Comments on the explorer Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink by an unidentified writer, [ca. 1894-ca. 1899]

MLMSS 10420

fonds

[ca. 1894-ca. 1899]

9651131

0.02 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript

Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink made two visits to Antarctica, in 1895 when he joined a Norwegian whaling expedition and became one of the first people to set foot on the Antarctic mainland, and later with the Southern Cross Expedition, 1898–1900

A document of three pages by an unknown author:
By a curious turn of Fortune’s Wheel C. E. Borchgrevink, who shipped from Melb. in Sept. ’94 “as a man before the mast” on board the Antarctic, under command of Capt. Kristensen, explorer to the South Pole is now in 99 leader of the expedition to that same land of ice, being sent along with the ship Southern Cross, by Bart & Newnes of London & having for captain Bernhard Jansen, former mate of the Antarctic.
A view of C. E. B’s career, between times, goes to prove the virtue of audacity, and also that the present explorer had egoism so strongly developed that he could look upon another person’s doings as an extension of himself. The Antarctic got back to Melb. March 95.
Melb. Geographical Society wanted Capt. Kristensen to recount his exploits, but he had to take his ship post haste back to Norway, the leader of the expedition, Commander Svend Foyn having died. He lent the Hon. Sec. of the Antarctic Committee his map & some notes to show at this meeting & sent the whole story, translated into English, from the Cape of Good Hope. Borchgrevink lectured in the Athenaeum on the voyage & discoveries & left the captain out. The Hon. Sec. vigorously protested, but the lecturer was like the man “who has ears and hears not”. Perhaps they were stuffed up by the compliments of Excellency Madden. He posted off to London, gave his lecture before the International Science Congress, was banqueted as a hero. Then the London folk received Capt. Kristensen’s journal from the Melb. Secretary. Sir George Markham president of the London R. G. S. seeing things, wrote a long article in Nineteenth Century & gave Borchgrevink one paragraph. B. then appeared in London Times Oct. 9.95, with a letter, in which he said the Melb. Hon. Sec. must have written the journal, because Capt. Kristensen didn’t understand a word of English then came the Hon. Sec. letter in reply in Time.
Jan. 6th 96 still more developing things - on the 8th appeared in Times the letter from Melbourne Antarctic Committee. After this C. E. B. went into retirement; then married a rich wife; then fell in with Sir Geo’ Newnes & finally came back to Melb. to be received with open arms by Geographical Society – perhaps that learned body has a short memory – perhaps it believes in the motto “Nothing succeeds like success”.

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