“To classify the dangers they faced in order of magnitude would have been impossible, but of the known threats the greatest undoubtedly was ice—especially at night. One single collision with an unseen fragment could have ended the journey in a moment.”
From the very start of their risky voyage, Shackleton and the men realized that surviving on land was cozy compared to surviving on the open ocean in their small vessel. Their was the constant spray of the ocean, freezing on the men and chilling them to the bone. The crew also faced the constant threat of colliding with the ice bergs and enduring some unfathomable storms. Each man would take turns knocking ice that collected on the boat during storms. Despite all their trials some men continued to hold high spirits including Macty who is displayed in this dialogue, “Macty the most irrepressible optimist I’ve ever met. When I relieve him at the helm, boat iced and seas pourg: down yr neck informs me with a happy grin ‘It’s a grand day sir’ I was feeling a bit sour just before…” After all the adversity the members of the Caird spot land and days later make it to shore.
When the men finally reach shore, I can’t help but be reminded of the movie Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks. In this movie, three astronauts are lifted off into space with their mission to land on the moon and come back with many samples. However their mission is compromised when a piece of space shuttle malfunctions and the entire operation becomes a rescue mission. Despite their many obstacles, the astronauts very narrowly escape home as the harrowing survivors.
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