Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-28
FROZEN NORTH.
Its Fascination Holds Strong Through
Many Adventurous Expeditions.

Frozen seas of the North, often writ
ten about as they are, never lose their
weird fascination. Each year some
new story comes of Arctic ventures,
and even now expeditions are being
lifted out to try once more for that
region of mystery, the North pole. A
desperate spirit of adventure, endless
perseverance. and courage illimitable
are some of the qualities required by
the man who joins an, expedition for
the icy North. And while there may be
kind of sameness about the tales
told, the interest remains. SO it is With
the stories told in AbruZzis volumes
Intensely dramatic tales they are of
the Polar Stars crushing blockade by
the relentless ice rocks; of Captain
Cagni's desperate dash for the pole;
and of the tragic mystery hanging over
the fate of the first sledge detachment.
how impossible it is TO represent in
summary the impreSSiVeneSS of the
long, continuous story of discomfort
heaped Oh danger, and danger on dis
comfort; of alternating disheartenment
and eXultation. and the infinite unceas-
ing strain of it all. Of Cagni's struggle
to the north ana still more desperate
struggle back-the heartbreaking fight
against the hostile drift of the ice, the
few yards painfully gained in many
days, with food and energy running
out. the gradual killing of the dogs, the
perilous scrambling through ice and
water toward the land that seemed to
come no nearer-suftice it to say that it
is Nansen over again.
Wintering in the Arctic regions is
said to be most trying to the temper
Naturally, one might suppose there
fore. that company of eleven Italians
and nine Norwegians, facing hardships
among the frozen surroundings of the
great white North, might not prove q
very harmonious family. But they did,
living most peacefully; keeping each
others feasts, and We're the best of
friends. To the Italians, of course, was
reserved the honor of the final ad-
vance. The record breaking four were
an Italian naval officer, a Genoese
sailor and two Alpine guides from
Courmayeur, whose resourcefulness
and knowledge of ice proved invaluable.
Extracts from a journal kept by one
of the explorers reveal the keen tension
under which they lived at times when
hope signaled and then failed them,
then again led them to a victory, name
| ly the reaching OF Nansens highest al
titude. where they planted the Italian
| flag.
April 23.-Seven O'Clock passed. eight
| O'Clock passed, ard still we went on
| We must have covered much more than
| ten miles. but at that moment | hard
| ly took note of this. l did not even
| think of it. The absence of all obsta-
cles. the sameness, the monotony of the
march. had stupefied my brain, and l
| followed my sledges, which did not re-
quire my hedp, as though l were asleep
| My thoughts wandered far away-far
form ice and cold. I was among green
trees. and in a warm climate-I was
dreaming
1T was quarter to 10. My mind
came back to the present and l remem-
hered that tomorrow we should have
to travel again. I called out to PetigaX
and made signs to him to stop to en-
camp. To our left was a small hillock;
we brought the sledges near to it and
drew them up in line; the tent was I'M
tied ard spread. We did all this me-
chemically, like automata.
when beneath the tent. at that first
moment of repose, when all the fibers
of the body seem to unbend and relax
after long fatigue, the clear idea of
things came back TO me. We have con-
ouered We have surpassed the great
est explorer of the century, detroit
! Tribune.