Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-02


hardy sailor had managed to scramble
onto a rock, and gradually 10 hoist HIM
self above the waves.
Then he must have become insensible,
for he remembered nothing more except
himself in his flag. He only awoke to
consciousness with the loud barking and
caresses of his faithful Duke.
After little Hatteras was able to stand
up, supported by the doctor, and tried to
get back to the sloopA
He kept exelaiming. 1.-THE pole! the
north poler'
"You are happy now?" said his friend.
Yes happy! And aren't you? Isn't 1t
Joy to find yourself here. The ground we
tread is round the polel The air we
breathe is the air that blows round the
pole The sea we have crossed is the sea
which washes the pole! oh, the north
pole the north poleT'
He had become quite delirious with ex-
citement, and fever burned in his veins.
His eyes shone with unnatural brilliancy,
was what he most needed, for the doctor
found it impossible to quiet him.
! A place OF encampment must therefore
| be fixed upon Immediately.
| Altamont speedily discovered grotto
composed of rocks which had so fallen
as to form a sort OF cave. Johnson and
Bell carried in provisions and gave the
dogs their liberty.
About II o'clock, breakfast or rather
dinner, was ready, consisting of pemmi-
can. salt meat, and smoking-hot tea and
coffee.
But Hatteras would do nothing till the
exact position of the island was ascertain
ed; so the doctor and Altamont set to
work with their instruments, and found
! that the exact latitude of the grotto was
lS9 degrees SO minutes Is seconds.
The on daOraA IF latitude then OnlV
about three-quarters of a mile off, or
Just about the summit of the volcano.
! When the result was given to Hatteras,
| he had a formal document drawn up to
attest the fact, and two copies made, one
| of which should be deposited in a cairn
| on the island.
| Clawbonny was the scribe, and indited
| the following document, a copy of which
Is now among the archives of the Royal
| Geographical society Of London:
ION this 18th day of July, 1861, in north
latitude SO degrees 50 minutes Is sec
| Onds, was discovered Queens island at the
north pole, by Captain Hatteras, COM
mander of the brig Forward of Liverpool,
who signs this as also all his companions
whoever may find this document is re-
quested to forward 1t to the admiralty. +
(Signed) JOHN HATTERAS, Com
mander of the Forward.
| "DR. CLAWBONNY,.
| "ALTAMONT, Commander of the Por-
poise.
JOHNSON, Boatswain.
BELL, Carpenter"
! "And now, friends. come to table," said
\ the doctor. merrily.
Coming to table was just squatting on
the ground.
| but who" said CIawbonny, would not
/ give all the tables and dining-rooms in
| the world to dine at SO degrees So minutes
1 and Is seconds north lottitude?"
1t was an exciting occasion-this first
meal at the polel
| What neither ancients nor moderns,
neither Europeans. nor Americans, nor
| Asiatics had been able to accomplish they
had achieved. All past sufferings and
perils were forgotten in the glow of sue
| cess.
This is the only point of the globe
that is motionless," said the doctor. "All
4 the other points are revolving with ex-
treme rapidity.''
| But in the discussion which followed
/ Hatteras took no part, and even when
| they went it was evident his thoughts
4 were far away.
Afterward the party made themselves as
comfortable as they could, and lay down
to sleep.
All, except Hatteras; and why could
this extraordinary man not sleep like the
| others?
Was not the purpose of his life attained
| now? Had he not realized his most dar-
| ing project? why could he not rest? In
deed, might not one have supposed that,
| after the strain his nervous system had
| undergone, he would long for rest?
] But no, he grew more and more excit-
ed. and it was not the thought of re-
turning that so affected him. Was he
bent on going further still? Had his pas
{ sion fof travel no limits? Was the world
too small for him now he had circumnav-
| igated It?
| Whatever might be the cause, he could
not sleep; yet this first night at the pole
was clear and calm. The isle was abso-
lutely uninhabitated--not bird, nor an
animal, nor fish.
Next morning, when Altamont and the
others awolxe, Hatteras was gone. Feel
ing uneasy at his absence, they hurried
out Of the grotto in search of him. There
he was standing on a rock, gazing fixed
ly at the top OF the mountain. His in
struments were In his hand.
| The doctor went towards him and spoke.
but It was long before he could rouse him
from his absorbing CONCENTRATIONS.
THE last!" Hatteras was saying, as Il
in a dream Yes! the LAST truly; but, "
4 he added, with more ANIMATION the
most wonderful"
He pressed both hands on his brow
as he spoke, as IL to calm the inward
| tumult.
lust then Altamont and the others
came I'D, and their appearance seemed to
dispel the Authorizations under which he
was laboring.
my friends" he said. IN a voice run
of emotion thanks for your courage.
thanks for your perseverance,, thanks for
| vour superhuman efforts, through which
we are permitted to set our feet on this
| soil"
Captain" said Johnson, I'VE have only
obeyed orders; to you alone belongs the
| honor" 49,
''No, no!' exclaimed Hatteras, with a
| violent outburst of emotion, ito all OF
YOU as much as any of US, as much as
| the doctor himself! oh, let my heart
break in your hands, II cannot contain It's
low and gratitude any longer"
! He grasped the hands of his brave COM
nanions as he spoke, and paced up and
| down as If he had lost all self-conrrol.
I'VE have only done our duty as Eng
Hshmen," said Bell
And as Friends" added Clawbonny.
Presently Hatteras said, in hurried
agitated manner as II he could scarcely
| command himself: