and, wary, flopped on his chest and turned on all fours, pushed out of the belts.

 

But Klissold managed to catch him, and a bird weighing eighty pounds (about 36.4 kg) went under the glass ice, carrying Klissold's cook with his arms open like an eagle. Anton joined the chase; which has now become a rough fight with a large bird waving and kicking, and two men holding on to the ice and trying to keep the penguin at the same time.

 

I have never seen a more absurd picture. The whole scene had lost all signs of dignity, and now the ridiculous creature was working hard to reach the water for thirty yards (about 3 meters) and gradually dragged Klisold and Anton.

 

When the ice began to sag under their weight, I shouted to the boys to let him go, because now I was afraid that the comedy would end in tragedy. Just at that moment, they both held on tightly to the penguin's paws, and the unfortunate bird, written with tension, was finally caught securely. Under loud protests, the arrested, tied bird was taken to the winter base, where under the influence of anesthetics he joined the collection of our zoological collection “[3].

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Next, from Ponting's notes, we learn about Anton's role in the expedition's departure for the Pole. Ponting sought to accompany the Polar Party as far as possible, but Captain Scott explained that this would be absolutely impossible, given the transportation of the photo gun. Every ounce that could be pulled on a sled, in addition to sleeping gear, was food.

 

So we owe Ponting for this mention of the moment he and Anton left Captain Scott's group and returned to winter camp.

 

"Anton and I left at 10.30, pulled the sledge to Cape Evans. The day was clear and sunny, but the strong drift over the previous twenty-four hours made the surface of the sea ice very uneven. Moreover, as the temperature was 10 feet below Fahrenheit (ie - 2 degrees Celsius), the weather calmed down, and the sun was scorching, and the snow became soft and sticky, so that the heavy 12-meter sledge could not move, and we hoped to cover it for more than fifteen miles that day!

 

Sometimes they came across pieces of pure ice and the sledge was carried in a merry rhythm. Next, we came across a large sticky snow field again, and the sleigh immediately turned into a heavy lead mass. It was the busiest day of our lives. After working until 10.30 pm, we covered eleven miles, but it became clear that we would not be able to return home that night. About half a mile south of Razor Island, Anton told me he couldn't pull the sleigh anymore, I wasn't upset at all because I was tired for the last twelve hours.

 

I decided to build a night camp. After we pitched a tent and ate dinner and cocoa, Anton made it clear in his imperfect English that he didn't like the idea of ​​spending the night on the ice. The weather looked threatening from the south, and Anton asked me for permission to go to the winter station, about three miles away.

 

I tried to dispel his fears, but knowing his very superstitious nature, seeing that he was really afraid to sleep on the ice, although the night was as bright as day, I agreed that he should go home. I asked Anton to come back in the morning for help. I followed him with my eyes until Anton reached the land, then, tired, crawled into a warm deerskin bag and fell asleep. " [4]

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

The weather worsened, and Anton was unable to return to help Ponting the next morning. And only, around the middle of the day, biologist Nelson and Norwegian ski instructor Triggve Gran came to the photographer's aid to deliver heavy tools to the base.

 

After the last ponies, unfortunately, went under the ice, the main duties of the groom -Anton ended, and Ponting took him as his assistant.

 

An unusual couple - a Ukrainian and an English gentleman, Anton and Herbert Ponting, formed a wonderful team of chefs. The expedition included an official cook, Klisold, as well as a steward, as Scott considered the scientists' time too valuable to spend on household chores. But the chef, Klisold, was not always on duty at the winter base. Shortly after Scott left for the pole, he left the base, in a team of three, to deliver food supplies to the One Ton Depot, for use by the polar group on the way back after conquering the pole.

 

"In the absence of our chef," writes Ponting, “those who knew anything about cooking were now able to show themselves. Simpson immediately openly admitted that if we were going to rely on him, it was better to count on canned meat." and crackers, because he has no experience in cooking. But the situation was not so bad, in my days working on a California ranch, I learned to cook from a real master chef. It was my turn, and I had to show all the culinary skills.

