Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-19

| had been stopped in the street on ac-
count of the large crowd. BY telegraph
the papers wwe informed that most of
the bets made by Americans had been
taken up by the English, and Dean
Toodrink Immediately posted up notice
to that effect in the auction hall. The
nearer the time came the higher grew
/ the excitement. 1t was reported that
/ the Government of Great Britain had
| placed large sums of money at the dis
/ position OF Major Donellan AT the
office of the Admiralty" observed one
of the New York papers, 'the Admirals
pushed the sale as much as possible, as
they hoped to figure conspicuously in
the expeditions fitted out. How much
truth there was in these stories no one
knew. But the most conservative peo-
pie in Baltimore thought that it was
hardly possible that the amount of
money at the command Of the ". p. r.
A. could cover the amount which would
be bid by England, and therefore very
strong pressure was put on the Govern
ment of the United States at Washing
ton 10 protect the interests of the soci-
ETY.. In all this excitement the new So
ciety was represented by the single per-
son, its agent William S. Forster, who
did not seem to worry at all over all
these rumors and seemed quite confident
of success.
As the time for the auction drew near
the crowd grew larger. Three hours be-
fore the sale it was impossible to obtain
admission to the auction hall. All the
/ -. ~
much filed that there was danger that
the building would fall in. There was
only small space left empty, surround
ed by railing, which had been reserved
for the European delegates They had
just space enough to follow the progress
of the sale, and were not even comfort
ably seated
They were Eric Baldenak, Boris Kar-
kof. Jacques Jansen, Jan Harald, Major
Donellan and his secretary, Dean
Toodrink. They formed a solid group,
standing together like soldiers on a
battlefield. And were they not really
going to battle for the possession Of the
North Pole? On the American side APP
parently nobody was represented. Only
the Goldfish dealer was PR sent, and his
face had an expression lie most su-
/ preme Indifference.
He seemed little concerned, and APP
peared to be thinking of his cargo which
was to arrive by the next steamer
/ Where were the capitalists represented
by this man, who, perhaps, was going to
start millions of dollars rolling? This
was such mystery as to excite public
curiosity to the utmost.
No one doubted that Mr. j. r. Maston
and Mrs. Evangelina Scorbitt had some
thing to do with the matter. bub what
could one guess on? Both were there.
lost in the crowd, without any special
place, surrounded by some members Of
the Baltimore Gun Club, friends of Mr..
Maston. They seemed to be the least
interested spectators in the hall. Mr..
William S. Forster even did not seem
TO recognize them.
The auctioneer began by saying that
contrary to the general rule it was i'm
possible to show the article which was
about to be sold. He could not pass
from hand to hand the North Pole.
Neither could they examine it nor look
ct it with a magnifying glass nor touch
il with their fingers TO see whether the
plating was real or only artificial, or
whether it was an antique, which it
really was, he said. 1t was as old as
stone, it was as old as the world, since
it dated back to the time the world was
made.
If, however, the North Pole was not
on the desk Of the public appraiser, q
large chart clear in view of all inter
ested persons, indicated with marked
lines the parts which were going to be
sold at auction. Seventeen degrees be-
low the Polar Circle was red line,
clearly seen on the saith parallel, which
marked the section of the globe
put up for sale. 1t appeared that there
was only water in this region covered
with ice of considerable thickness. But
this was the risk of the purchaser. In
any case he would not be disappointed
in the nature Of his merchandise by any
misrepresentation.
At twelve o'clock exactly the public
auctioneer entered by little trap door
cut in the boards Of the floor and took
i his place before the desk. His crier,
Flint, had already arrived, and was
walking up and down as agitated as a
bear in cage. Both were glad at the
prospect, as they thought that the sale
would run up to an enormous sum and
put large and acceptable percentage in
their pockets. OF course, the sale would
have to be made under the regular
American rule, ready cash. E"
The amount Of money, no matter how
large it would be, must be raised BY the
delegates. At this moment large bell
ringing with vigor indicated that the
bidding was going to begin. What