The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-09-09

vatiOns gave our position as latitude
S4.47, longitude S6.36. There was
urgent need of rapid advance.
''Our main mission did not permit
q detour for the purpose of exploring
the coast. Here were seen the last
signs OF solid earth; beyond there was
noting stable to be seen.
BEYOND RANGE OF LIFE.
"We advanced steadily over the
monotony OF moving sea ice and now
found ourselves beyond the range of
all life-neither footprints of bears
nor the blow holes of seals were de-
tected. Even the microscopic crea-
lures of the deep were no longer MI
der us. The maddening influence of
the shifting desert of frost became al
most unendurablein the daily routine
The surface Of the path offered less
and less trouble and the weather i'm
proved, but there still remained the
life sapping wind which drove despair
to it's lowest recess. The extreme cold
compelled physical action. Thus day
after day our weary legs spreaded
over big distances. Incidents and
positions were recorded but adven-
ture was promptly forgotten in the
next days efforts. The night of
April 7th was made notable by the
swinging Of the sun at midnight over
the northern ice. Sunburns and frost
bites were now recorded on the same
day, but the double days glitter in
fused quite an incentive into ones
life OF shivers.
"Our observation on April 6 placed
the camp in latitute S6.36, longitude
94.2. In spite of what seemed long
marches We advanced but little over
IL hundred miles, Much of our work
was lost in circuitous twists, around
troublesome pressure lines and high
irregular fields. A very cold ice drift,
too, was driving eastward with suf-
ficient force to give some anxiety.
ATE DOGS.
Although still equal to about fifty
miles daily, the extended marches and
the long hours for travelling with
which fortune favored us earlier were
no longer possible. We were now
about 200 miles from the Pole and
sledge loads were reduced. One dog
after another went into the stomachs
OF the hungry survivors until the
teams were considerably diminished
in number, but there seemed to re-
main a sufficient balance for man and
brute to push along into the heart Of
the mystery to which we had set our
selves.
FLAG FLOATS AT POLE.
"On April 81 we had reached 80 de-
grees, 50 minutes, 46 seconds. The
Pole was in sight. Wecovered the re-
manning fourteen seconds and made
a few final observations. l told
Etukishook and Ahwelsh (the accom-
panying Eskimos) 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 breeze at the Pole. 1t was
April Dist, 1908
''The temperature was minus 3S
centrigrade, barometer 29.S3, lati-
tude 80; as for the longitude it was
nothing, as it was but word.
"Although crazy with Joy, our spir-
it's began to undergo a feeling of wea-
riness. Next day, after taking all our
observations, a sentiment of intense
solitude penetrated US while welooked
at the horizon. Was it possible that
this desolate region without patch
of earth, had aroused the ambition Of
SO many men for SO many centuries.
There was no ground, only an i'm
mensity of dazzling white snow, no
living being, no point to break the
frightful monotony.
"On April % we started on our re-
turn"