 

One day, I invited Anton to prepare a surprise for a group of friends, to show them that we are not helpless. The team arrived on a sled, hoping, as they later admitted, to dine on canned meat and cookies. Instead, they were greeted by a table set with a hot baked lamb leg, Irish stew, mashed potatoes, for dessert - custard with stewed pears, raspberry jelly, tartlets with jam and a three-tier cake with jam (two of my specialties, butter, x, jam, cheese, candy and a cup of hot cocoa. "

 

This example shows that Anton and Ponting worked as an effective team [5].

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

From the second volume of Robert Scott's diaries we learn about life in the expedition camp during the Antarctic winter.

 

"January 18, 1911

 

Chef Klisold now serves us seal and penguin meat. Scott notes that he has never eaten meat dishes so deliciously cooked. This fact was of great practical importance in the expedition, as it ensured the health of the team for years. Today, to our great satisfaction, Stewart, Hooper, appeared and immediately set to work, freeing the scientists from all economic work. Anton and Dmitry Girev are always ready to work, they are both nice guys.

 

Our lives have long been in order. Klisold gets up around 7 o'clock in the morning and starts a fire. At 7.30 Hooper sweeps and sets the table. From 8.00 to 8.30 team members go on various household chores - bring ice and heat on the fire for drinking water. Anton goes to feed the horses, and Dmitry goes to the dogs.

 

Hooper begins to wake those who have fallen asleep, frightening them late, while usually deceiving them for a quarter of an hour. They stretch and exchange greetings, seasoned with jokes, half-asleep sayings. Wilson and Bowers are completely naked, meet around a large bowl filled with fresh snow, and are taken to rub. A little later they are replaced by others, less brave, and are satisfied with a very modest amount of water.

 

We are going to lunch at 1.30 or 1.45 and spend a very fun half hour. Next, the ponies walk and train, weather permitting, and the entire work team and officers join in for a good hour. Then we all return to our responsibilities. Dinner - at 6.30, it lasts an hour. The rest of the time the team reads, plays games, and sometimes finishes small things. Of course, some good soul will start the gramophone, and three times a week there are lectures or reports that always attract listeners and provoke lively discussions.

 

At 11 o'clock the lamps are extinguished, and if anyone still wants to sit or read in bed, he must be content with candles. But those, almost all, go out until midnight, and the next night watchman is left alone with an oil lamp.

 

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

So the days go by. None of us sleep more than eight hours. On Saturday or Sunday morning, there is a more thorough cleaning; shave, change clothes; for such trifles and Sunday morning prayers there is a transition from one week to another. "

Let's learn more about the ponies that Anton worked with - cared for, treated, trained, and even slept next to them, during transportation on various ships from country to country, during transportation to the Antarctic coast. Anton's immediate supervisor and horse care companion was Captain Lawrence Oates.

 

From the beginning, Oates considered Scott's decision to include a pony in the expedition unwise and criticized the decision. And when he first inspected the horses he had brought, he was even more disappointed, realizing that these animals would either not survive the sea voyage or the difficult natural conditions of the icy continent.

 

Captain Lawrence Oates is better known to readers as the legendary gentleman, one of five chosen by Captain Scott to conquer the Pole. On his 32nd birthday, March 17, 1912, Oates, with his feet frozen to death, came out of the tent in a blizzard and said not to worry: "it will take some time."

 

In this way, this British officer freed his comrades from having to drag him on a sleigh, because the officer's legs, cheeks, nose and lips were frozen to blackness, and in some places a bone was already visible. Oates himself could no longer pull a heavy sleigh for long and chose a cold death. This act, in British culture, is considered the act of a real English officer, it came out quietly - in English.

 

Captain Robert Scott chose Manchurian ponies for his expedition, as according to the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackelton, white specimens of these animals proved to be hardy in his 1907 expedition.

 

In 1907, Shackleton led his own expedition "Nimrod", during which he reached 88 ° 23 'S. w., not reaching the South Pole 97 geographical miles (180 km). For his achievements he was knighted by King Edward VII.

