The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-08

disappear or shift to line nearer the
| land.
New Ice Stops Drift.
In low temperature new ice forms
| rapidly and this offers an obstruction
to the drift of the old ice. AS the heavy
central ice is pressed against the un-
ground up and even heavy foes are
crushed. This reduced mass as small
ice is pasted and cemented along the
shores Of the big lead, leaving broad
Gus barrier to sled travel 1t seems
quite likely that this lead, OF condi-
ton similar to it, extends entirely
around the polar sea as a buffer be-
tween the land and the middle pack.
With the big lead and its many posi-
bilities for troublesome delay behind,
a course was set to reach the eighty
fifth parallel on the ninety-seventh
meridian. What little movement was
noted on the ice had been easterly,' and
to allow for this drift we aimed to
keep a hne slightly west of the pole.
Small foes. with low pressure lines
separated by normal belts of new ice,
were the rule during these days of
travel. The temperature rose to Al
below. The western sky cleared slight
ly and offered strong appearance OF
land.
The wind was not troublesome fac
over this central Jack After run OF
eleven hours the pedometer register
ed % miles. but we had taken zig
gag course and therefore only placed
IL miles to our credit.
The night was beautiful The sun
sank into purple haze and soon there
appeared three seas in prismatic colors
and these soon settled into the frozen
sea. During the night a narrow band
OF orange frightened the northern
skies, while the pack surface glowed in
magnificent shades of violet and lilac
and pole purple blue.
Land Clouds Still Visible.
Satisfactory observations at noon on
March "a gave our position as latitude
SO deg. 81 mina longitude SO deg. q
min. The land clouds of Grant Land
were still visible and low bank of
mist in the west occasionally brighten
ed, offering an outline suggestive of
land This we believed to be Croker
Land, but mist persistently screened the
horizon and did not offer an opportunity
to study the contour.
Until midday the time was used for
observations and a study of the land
conditions. The dogs shifted the air as
if seeming game. but after diligent
search one seal blow hole was found
other small life was detected in the wa
ter of the creviceS. AT the big lead a
few algae were gathered, but here the
sea was sterile. The signs of seal and
bear, however. were encouraging for a
possible food supply. In returning the
season would be more advanced and
the life might move northward, thus
permitting an extension of the time al
lowance of our rationS.
Though the heat of the sun was
barely felt, it's rays began to pierce
the eye with painful effects. The
bright light, being reflected from the
spotless surface of the storm driven
SHOWS, could not long be endured even
I7Ne
lection. The amber colored goggles
that we had made at Annootok from
the glass of the Photographic supplies
now proved a priceless discovery.
greatest tormentS to Arctic travel.
The darkened or smoky glasses, |
blue glasses and ordinary sunward
automobile goggles had all been tried |
with Indifferent results. They failed |
for one reason or another, mostly be- |
cause of an insufficient range of WIS., |
ion or a faulty construction, making |
It imp possible to proceed more than a |
few minutes without removing the ac-
cumulated condensation.
Relief in Amber Glasses.
This trouble was entirely eliminated |
in our goggles The amber glass I
only the active rays which
njure the eye, but did not interfere
with the range of vision Indeed, the
aye, relieved of the snow glare, was
better 6naDl6Q 10 see distant OBJECTS
han through field glasses. 1t is fire.
1uently most difficult to detect icy
surface irregularities on cloudy days.
The amber glass also dispels this
.rouble perfectly, enabling the eye to
search carefully every nook and Gre
vice through the vague incandescence
which blinds the observer in hazy
weather. The amber glass therefore
'educes not the quantity of light, as
10 smoky glasses, but the quality. We
1TI Walt Of he IN
Ind fatigue of snow glare, but the
lmber- color gave touch of cheer and
to our ever-chilled horizon
IF blues. The usual snow goggles add
IN ugly gray blue to the frozen seas
which alone sends frosty waves over
he nervous hbres.
So thoroughly were we in love with
hese goggles that later they were
worm while asleep, with the double
object of screening the strong light
which passes through the eyelids and
Llso to keep the forehead warm.
On this march in the early part of
he afternoon the weather proved
good and the ice, though newly
rhe late start spread our days work
lose to the chill of midnight. and be-
ore we were quite ready to camp
here were signs of another gale from
jagged edges scurried along at an
alarming pace and beyond a huge
moky bank blackened the pearly
glitter.
Suitable camping ice was sought
md in the course of an hour an igloo
vas built. The structure was built
stronger than usual. Double tiers of
now blocks were placed to the wind
ward and a little water was thrown
'ver the top to cement the blocks.
rhe dogs were fastened to the lee of
lummocks and the sleds were Sc
'urely dashed and fastened to the ice.
We expected a hurricane and had
lot long to wait to taste of its Bit