Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-12-24

ameter. dip. parcliax and refraction.
computed the suns altitude. and from
il, bv an indirect method sometimes
used by navigators. | determined our
longitude to be 90 degrees 30 minutes
west. which proved that we had gone
eastward of true northerly course.
Having thus fixed the meridian and
the local time | proceeded TO take the
latitude. which found to be 50 degrees
40 minutes. or only IS minutes or
little over 20 miles from the pole My
only course now was to pass over this
intervening distance by dead reckon
ing. dependent upon the speed of the
vessel. As there was still half an hour
10 midnight we took lunch and COM
forted ourselves around the stove.
At five minutes before midnight we
were again rising over the ice-fields.
and steering straight for the eastern
limb Of the low, red sun. ] allowed
seven minutes and half for covering
the % miles. at full speed. and two de-
yrees of right ascension for the suns
travel during that time: and. taking
this latter element into consideration
in the steering as the chronometer
marked the time. 1 signed TO Auchin-
Gloss to reverse the gearing. when we
slowly dropped upon the desolate
scene. A blank landscape of barren
desolation stretched on every side to
the limits of the horizon. and the weird
crimson beams of an impotent sun
shed a CHASTITY light upon this frozen
sea. No land. no soil no vegetation, no
animal life. no still or flowing water
acted as a relief to the death-like ma
ture of the picture. 1t seemed as If the
dead inertia of the planet at this point
had transferred itself to everything
around. The stiffness of death pre- |
vailed. and a deep horror came over me |
as I stood upon this mysterious spot
hitherto trod-at least. within the 4
period of our physical history - by |
none of the human race. Beside me |
stood Auchincloss, looking, in his rs
kimo suit. very different TO the en-
gneer in blue overalls and jumper who
had left the ranch on the Stanislans
river 10 hours previously.
Here we are, jim" said |, "as near
as we can go. don't think we're more
than n mile out. but in what direction.
I don't know. Itwould require fresh OBJ
servation TO determine everything with
perfect accuracy. and that ! don't feel
10 make. And now 10 s'gnal-
ize the accomplishment of the fact.
How are subsequent explorers 10 tell
that anyone has been here before them?
| confess am at loss: but my mind
was so taken up with the sudden re-
Iuirements of the trip that this thing
escaped my notice"
"Malte yourself easy, boss" said
iuchncloss. as he jumped back into
the vessel. 81 thought of that very thing
while you were gone in the wagon to
Knights Ferry. | knew very well
here was no pole here, so I made one.
lere it is" and, suiting the action TO
he word, he proceeded TO pull out
rom beneath the center of the vessel
4 roughly planed piece of timber which
lad escaped my notice. as il hung sup
,orted by rope nooses beneath the
ength Of the boat.
How viii that do, boss?" he ex-
laimed. as he pulled il from its faster
ngs. 81 rove block and tackle 10 IL.
Ind took that union flag of yours that
vas tucked up on the top shelf OF the
hanty, and busted il, and brought II
long. Likewise. ] took couple OF
ards Of our calico awning and slapped
he red. vertical cross OF St. George
,ver the blue diagonal cross OF 81.
andrew, thereby making a union jack.
md here they are;" and he brought out
couple Of extremely ordinary-looking
lags. Now" continued he, 81 charred
he end of this pole, and after that
aired il, Now, if you'll take the picl,
nd crow-bar and put hole in this ice.
have no doubt we can leave pole
ere. even IL we didn't find ONE
In Is minutes our pole was securely
mbedded in the ice, surmounted by the
win banners Of the stars and stripes
nd union jack. which would have
Dated 10 the breeze had there been
ny. AS 1t was. our black pole stood
ut in bold relief against the inter
linable icy white which surrounded il
n every side. and afforded sufficient,
1ndmark and guarantee to future ex-
lorers that they had not been the first
0 acquaint themselves with the virgin
osition of the planets axis. OF half
dozen bottles of champagne. which
ad been brought along, three had been
runk, two had burst through expan-
on as they froze, and but one had re
lined its liquid condition, having :
cen kept beneath the stove This last
-as shivered against our rough mast ,
hich Auchincloss christened ''North
ole" while I stood sponsor. o
Formalities having been expended. :,
nd our mission accomplished. we re-
irned to our vessel, again speeding
under a continuous sun.
assing over pretty nearly the same
Duntry as we had done on our north :
ard voyage. Suffice il TO say that se :
rived at our ranch on the banks OF
le Stanislaus river by seven p. m. or d :,
tile after shutdown, of the day subse- \
nent to that on which we started. hav-
g completed the trip to the north
Die and back in somewhat less than