The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-06

The north pole mas been Feacneu al last.
 Peary? No. wellman? No. After long years of scientific study, planning and many attempts with every modern appliance that could be supplied; even after the loss of many lives 1t re- mained for simple South Alabama farm CT to accomplish the feat that will go down in history perhaps as the most im- portant event in the Christian era. H. Wellington Jones was in Birming- ham last night on his way to his home in South Alabama, where he will spend the winter resting and perhaps preparing for another expedition early in April or next year. MT Jones reached Birming- ham direct from the north pole by way of Alaska and Seattle. He spent the en- tire summer in the arctic country and brings glowing accounts of his journey.
 The story reads almost like fiction. He had never planned to compete with Wellman and others In a search for the north pole. His discovery was a mere acident and his journey to the hitherto unknown country was unheralded and was begun without the least preparation or a single newspaper paragraph an- nouncement
 Here is the story he told me last night as he waited for southbound train on | the Southern at the new Terminal sta tion:
 "Five years ago left my fathers home in Alabama to join the fortune hunters l in the gold fields of Alaska I reached l the Klondike with but 0 few dollars left I in my pocket but went to work with a will, full of hope of early success. But I fortune was elusive and for several years | I labored with no permanent success. Like many others that went to that went to I Argt and han down. Fortune plays many amusing and | dramatic pranks with a man In such : countries as the Klondike. He Is today a prince of millionaires and tomorrow a. pauper, asking aims of hts friends.
 Hoping to better my condition and also with the hope of finding some new Eldorado. decided last March to strike out independently I had a little money and provisioned myself for several months.
 Striking In a northerly direction I 1 found myself in about two weeks in the region of the Franklin mountains in the l northern part of Alaska. had found
 but little to encourage me in the ex- | pedition but as the summer was coming
 on and found that could secure animal food with but little difficulty determined l to prosecute the search for few weeks.
 Early in April I was walking along | the south side of very high peak of
 the Franklin mountains when I came 70 an opening in the snow and ice under a 1 bluff. Upon careful examination I found | the opening to be the mouth of cave
 that broadened as 1t entered the noun
 tain.
 By the light of a torch examined the
 opening for a short distance, and was
 delighted to find unmistakable signs of
 gold on the walls. Penetrating further
 finally came to 8 part of the underground
 passage that was almost as light as a
 citys streets lit up by electricity. The
 light, found. was caused by some phos- 1 phorescent formation on the walls and
 roof. This enabled me to dispense with
 my torches and travel with ease and
 comfort. The temperature here. too, waa
 much better than on the surface and pro-
 viding myself with supply of provisions
 left the heavier part of my luggage and
 proceeded to explore the cave, believing | that 1t contained as fine prospect for gold