The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-10-07
WEIRD SCENES
NEAR THE POLE
HEAVEN HOT IN DREAMS
POLAR GLITTER MAD
DENING.
Sun Assumes Distorted Face of
Men and Animals to Ex-
hausted Explorer.

DR.. Cook gives a vivid descrip-
ton OF scenes near the pole after
he reached the point where tn
sun shines continuously for six
months.
The temperature, ranging be-
tween 36 and 46 degrees below
zero Fahrenheit, kept persistently
near the freezing point # mer-
curry, and, though the heat of the
perpetual sun gave light and col
or to the cherries wastes we
were not impressed with any ap-
preciable sense of warmth. In
deed, the sunbeams seemed to
make the frost of the air pierce
with more painful sting.
Heaven Hot in Dreams.
There was weird play of or
gies, seemingly most impressive
at'this time-clouds of steam rose
from the frozen seas. In march
ing over the golden glitter snow
scalds the face, while the nose is
bleached with frost. The sun rose
into zones of fire and set into
burning fields of ice, but with
pain breathe the chill of death.
In camp a grip of the knife left
painful burns from cold metal.
To the frozen finger the water
was hot. With wine spirits the
fire was lighted, while oil de-
lighted the stomach. In dreams
heaven was hot, the other place
was cold. All nature was false
we seemed to be nearing the chill
ed flame of a new HadeS. In our
hard life there was nothing genu-
inely warm. The congenial ap-
pearances were all deception,
out death offered only cold COM
fort. There was no advantage in
suicide.
We should have enjoyed this
curious experience, but with end
less bodily discomforts, combin-
cd in aching muscles and an over
bearing glacial foliage, there
could be no real joys from the
glories of nature. The pleasure
was reserved for later retro
spect.
Words and pictures cannot ade-
quately describe the maddening
influence of this sameness of pol
ar glitter, combined with bitter
winds, extreme cold and an over
worked body. To make severe
test for myself there was always
the encouragement of arctic
achievement-the outcome of ul-
innate success. But for my young
savage companions it was a tor
ment almost beyond endurance.
Their WEAKNESS was made evil
dent by a lax use of the whip, and
an indifferent urging of the dogs.
They were, however, brave and
faithful to the bitter end, seldom
allowing selfish ambitions or un-
controllable passions seriously to
-interfere with the main effort OF
the expedition.
On the morning of April 13 a
strain of agitating torment reach
ed a breaking point. For days
there had been a steady cutting
wind from the west, which drove
despair to its lowest reaches. The
west again blackened, to renew
its soul despairing blast. The sun
was screened with ugly vapors
and the path was as cherries as
the arctic night.
No torment could be worse
than that never-ceasing rush of
icy air. Ahwelah bent over MS
sled and refused to move. His
dogs turned and looked inquir-
ingly; walked over and stood
by his side. Etukishook came
near and stood motionless, star
ing blankly at the southern skies.
Large tears fell from Ahwelah S
eyes and piled little frost of sad
ness in the blaze of his own shad-
ow for several minutes not a
word was uttered, but | knew
that each felt that the time had
come to free the letters of human
passions. Slowly Ahwelah said !:
"Unne Sinig pa-ovabtonic 10
doria." 1t is we'll to die-beyond
is impossible"