Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
CHAPTER v.

Early In January of 1903 the campaign
| opened. A few sleds were sent to the
American shores to explore route and
to advance supplies.
Clouds and storms made the moonlight
days dark, and therefore these advance
expeditions were only partly successful.
On February 10. 1908, the main expedi-
ton started for the pole. Eleven men,
driving one hundred and three dogs and
moving eleven heavily loaded sleds, left
the Greenland shore and pushed west
ward, over the troublesome ice of Smith
sound, to Cape Sabine.
The gloom of the long winter night was
but little relieved by few hours OF day
light and the temperature was very low.
Passing through valley between Files
| mere Land and Grinnell Land from the
head Of Flagler bay. in crossing to the
degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
In Bay ford many musk oxen were Sc
cured, and though the winter frost was
at it's lowest there was little wind, and
with an abundance of fresh meat and also
fat for fuel the life in the snowhouse
proved fairly comfortable.
The ice in Eureka and Jones sounds
proved fairly smooth, and long marches
were made, with an abundance Of game,
musk OK. bear and hares. We found 1t
quite necessary to use the supplies taken
from Greenland. Caches of provisions
and ammunition were left along Heiberg
Island for the return.
Willing Savage Hands.
Thus we managed to keep in game trails
and in excellent fighting trim to the end
of known lands. Camping in the chill of
the frowning cliffs of the northernmost
coast (Svartevog), we looked out over
the heavy ice Of the polar seas through
eyes which had been, hardened to the
worst polar environments
There was at hand an abundance of
supplies. with willing savage hands and
a superabundance of brute force In over
fed pelts, but for greater certainty of
action over the unknown regions beyond
l resolved to reduce the force to the
smallest numbers consistent with the exc
cution Of the problem in hand.
We had travelled nearly 400 miles in
twenty-eight days. There remained line
of $40 miles of unknowable trouble to
overcome before our goal could be reached
For this final task We were provided with
every conceivable device to ease this
hard lot, but in addition to reduced
party l now definitely resolved to simplify
the entire equipment At Svartevog a big
cache was made. In this cache fresh
meat. todnu. peinmican and much other
food. together with all discarded articles
of equipment. were left.
In the northward advance every factor
Of the dog train had been carefully
watched and studied to provide a perfect
working force for the final reach over the
polar sea- Etukishuk and .Ahwelah, two
young ESkimos, each twenty years old
had been chosen as best fitted to be my
sole companions in the long run of des-
tiny. Twenty-six dogs were picked and
upon two sleds were loaded all our needs
for stay Of eight days.
All for Progress.
To have increased this party would not
have enabled us to carry supplies for
greater number of days. The sleds might
have been loaded more heavily. but this
would reduce the important progress of
the first days
With the character of ice which We had
before us advance stations were impos-
sible. A large expedition and heavy
equipment seemed imprudent. We must
win or lose in prolonged effort at high
pressure, and, therefore, absolute control
and ease of adaptability to a changing
environment must be assured
1t is impossible to adequately control
the complex human temperament of un-
known men in the polar wilderness, but
the two Eskimo boys could be trusted to
follow to the limit CT my own endeavors,
and our sieds were burdened only with
absolute necessities.
Because of the Importance of light
and efficient equipment much care was
taken to eliminate every ounce of weight
The sleds were made of hi kory, the light
est wood consistent with great endurance.
but every needless fiber was gouged cut
The iron shoes were ground thin, and In
every way the weight of nearly every
thing was. reduced even after leaving
headquarters.
The little train, therefore, which fol-
lowed me into the further mystery. was
composed Of two sleds, each carrying six
hundred pounds, drawn by thirteen dogs,
under the lash of an expert driver The
combined freight was as follows: Pemmi-
can, sos pounds: musk OK tenderloin. 30
pounds; todnu. % pounds: tea. = pounds:
coffee. I pound, sugar. % pounds: con-
densed milk, 40 pounds; milk biscuits, 60
pounds; pea soup, powdered and COM
nressed 10 pounds: surprises. ) pounds: