Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-12-13
ANUNDS0N LECTURE
Before Large Audience Last friday
Well Received bv Hearers

Before Large Audience Last friday.
Well Received by Hearers
A tale of hardships gone through
with for two long years in the frozen
waters of the Northland. was that told
by Captain Roald Amundsen before
a capacity house lat the armory last
Friday evening. The captain proved
a most entertaining lecturer, and with
the help Of $50 stereopticon views Of
photographs taken during his trip,
held his large audience enthralled
for an hour and a half At the close
of the entertainment Capt. Amundsen
repaired to the home of the Hon. Silver
Serumgard, whose guest he was during
his short stay In Devils Lake, and
partook of a dinner gwen In his
honor. At one time in the evening
the stereopticon fuse burned out, nee
essitating a delay of fifteen minutes.
The audience quietly waited, however,
for the lights to be turned on again.
The lecturer was introduced by Mr..
Serumgard, who, in few well chosen
words, spoke of the achievement con-
sumated by the great explorer, who
ranks among the foremost of modern
times. Mr.. Amundsen then spoke. =,
On June %, 1903, small forty
seven, ton schooner, by name the
"Yura," set sail from the harbor OF
Christiana, Norway, on her way
through the yet unexplored Northwest
passage, and incidentally to try and
perform that yet unknown achieve
ment-the discovery Of the Magnetic
Pole. On December s, 1905, over two
years later, the news was flashed
throughout the civilized world thai
Capt. Amundsen was safe, and haG
discovered the Northwest passage, {
feat that had been attempted fol
centuries, but never heretofore &C
icomplished. A small vessel was uset
to permit of its going through tn
fsma1 channels in safety. Otherwise
Lit would have. been much better t
IhaYe had at1arger ship. The crew wa
small for an obvious reason. ther
! were less mouths to feed. 4; = = *
4, !, Il On July 8; the vessel cited the firs
4 ice - the vicinity Of Cape Farewell
! at the southern extremity. of Greer
land. 1T is an ill wind that blows n
one good" the captain quoted ian
Eby the south wind which blew. "
were able to make 9 clear way out 4
: the ice" 49,. -. :.,:z,. :. J..
In short time after this the Gre
!, became, thoroughly accustomed to Sc
I ing Ice everywhere, and nothing b,
lice.s In August, the next month, Z
dense fog was encounte tered. ut 1t we
absolutely impenetrable,5 and ;th
: crew Of the .''.rYura" had to, wait p
4 tiently for it to lift : That night 4,
broke out IN the vessel. After q har
!, fight ii was subdued with no serior
damage, though it looked for quite
I time as if the vessel and its content
would prove victim to the flames, II {
7 For two years thereafter they we1
I stuck solidly In the Ice. AT least th
\ Vessel was. The crew left their shi
+ after having tackled 4 covering Of Esa
cloth over the decks and made he
q weather proof for the winter. The
Ilived in a house built Of blocks {
+ snow, with a roof Of sail cloth. Thei
q first meeting with the ESQ quimalx wa
recited and was most interesting an
4 also amusing. The ] captain said ths
!. the most Of these people are tall an
reminded him more OF the Indian,
both III ppearance and character,
4 tics than any other race. Toward
Il Christmas they all disappe reared wit
the exception of one old man, his VIII
q and chile, lno remained with th
white men the remainder Of the vii
ter.
After the fsrst Of the year, ID sle
\ journey towards the gnetic Dol
/ lWas commenced. Four men. with pr
visions to last Tor three months, star
! ed out Oh their long and 5uncertai
Journey with pack sleds drawn by
train of dogs. One thing that the cal
tain emphasized Just here - his le''
3 Iture, was the tact that snow hui
4 were far superior To tents when u,