We learn about the qualities of Manchurian ponies from the memoirs of horse breeder Yakov Butov's "Horses of My Heart": "In our already difficult marching life, we had to suffer a lot from the terrible climate. Darkened by clouds of dust, and in the air this dust is sometimes kept for several days.

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

 

In summer it is very hot, in winter there are snowstorms of exceptional strength, although there is very little snow and it melts quickly. There is relatively little water, in short, the climate is disgusting. I paid special attention to Manchurian horses and inspected many. Manchurian horses are mostly light in color: gray of all shades and white. Crows are extremely rare. The best specimens were almost always white (so Captain Scott insisted on choosing only white horses - Ed.).

 

The Manchu breed has one distinctive feature that is striking: they are all on low legs, strong, stocky and well-placed. The chest is wide, the head is small, and the back is excellent, the buttocks are correct, the movements are light and elegant; small, from one yard to twelve and a half cream (not more than 130 cm).

 

There is no doubt that harsh climatic conditions have a certain effect on this breed, because only the strongest and most adapted to the struggle for existence of specimens survive. Manchurian horses develop slowly and reach their full development in the seventh and even eighth year of life. But if the Manchurian horse has developed and strengthened, it has a high efficiency and endurance " [6].

Expedition geologist - Griffith Taylor emphasizes the brighter side of polar life! He is happy to describe the sledding competition that Nelson organized for a team working at Granite Harbor, licked 25 km west of Cape Evans. Taylor was very pleased with Anton's victory.

 

According to the plan, Taylor, Debenham, Gran, and Ford were to spend the southern summer of 1911-1912 at Granite Harbor, and the Terra Nova was to take them away. However, Debengam injured his back and could no longer pull the sledge with geological specimens. So Nelson and Anton helped the Granite Harbor team ship the equipment.

 

To liven up the trip, Nelson offered a competition and a portion of raisins to the first person to see the flag of the winter depot "Granite Harbor" - it was Anton.

 

Then we learn about Anton's plans for marriage, which caused a lot of jokes and fun, a friendly discussion in the group. "We had a lively lunch, six of us sat in one tent. Anton's plans caused a lot of fun. We found out that he was returning to Russia to marry his rich wife, and since she was quite wealthy, he did not even pay attention to her trees. "One leg" [7].

 

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Such conversations about marriage and the team's jokes may indicate Anton's intentions to return home, which he shared with his comrades, as his main work in the expedition was over. And the team joked and hypothesized about a rich bride who was waiting for Anton on the "big land".

Celebration of the winter solstice in the expedition

 

Thursday, June 22, from Captain Scott's diaries:

 

"Day of the winter solstice. The sun reached its lowest point at 2:30 p.m., Greenwich Mean Time; that is, at 2:30 a.m. on June 23, the time of the 180th meridian, which we observe. Which at home marks the celebration of Christmas.

 

In preparation for the evening celebration, we hung our flags around a large table, which was filled with numerous bottles of champagne and glasses instead of the usual mugs and jugs of lemonade. At 7 o'clock we sat down to dinner, which deserves to be called a luxurious banquet, compared to our modest daily menu.

 

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Starting with seal soup, recognized by all as the most masterful work of our chef, we moved on to roast beef with fried potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Then served: burning plum pudding and tender pies, then a thin snack of anchovies and cod caviar. Strange lunch, judging by it only by our simple tastes, but a real feast, if you add to it a variety of delicacies placed all over the table, such as: roasted almonds, candied fruit, chocolates, etc. Add to all this great the amount of champagne and a whole army of bottles of different liqueurs - so there was plenty to choose from when it came to toasting.

 

I prepared for the announcement of a short speech in which I drew attention to the fact that this holiday marks the middle not only of our winter, but also of the expedition itself according to the original plans.

 

I said,…, that it would be impossible to find people better suited to support me and the future expedition to the pole than those who will go with me in the spring. I thanked everyone for their trust and unanimous help.

