The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-27
of the Pole
Ready For the Dash to
the Worlds Farthest
North--E Expedition Well
Planned and Equipped
SECOND ARTICLEI


twenty-five miles to the north, would
be glad to see us. Here was the
chance to arrange a jaunt in the mo-
torboat. The tanks were filled, suit
able food and camp equipment were
loaded, and off we started on the
morning Of Aug. 81 for mans ultima
Thule.
1t was a 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 Hatherton were a blaze
Of color and light, but the sea was
r%efreshingly cool, with fleets Of blue
towering bergs to dispel the fire 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-
joying the quiet sport Of motorboat-
ing.
10 Arrival at Annootok.
As we passed the sharp rocks Of
| Cairn Point we located nine tents In
a small bay under Cape Inglefeld.
"Look-there is Annootok" said
Tungan, our native guide.
Looking up Smith sound, we noted
that the entire channel beyond was
blocked with a jam of hard blue ice.
The northernmost limit Of motorboat-
ing had been reached. A ~perpendicu-
lar cliff served as a pier to which to
fasten the boat. Here it could rise
and fall with the tide, and the drifting
ice did not give much trouble.
A diligent 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 to meet us as
friends.
The wealth in food and furs Of this
| place fixed my determination on this
spot as q base for the polar dash.
We were standing at a point within
100 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 to work out the campaign. The
| seeming hopelessness of the task had
q kind Of weird fascination for me.
Many years Of schooling in. both polar
zones and in mountaineering would
serve a 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 to 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 not have placed an expedition
at a better advantage. The opportu-
nifty was too good to be lost. we
therefore returned to 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
untried. In our prospective venture
we aimed to pierce this area OF the
globe.
If we failed In our main effort we
would at least make a track oVer a
blank spot. With the for
transportation which the Eskimos Of
fered l hoped to carry ample supplies
over Ellesmere Land and along the
west coast Of the game land.
There was reason to suppose tina
we would avoid the troublesome pack
agitated by the Greenland currents
The Eskimos were willing to trust to
the game resources Of this region to
feed and fire the expedition en- route
to the lands end.
Splendid Advantages offered.
If their faith proved correct, 1t Of
fered me a series Of advantages de-
MED to every other leader of polar
expeditions, for the movement would
not only be Supplied at the expense OF
the land which it explored, but men
and dogs would be taken to the battle
ground in superb training, with thelr
vigorous bodies nourished by whole
some fresh meat, not the ~nauseat1nG
laboratory stuff which IS usually
crowded into the unwilling stomach.
Furthermore, it afforded me a chance
to test every article of equipment in
actual field work, and, above all. after
a hard campaign Of this kind could
! select with some chance Of success the
most likely winners for the final race