Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

Ice were encountered. with the i'm
proved conditions the fire OF a racing
spirit came for brief spell.
Passing Highest Reach.
We had now passed the highest
reaches OF all our predecessors and
had gained the inspiration OF the far
thest north for ourselves. The time
was AZ hand. however, to consider seri-
Ousiy the necessity Of an early return.
Nearly half OF 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
law Of the survival OF the fittest. for
the less useful dogs were fed TO the
steady working survivors. Owing 10
the food limits and the advancing sea-
son we could not prudently continue
the outward march a fortnight longer.
We had dragged ourselves 300 miles
over the polar sea In twenty-four days.
Including delays and detours. this gave
an average OF nearly thirteen miles
daily on an air line in our course.
There remained an unknown line OF
1GO miles before our ambitions could
be satisfied. The same average ad-
vance which we had made on the pack
would take us 20 the pole In thirteen
days. There were food and fuel enough
to risk this adventure.
Work and Observations.
In the diary of the succeeding days
doinGs there appear numerous taLu-
lations of work and observations. In
the new cracks the thickness OF the
ice was measured. The water was ex-
amined for life. The technical details
for the making and breaking OF ice
We're studied. and some attention was
given TO the altitude OF uplifted and
submerged Irregularities.
Atmospheric, surface water and ice
temperatures were taken. the barome-
ter was noted. the cloud formations.
weather conditions and ice drifts were
tabulated. There was continuous
routine of work which does not appear
here. IL belongs to the specific details
Of the history Of the exploration.
which will appear in the later publica-
ton OF scientific data.
This work, like the effort Of the foot
In the daily drive OF duty. became
more or less automatic and does not
at any time enter as an active part OF
the story As we now run along over
seemingly endless fields OF ice the
physical appearances come under a
careful scrutiny. l watched daily for
possible signs Of dangerous failure In
strength, for serious disability now
meant fatal termination.
A disabled man could neither con-
tinue nor return. but every examira-
ton gave another reason to push hu-
man endurance to the limit of the
strain Of every fiber and cell. The
hard work which followed, under an
occasional burst OF burning sunbeams,
brought intense thirst.
Soup a Luxury.
Forcing the habit OF the camel. we
managed TO take enough water before
starting to keep sufficient LIQUID in the
veins for the days march. but II was
dif1cult to await the melting OF the Ice
at camping time.
In two sittings-evening and morn
ing-each took an average OF three
quarts of water daily. This included
the tea and also the luxury OF an oc-
casional soup. There was water about
everywhere In heaps. but IL was in
crystals. and before the thirst could
be quenched several ounces OF pre-
cious fuel. which had been carried
thousands OF miles. must be uscd. And
stiil this water. so expensive and SO