 

We drank for the success of the expedition, after which everyone was asked to say a few words, starting with the one sitting to my left, and so on, walking around the table. The result was extremely characteristic: it was possible to determine in advance in what spirit everyone would speak.

 

It goes without saying that everyone spoke briefly and modestly. The surprise for me was the extreme cordiality with which everyone responded personally about me, so I very soon asked everyone to stop courtesy.

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

 

If success is facilitated by mutual disposition and friendly relations, then we really deserve success. It was noted with lively approval that from the very beginning there was no quarrel between any two members of our company. By the end of the dinner there was a cheerful mood and the room was prepared for Ponting and his cinema and photo accessories.

When the table was set up and the legs were unscrewed and the chairs were placed in rows, a very decent audience came out. Ponting waited for silence to show us a number of local species from their own negatives. I have never appreciated his work to such an extent as I do now, seeing the beauty of these beautiful paintings; they are without any comparison superior to all that has so far been achieved by photography in these latitudes. Our audience applauded loudly.

 

After the photo presentation, the table was set on its feet again and punch was prepared on it, which we drank for the health of missing friends. Then the table was removed again and the quadrille began.

 

At this time, the effect of stimulating drinks was felt on people who have long been accustomed to a completely sober life. Our biologist went to bed; silent Oates was full of fun and definitely wanted to dance with Anton; Edgar Evans awkwardly and in a whisper confessed his love for everyone; Keohain became an unrestrained Irishman and started arguing about politics, and Klissold sat, smiling broadly, and only from time to time, shouting "Hurray!" or, neither in the mud nor in the gate, inserted some clumsy joke.

 

Suddenly, amidst the general uproar, Bowers and several people make a huge "Christmas tree" with branches, hanging candles, colorful crackers and small gifts for all, prudently prepared, as I later learned, by Wilson's sister. The largest "Christmas tree" was built by Bowers from sticks and vines, skillfully connected by ropes; he wrapped the "branches" with colored paper. All this was done extremely cleverly, and the distribution of gifts was a great pleasure.

 

While we were so selflessly indulging in fun, the elements definitely wanted to take part in our celebration - not so violently, but with great solemnity. The eastern sky blazed, shining with masses of light, presenting a rare, bright picture that flickered, then slowly faded and faded to be reborn with even more enchanting beauty.

 

Ukrainian in Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition

Bright light then poured down the river, then the masses gathered in one place, the pillars of fire from it twisted up, then the waves scattered across the paler field, as if pouring new life into it.

 

It is impossible to contemplate such a wonderful phenomenon of nature without some sacred awe, which is caused not so much by its brilliant splendor, but by the tenderness and transparency of colors, and most importantly, the trembling ephemerality of continuous overflows. There is nothing striking, dazzling here, as others have described this spectacle, rather, it tells our imagination about something purely spiritual, calm and majestic.

 

You involuntarily wonder why history does not mention the worship of aurora borealis - it was so easy to see in this phenomenon the incarnation of a deity or demon. Our small group of people, silently contemplating this magical spectacle, seemed sacrilege, to return to the morally frivolous and physically suffocating atmosphere of the house, and when I finally entered it, I was glad that during my absence there was a general urge to sleep, and less than half an hour later, the dream overcame the last of the gulvis. "

Today, studying the diaries of Scott's Antarctic expedition, looking at the archive of chronicler photographer Herbert Ponting, you are moved by the black-and-white image of seals, penguins, polar explorers, scenes of gentlemanly life in the expeditionary base at Cape Evansa.

 

"We have created an extremely attractive shelter with peace, tranquility and comfort," Scott wrote in his diary, and Victorian gentlemen, scientists, officers, athletes and patriots listen to the gramophone or sit on sturdy bunk beds.

 

Spectacular landscape. And you focus on faces for a long time. These are amazing people. Straight and clean, are there any now? On these faces only will and faith - in different proportions, but only they. Features of photography of the early twentieth century, make anyone more monumental. And let's realize that one of these monumental people was Ukrainian Anton Omelchenko.