On Dec 5th, 1914 the HMS Endurance left for Antarctica with 27 men led by Ernest Shackleton, a story with an aptly named ship that carried over onto its crew.
Shackleton was trying to be the first to cross the continent of Antarctica. Two earlier attempts failed as would this one.
The Endurance eventually got stuck in the ice and was crushed. If I am not mistaken the story goes that some men left to find help of which they did and all men survived the ordeal.
What I find interesting is how Shackleton got the men to venture with him. It was an advertisement but not a simple ad requesting men needed for an expedition. Most have this many years of experience and all the job skills of a sailor. No, Shackleton’s ad read as thus:
Men wanted for Hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.
Now there is an ad that would only attract a certain individual and probably the reason they all lived.
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