The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-09-17


permit Of detour TOR the purpose Of
exploring the coast
Last Signs Of Solid Earth.
Here We're seen the last signs OF
solid earth beyond there was moth
ing stable to be seen.
We advanced steadily over the
monotOny of moving sea ice. and now
found ourselves beyond the range Of
all life-neither footprints or bears
nor the blow hole of seals were de
tected. Even the microscopic Great
ures of the deep We're no longer un
der us.
The maddenin- influence Of the
shifting desert Of frost became al
NEST uncomfortable in the daily rout
inc
The surface Of the pack offered
less and less trouble and the weather
Improved. but there still remained the
lifesapping wind which drove despair
TO its lowest recess. The extreme
cold compelled action.
Day After Day over Big Distances.
Thus day after day our weary legs
spread over big distances Incidents
and positions were recorded. but ad
venture Vas promptly forgotten in
the next days Efforts
The night Of April was made
notable by the swinging Of the sun at
midnight over the northern ice
Sunburns and frost bites now We're
recorded on the same dav. but the
double days glitter infused quite an
incentive into ones life OF shiyers
our observation on April placed
the camp IN latitude S636. longitude
i942
In spite Of what seemed long
marches. We advanced but little over
100 miles. Much Of our work was
lost In circuitous twists. around troub-
lesome pressure lines and high ir.
regular fields
"A very old ice drift. too. was driv-
ing eastward with sufficient force to
give some anxiety Although still
equal 10 about fifty miles daily. the
extended marches and the long hours
for travelling with which fortune IA
vored US earlier were no longer pos.
sible.
We were now about 200 miles from
the pole, and sledge loads we're re-
duced
Dogs Used as Food.
"One dog after another went into
the stOmachs OF the hungry survivors
until the teams were considerably al.
minished in number. but there seemed
TO remain a sufficient balance for
MAJ and brute TO push along into the
heart of the mystery To which We had
set ourselves.
"On April II we had reached So De.
grees SO minutes 4G seconds.
North Pole At i-ast in SIGHT.
The pole was in sight.
We covered the remaining four
teen seconds and made few final
observations.
Il told Etukishook and Ahwelsh
tihe accompanying EskimCsl that we
had reached the great nail
Everywhere We turned was south
With a single step We could pass
from one side OF the earth to the
other-from midday TO midnight.
AT last the flag foated to the
breezes at the pole
1t was April u. 1908
The temperature was minus 80
centrigrade barometer 29.S3. latitude
90. as for the longitude IL was moth.
ing. as it was but d word
Although crazy with JOY. our
spirits began to undergo a feeling OF
WEAKNESS.
Next day. after taking all our OBJ
scryatiOns. sentiment of intense
solicitude penetrated us while we
looked at the horizon.
Was il possible that this region
without patch Of earth bad aroused
the ambition Of so many mea for so
many centuries?
There was no ground. only an i'm
mensity of dazzling white snow: no
living being. no point 10 break the
frightful monotony.
"On April % we started on our re.
turn"
The conqueriue OF tho north by Or.
Cook vas achieved with remarkable
lack OF publicity that has been given
practically every other expedition
against the power Of the ice god
Comparatively few people knew Of
the event when in the little schooner
John r. Bradley he weighed anchor
and sailed north from sydney. ~ S
The vessel was equipped and furnish
ed by DR. Roswell o. Stebbins. ald
the master of the vessel and its crew
were not informed Of The purposes OF
the trip.
DR. Cook. a man experienced in arc
tic exploration. had ideas Of his own
as to methods by which the pole
could be reached He had accompa-
MED the Peary expedition of 1891 as
surgeon. and he won fame for his
GOODNESS and courage by leading
party OF explorers to safety in an open
boat through a dangerous sea He
had commanded an expedition of
sportsmen. explorers ald scientists
into the polar regions. where he made
important observations and described
them in accepted geographical works.
Decorated by Belgian Navy.
He had been attached TO a Belgian
antarctic expedition and on account
OF his courage and resourcefulness
saved the entire party from death.
For this he was decorated by King