Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

unable 10 determine sharply the ad-
vent OF the midnight san. but here was
n spectacular play which interested us
immensely.
Now the great bulk was drawn out
egg shaped. with horizontal lines
drawn through f. Again Il was press
Ell into basin with flaming tres.
burning behind a curtain OF froSts;
blue at other times. it appeared ike
huge vase. and II required very little
imagination TO see purple and violet
flowers.
The change was often like magic.
but the last display was invariably a
face-distorted faces OF men or ami
mails were made TO suit our fancy.
We had therefore followed the suns
northward advance-from its first peep
at midday above the south ice OF the
polar gateway to its sweep OF the
northern Ice at midnight From the
end OF the polar night late in Febru-
airy L. the first Of the double days and
midnight suns we had forced a trail
through darkness. blood hardening
temperature and over leg breaking X,
reguhrities OF an unknown world OF
ice TO an area 200 miles from the pole
The Midnight Sun
Now we had the sun Enthusiastically
at midnight. and its new Glory was
quite an incentive TO our lie OF shiv-
ers. observations on April placed
camp at latitude Sc degrees 36 min
utes, longitude % degrees minutes.
In spite Of what seemed like long
marches we had advanced only log
miles In nine days. Much OF our hard
work was lost in circuitous twists
around troublesome pressure lines and
high. irregular fields OF very old ice.
The drift Ice was throwing us 20 the
east with sufficient force 10 give us
some anxiety, but with eyes closed TO
danger and hardships the double days
of fatigue and glitter quickly followed
one another.
The temperature. ranging between
SO and 46 degrees below zero T.. kept
persiStently near the freezing point Of
mercury, and. though the perpetual
sun gave light and color to the cheer
less wastes. we were not impressed
with any appreciate sense Of warmth
Indeed. the sunbeams seemed to make
the frost OF the air pierce with a more
painful sting.
There was a weird play of orgies,
seemingly most impressive at this
time-cloUds OF steam rose from the
frozen seas. In marching 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 we breathe the chill OF death.
In camp a grip Of the knife left pain
full burns from cold metal. TO the
frozen finger the water was hot. With
wine spirits the fire was lighted. while
oil delighted the stomach. In dreams
heaven was hot. the other place was
ec.d. All nature was false. We seem
Ell to be nearing the chilled fame OF
new hades. In our hard life there
was nothing genuinely warm. The
coneenial appearances were all deep
ton. but death offered only cold COM
fort There was no advantage In sui.
eide.
We should have enjoyed this curious
experience. but with endless bodily
discomforts. combined In aching mus
Giles and an overbearing languor, there
could be no real joys from the glories
OF nature. The pleasure was reserved
Tor later retrospect.
We now changed our working hours
from day 20 night. beginning usually
at 10 and ending at Z. The big march
es and prolonged hours OF travel with
winch fortune favored US earlier were