Frank Hurley describes how Shackleton led his team through the crisis:
"When the ship broke up, Shackleton met the crisis with complete composure. He gave orders as though we were setting out on just a sledging expedition; and although in his address he stressed the predicament into which the disaster to the ship precipitated us, he so inspired his followers that they seemed to welcome the new adventure on the ice floes. To be able to keep men optimistic and hopeful during that long drift gives some idea as to the greatness of Shackleton’s personality."