The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-11-11
Ready For the Dash to
the Worlds Farthest
North--Expedition Well
Planned and Equipped
SECOND ARTIcLEl

chance 10 arrange a jaunt In the mo-
torbOat. The tanks were filled, suit
able food and camp equIpBenr were
loaded. and of we started on the
morning OF Aug. u for mans ultima
Thule.
IT was beautiful day. with a light
air from the sea. Passing inside OF
Littleton island we searched for rel
les along Lifeboat cove. The desolate
cliffs Of Cape Haiherton were blaze
OF color and light. but the sea was
refreshingly cool. with fleets OF blue
towering bergs to dlspei the hre of
arctic midsummer.
AS we rushed in comfort past the
ice polished and wind swept head
lands the sea was alive with birds.
seal and walrus. but little shooting
was done. for we were bent on en-
JOKING the quiet sport of motorboat-
ing.
Arrival at Annootok.
As we passed the sharp rocks of
Cairn Point we located nine tents In
small bay under Cape lngle6eld.
"Look-there IN Annootokr said
TunGan. our native guide.
Looking up Smith sound. we noted
that the entire channel beyond was
blocked with jam OF bard blue ice.
| The northernmost limit of motorboat-
ing had been reached. A perIDendicu-
| lar cliff served as a pier to which to
fasten the boat Here II could rise
and fall with the tide. and the drifting
ice did not give much trouble.
dillgent exploration OF the town
! disclosed the fact that we had reach
| ed not only the northernmost town.
but the most prosperous settlement Of
the Greenland shore The best hunt
ers had gathered here for the winter
bear hunt,
Their game catch had been very
| lucky. Immense catches Of meat were
strewn along the shore. More than a
hundred dogs voiced the hunt force.
with which Eskimo prosperity is
measured. and twelve long haired
wild men came out 10 meet us as
| friends.
The wealth in food and furs of this
place fixed my determination on this
| We were standing at point within
| 700 miles of the pole. The strongest
| force of men. the best teams OF dogs
and an unlimited supply OF food com
bined with the equipment on board
| the yacht. formed an ideal plant from
which 10 work out the campaign. The
seeming hopeleSsness Of the task had
n kind of weird fascination for me.
Many years of schooling in both polar
zones and in mountaineering would
serve useful purpose.
Conditions Right For Dash.
Here was my chance. Here was
everything necessary conveniently
placed within the polar gateway. The
problem was discussed with my col
league Mr., Bradley generously vol
unteered 10 land from the yacht the
food, fuel and other supplies we had
provided for local use There was
abundant trading material TO serve
as money.
My own equipment aboard for
sledge travelling could be made TO
serve every purpose in the enterprise
The possible combination left abso-
lutely nothing TO be desired TO insure
success.
Only good health. endurable wealth
er and workable ice were necessary.
The expenditure OF a million dollars
could nor have placed an expedition
at better advantage. The opportu-
nitv was TOO gaod 10 he lost. We
therefore returned 10 Etah TO prepare /
for the quest
Strong efforts had been made TO |
reach the pole from every available /
quarter. Only the angle between /
Alaska and Greenland had been left I
untried In our prospective venture /
we aimed TO pierce this area of the 1
globe.
II we failed in our main effort we 4
would al least make truck over
blank spot With the resources for
transportation which the Eskimos Of
fered hoped to carry ample supplies
over Ellesmere Land and along the
west coast OF the game land.
There was reason to suppose that
we would avoid the troublesome pack
acitated by the Greenland currents
The Eskimos were willing to trust TO
the game resources Of this region to
feed aud fire the expedition en- route
TO the lands end.
Splendid Advantages Offered.
II their faith proved correct. 1t Of
fered me series Of advantages de.
MED 10 every other leader OF polar
expeditions. for the movement would
not only be supplied AT the expense of
the land which Il explored, hut men
aud dogs would be taken 10 the battle
ground in superb training. with their
vigorous bodies nourished by whole
some fresh meat. not the nanseating
laboratory stutr which Is usually
crowded into the unwilling stomach.
Furthermore, II afforded me y chance
10 test every article OF equipment In
actual field work. and. above all. after
n hard campaign OF this kind could
select with some chance OF success the
most likely winners for the tinal race
over the circumpolar sea.
A comnacf was made with the little