The Tale of a Chaotic and Failed Attempt to Explore Antarctica in 1897
The Tale of a Chaotic and Failed Attempt to Explore Antarctica in 1897 Credit...Chris Hellier/Corbis, via Getty Images Buy Book ▾ By NICOLE CLIFFE The Belgica’s Journey Into the Dark Antarctic Night By Julian Sancton On Aug. 16, 1897, the Belgica — a refitted whaling ship under the command of Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery — set sail from Antwerp in an attempt to explore Antarctica. She would limp back to Belgium on Nov. 5, 1899, with a captain and crew profoundly physically and psychologically broken by their wintering in the Antarctic ice. Advanced scurvy, aggressively poor planning,...
Source: nytimes.com