october january swiss explorer took component claimed life named son textile machinery manufacturer studied patent law science mountain formations student active competing national competitions climbing highest peaks alps early hired explorer expedition initially employed ski instructor instead joined care expedition summer chosen accompany dogs push rapidly expedition base land victoria land carrying food disappeared miles headed west gradually dogs supplement remaining food stocks miles safety died leaving carry cause death firmly established commonly purported theory excessive intake consuming theories suggest died combination change diet cold exposure psychological stresses early life born son owned large engineering firm city aim working family business manufactured textile machinery attended studied patent law active competed national competitions swiss cross country skiing championship second german championship won swiss ski jumping championship distance metres particularly prolific alps climbed highest peak range claimed mountains attained degree doctor laws studied science specialised mountain formations received second doctorate early went london meet australian explorer served physicist planning expedition application letter wrote hoped proved good purpose knowing good intending recruit british subjects chiefly australians new qualifications prompted exception hire swiss ski instructor given responsibility expedition aboard expedition ship aurora bound aurora met lieutenant like responsible expedition dogs aurora captain regarded pair wish board look dogs wrote diary great shame suffer neglect december final preparations loading completed aurora sailed south stopped briefly wireless relay base established reached site expedition main base land continent early january land following winter preparations summer conditions constant strong winds excessive slope prevented conducting skiing lessons regularly intended instead helping care dogs days weather good drove dogs outside teaching run teams winds returned pair fitted dog prepared food time developed close friendship expedition later wrote joined expedition london associated longer intimate manner members expedition winter months drawn existed deep bond warm hearted way practically adopted affection maternal hard thoughts composite entity complement august preparations extended laying depots early party established depot miles south main ice known cave returned dogs set rescue dogs heavy winds covered mile hours returned depended wrote diary days wind confined sleeping bags outside snow try find dogs definitely cautious wonder expedition following day party cave rescue dogs strong winds confined depot days spent time expanding cave september formed survey party man hauling south east cave strong winds travelled miles days temperature dropped wind speed increased miles hour tent gap wind allowed death october outlined summer program assigned party use dogs push quickly east expedition base victoria land party departed november heading cave south east massive encountered aurora outward journey ahead scouting providing lead dogs chase dog teams reached november negotiating fields crossed days party quick progress plateau soon encountered far larger despite strong winds poor light reached far november december party miles ahead singing songs student days largest strongest dog team lost broke snow lid death companion severely compromised remaining days worth food food dogs immediately turned west gradually remaining dogs supplement food supply ate parts animals including initially good progress cleared largest began feel ill lost cold wet clothes unable dry december day recorded companion colour wrote tired shall write condition deteriorated following days recorded generally bad condition skin coming legs etc illness severely slowed progress january pair miles recorded weak rarely able speak eat drink breaks tent pole continues rave dear hours hold peaceful quietly bag dies peacefully morning 8th buried sleeping bag rough blocks snow remaining photographic plates explanatory note month later missing aurora matter hours waited weeks concerned winter ice davis sailed australia legacy november month aurora returned final time men remaining erected memorial cross north west main cross constructed pieces broken radio mast accompanied plaque cut wood cross stands required times plaque replaced replica crossed outward journey previously unnamed named speaking engagement return australia praised dead comrades survivors opportunity men said swiss birth man englishman liked called englishman man great feelings generous nature gentlemen telegram sent behalf australian people great loss son fame cause death certain time believed died study sir concluded symptoms described hair skin weight loss depression persistent skin indicated men suffered excessive intake found unusually high quantities consumed large amounts condition deteriorated given liver eat believing easily theory widely accepted theories director believed cold exposure account symptoms article noting certain sources indicating essentially vegetarian suggested general sudden change predominantly meat diet triggered illness adds hypothetical reason psychological stresses related death close friend deaths dogs cared need kill eat remaining dogs
Xavier Mertz