Barometer from Shackleton’s final Antarctic expedition found, 102 years on
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A barometer used by famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final expedition has been rediscovered 102 years later.
The scientific instrument was fixed to the wall of Sir Ernest’s private cabin on RYS Quest, the ship on which he died of suspected heart failure in South Georgia Harbour.
Dr Leonard Hussey, the medic who tried to save Sir Ernest in his cabin, later took the barometer as a keepsake by which to remember him.
Dr Hussey gave the device to a friend, a Major Woods, and a descendant of his has now offered it for sale at auction for £8,000.
The Short and Mason aneroid barometer is accompanied by a signed letter which states: “This aneroid barometer was taken to the Antarctic on the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition 1921–22 and was screwed up in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Cabin on RYS Quest, given to me by Dr LDA Hussey.”
It is coming up for sale at Henry Aldridge & Son auctioneers, in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Andrew Aldridge, an auctioneer at the firm, said: “Sir Ernest Shackleton has been called ‘the greatest leader that ever came on God’s earth bar none’.
“This unique piece of memorabilia provides a tangible link to not only his final expedition but the last moments of this greatest of men.”
Sir Ernest led the RYS Quest expedition to circumnavigate Antarctica in 1921. Just before the ship left Rio for South Georgia, Sir Ernest suffered a suspected heart attack but declared himself better the next morning.
During the two-week voyage Sir Ernest was seen to uncharacteristically drink heavily to deaden the pain he was in. He died of heart failure in his cabin on Jan 5, 1922.
Dr Hussey, who was also the expedition’s meteorologist and assistant surgeon, later wrote in a letter: “It was a terrible blow to us even though in our medical work we have had scores of people dying in our hands yet somehow his was different.
“I tried to inject some ether to stimulate his heart but in three minutes he was dead.”
Dr Hussey, who had previously served with Sir Ernest on the Endurance expedition, accompanied his body to Uruguay where he cabled England with news of the explorer’s death.
Sir Ernest’s widow responded that he should be buried in South Georgia and Hussey carried out her instructions. He was buried on March 5 with Dr Hussey the only one of his former comrades present.
The barometer, which measures air pressure and is 4.5 inches wide, is being sold on April 27.
