The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-06

atmospheric unrest was added ,he insta.
unity OF broken ice and the depressing
mystery Of an unknown position. For
many days no observations had been nos.
sible and our location could only h,
guessed Mt.
The maddening struggle was dail,
forced, while the spirits were pressed IN
the verge Of extinction Now that m,
object OF our trip had been ACCOMPLISHED
much OF the incentive was gone. AT time,
IL seemed as II our lite's work had hecu
accomplished. and to have lain down 70,
the hnal sleep would have been easy. br,
the feeble fires Of the homins passion
Kept the eye open.
AZ the Eighty-fnurtL Parallel
oh May "A the sky cleared long enough
10 give us set NJ observations. We
were on the eighty-fourth parallel nen,
inc hinety.scventh meridian. The new
lands were hidden behind low mis-,
nc Ice was much crevassed and drifted
eastward. Many open spaces of water
were noted in the west by patches of
water Sky.
Inc pack was sufficiently active to rre
US considerable anxiety. though pressn-s
INES and open water did not at the tin,
seriously impede our progress.
/ There remained on The sleds srarce,-
enough food TO reach our caches. un,ass
we averaged fifteen miles daily. On ,h,
return from the pole 20 here we had oo,v
been able to make twelve miles daily
Now our strength. even under fair cor
diuohs. did not secm to be equal to more
than ten miles. The outlook was far from
hopeful to me. thouGh the sigh, OF the
cleared sky infused new courage int
Etukhshuk and Ahwclnh.
Trying to make the best of our bar,
iot' straight course was set for tb,
musk OK lands of the inner crossing.
AT the eiGhty-tlird parallel we found
ourselves TO the west Of n largo tr,c,
extending southwark. The ice changed
to small fields. The temperature rose to
zero and persistent mist obscured IN,
heavens.
with few lines on paper TO reciste,
the life OF suffering. the food for man
and dog was reduced TO n thrcp-cu9rte,
ration, while the difficulties Of ice trayeI
rose to disheartening heights.
AT the end OF n struggle ~ tven,,
days through thick fog the sky cleared
Iand we found ourselves far down in
Crown Prince Gustav Sea. with open
water and impossible small ice as a oar
rier between us and ueibcrg Island.
with the return TO Annootok rendered
impossible by the unfortunate westerly
drltt our only alternative was to 60 south
win the ice. We hoped in this course
TO ind game for food and fuel. The
scottish whalers enter Lancaster Sound
and touch at Port Leopold. The distance
to this point was shorter than that 10
Greenland, and by this route hoped thu,
could return to Europe during the sam
year. 1905.
Passing through HasseI Sound betwec,
the Ringnes Lands bears and seals wer.
secured, and slowly we moved SOUTHWARK
over Norwegian Bay into Wellington
channel. The ice wus small, there was
much open water and progress was SLOW
but the drift carried us along.
Crossed TO Jones' sound.
At Pioneer Bay we were stopped by a
jam of small ice over which shedding wa.
impossible. Unable to wait for the icg
10 move because no large game was her.
secured. we crossed In early July to
Jones Sound. Here again no big gam,
was found. There was much open wate
and the folding canvas boat was spreau
for use.
Unable TO feed the dogs, they wer.
given the freedom Of their wild pro:en.
itors, the wolves.
One sled was left here. the other was
taken apart and placed in the boat. Then
followed long and perilous adventure
by boat and sled, during which our las.
ammunition was expended in securing
birds for food. After that by loopca
lines aud shngshots birds were still cap
cured.
Early in September we were beset ON
the shores OF Ba1in Bay with neither
food, fuel nor ammunition. New ilnple-
ments were shaped, aud we returueu
westward 10 Cape Sparbv, TO seek place
10 pitch winter camp.
An underground den was built OF
stones, bones aud turf, and with our
primitive weapons we fought The wal.
rus, the bear, the musk OK aud other
ANIMALS. Thus food. tuel and slins w.r.
secured and death Wy famine wa.
aYerted.
4he winter and the night Of 1oOS.lvvv
were spent preparing food and equipment
Tor the rerurn.
On February Is, 1909, we started with
a renodeileG sled and reached our ea,nu
at AnnoOtOk in The middle of Apr,.
here 1 met AIR. Harry Whitney and lola
him OF our conquest Of the pole.
Because a ship was to come after Mr.
Whitney TO take bim direct 70 home
shores, most OF my Instruments were in.
trusted 10 his care Anxious to gain a
few months in the return home. i pro.
cceded by sled over land and sea south
ward to Upernavik and from there on
ward TO Copeubag gen by Danish steamerA
Aka End.