The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-19
Bradley Land Passed-Steam
From Frozen Seas--Half the
Food Allowance Used--Mad-
dening Effect of Polar Gilt
ter-Despair of Ahwelah,
Beyond Is Impossible" o.


the frost OF the air pierce with more
painful sting.
There was weird play OF orgies.
seemingly most impressive at this
tlme-cloudS OF steam rose from the
frozen seas. In marching over the
golden glitter snow scalds the face.
while the nose Is bleached with frost.
In camp "A grip OF the knife left pain
fu burns from cold metal. To the
frozen finger the water was hot. With
wine spirits the fire was lighted. while
oil delighted the stomach. In dreams
heaven was hot. the other place was
cold.
All nature was false We seemed
~ hr nearing the chilled flame or
new hadcs. In our hard life there was
nothing genuinely warm. The congen-
ial appearances were all deception. but
death offered only cold comfort There
was no advantage H. suicide.
We should have enjoyed this curious
experience. but with endless bodily dis
comforts. combined in aching muscles
and an overbearing languor. there could
be no real joys from the glories OF ma
ture The pleasure was reserved for
later retrospect
We now changed our working hours
from day to night. beginning usually
at 10 and ending 1t :. The big march
es and prolonged hours OF travel WIN
which fortune favored us earlier were
no longer possible Weather condi
lions were more important In deter
mining the days run than the hands
OF the chronometcrS
When the storms threatened the
start was DELAYED. and In strong blows
the march was shortened. hut ~ one
way or another we usually found
few hours in each turn Of the dial dur
Ing which q march could be forced Ice
tween winds IL mattered little wheth-
or we travelled night or day-ali hours
and all days were alike 10 us-for We
had no accustomed time OF rest. u"
! SUNDAYS. no holiday. no landmarks or
| inileposts to pass. 70 advance and eN-
pend the energy accumulated during
one sleep at the cost OF our pound ~
pemmican was the one sole aim In
life.
Tie observations OF April II gave
latitude 81 degrees % minutes. longi'
tude % minutes 10 seconds. The pack
disturbance Of Bradley Land was less
and less noted in the northward move
ment. The fields became heavier. lar
ger aud less crcvasScd.
We had now passed the highest
reaches Of all our predecessors aud
had gained the inspiration Of the lar
thcst north for ourselves. The time
was at hand. however. to consider seri-
ouslv the necessity OF an early return
Nearly half ot the food allowance
had been used. In the long marches
supplies had been more literally used
than anticipated. and now our dog
teams were much reduced in numbers.
4 hard necessity had forced the cruel
IAN Of the survival Of the httest. for
the less useful dogs were fed 10 the
steady working survivors. Owing TO
the food limits and the advancing sea-
sou we could not prudentIy continue
| the outward march q fortnight longer
! We had dragged ourselves 800 miles
! over the polar sea in twcnty-fOur days
! Including delays aud detours, this gave
an average of nearly thirteen miles
daily on an air line In our course
I There remained an unknown line 81
lGO miles before our ambitious could
be satisfied The same average al
vance which We had made on the PACK
would take us to the pole IN thirteen
, DAYS There were food and fuel enough
to risk this adventure.
In the diary of the succeeding days
doings there appear numerous taDu'
lations OF work and observations. In
the new cracks the thickness OF the
ice was measured. The water was ex-
amined for life Atmospheric. surface
water and Ice temperatures were tax
en-. the barometer was noted. the
cloud formations weather conditions
and ice drifts were tabulated.
watched daily for possible signs
OF dangerous failure in strength. for
serious disability now meant fata!
termination.
A disabled man could neither con
tinue nor return. but every cxamina-
ton gave another reason To push hu-
man endurance 10 the limit OF The
strain Of every fiber aud cell. The
hard work which followed. under au
occasional burst of burning sunbeams.
brought intense thirst
Forcing the habit Of the camel We
managed to tase enough water before
starting To keep sufficient liquid ~ tue
veins for the days march. hut it WAS
difficult TO await the melting of the tee
at camping time
I'm two sittings-eveniug ana morn
ing-each took an average OF three
quarts of water daily. This included
the tea and also the luxury Of an ~
casionaI soup. Ihcrr WAS wafer about
everywhere in heaps. but II was ~
CRYSTALS, aud before the thirst could
be quenched several ounces OF pre-
cious fuel. which had been carried
thousands OF miles. must be used. And
still this water. 50 expensive and so
necessary 10 us. Ultimately became the
greatest bane TO comfort II escaped
through the pores OF the skin. satu-
rated the boots. forced II band of ice
under the knee and belt OF frost
shout the waist, while the face was