The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-09-16

SSENV nv. ~ It, 81
Again there was a few hours sleep
and we hit the trail before midnight.
The weather n going were even bet
ter. The surface, except as interrupted
by infrequent ridges, was as level as
the glacial fringe from Hecla to Column
bia. and harder.
We marched something over ten
hours. the dogs being often on the trot.
and made 20 miles. Near the end of
the march we rushed across a lead 100
yards wide, which buckled under our
'sledges finally broke as the last
sledge left it.
We stopped in sight Of the eighty
ninth parallel in a temperature Of 40
degrees below. Again a scant sleep
and across the e~ighty-ninth parallel.
This march duplicated the previous
one as to weather and going. The last
few hours it was on young ice and oc-
c~asionally the dogs were g%alloping.
We made twenty-five miles or more,
the air, the sky, and the bitter wind
burning the face till it tracked. 1t was
like the great interior ice gar Of
Greenland. Even the natives COM
planned Of the bitter air. 1t was as
keen as fl oz steel.
A little longer sleep than the previ-
Gus one had to be taken here, as we.
were all in need of it. Then on again.
W ~ SAAAo lAAA4O Wall SoSA 6dSSSooARC
march, our fear of an. impossible lead
had increased. At every inequality Of
the ice I found myself hurrying breath
lessly forward, fearing that it marked a
lead, and when ], arrived atathe summit
would catch my breath with r~elief-only
to find myself hurrying on in the same
way at the next one.
But on this march, by some strange
shift Of feeling, this fear fell from me
completely. The weather was thick, but
it gave me no uneasiness. :.
Before I turned in I took an observa-f
ton which indicated our position as SO
degrees Is minutes.
low reduced the friction of the sledges
and gave the dogs the appearance of
having caught the spirits of the party.
more sprightly ones, as they went
along with tightly curled tails, frequent
ly tossed their heads, with short, sharp
barks and yelps.
In II hours we had made 40 miles.
There was no sign of q lead in the
march. III
ARRIVAL At THE POLE.
I had now made my five marches, and
was in time for a hasty noon observation
through a temporary break in the clouds,
which indicated our position as 1857. I
quote an entry from my journal some
hours later:
~ lOAS oS AooSs II PAAAC " lllI00
centuries, my dream and goal for 20
years, mine at last. I cannot bring my
self to realize it. ~ s@
It all seems 30 simple and
place. AS Bartlett said when turning
back, when speaking Of his being in
these exclusive regions, which no mortal
has ever penetrated before: 'Tt is just
like every day."
OF course I had my sensations that
made sleep impossible for hours, despite
utter fatigue-the sensations Of a life
time; but I have no room for them here.
The first 30. hours at the pole were
spent in taking, observations; in going
some ten miles beyond our camp and
some eight miles to the right of It; in
taking photographs. planting my flags,
depositing my records, studying the hori-
ION with my telescope for possible land,
and searching for a practicable place to
make a sounding. .ss.a.E f-
PLAN FOR RETURN TRIP. /.
Ten hours after our arrival the clouds.
cleared before q light breeze from. our
left and from that time until our depar-
weather was %cloudless and fawless.
The minimum temperature during the
80 hours was 80 below, the maximum u.
We had reached the goal, butsfthe re-!
turn was still before US. It was essential
that we reach the land before the next
spring tide, and we must strain every
nerve to do this. eEs4 - aiD 2s -
!. I had a brief talk with my men. From
now on 1t was to be a big travel, little
sleep and a hustle every minute.
We would try, I told them, to double
march on the ~return-that is. to start
one Of our northward
marches, make tea and eat our luncheon
eat and sleep a few hours, and repeat
this daily.
SPEED NEARLY DOUBLED.
AS a matter of fact. we nearly did
this, covering regularly on our return
journey five outward marches In three
return marches.
Just as long as we could hold the
trail we could double our speed, and
we need waste no time in building
new igloos every day, sc that the time
we gained on the return lessened the
chances Of a gale destroying the rack,
Just above the eighty-seventh paral-
lie! was a region some fifty miles wide
which caused me considerable uneasi-
ness. Twelve hours Of strong easterly,
westerly or northerly wind would
make this region an open sea.
In the afternoon Of the 7th we start
ed on our return, having double fed
the dogs. repaired the sledges for the
last time. and discarded all our spare
clothing to tighten the loads.
TRIES TO SOUND SEA.
Five miles from the pole a narrow
crack filled with recent ice, through
which we were able to work a hole
with a pickax. enabled me to make a
sounding. All my wire, 1900 fathoms
was sent down, but there was no bot,
tom.
In pulling up the wire parted a few
fathoms from the surface and lead and
wire went to the bottom. Off went reel
and handle, Tightening the sledges still
further. We had no more use for them
now.
Three marches brought US back +o
the igloos where the captain turned
back. The last march was in the wild
sweep of a northerly gale, with drift
Ing snow and the ice rocking under as
we dashed over it.
NOT DELAYED BY LEADS
South OF where Marvin had turned
back we came to where his party had
built several igloos while delayed Nv
open leads. Still further south W.
found where the captain had been held
up by an open lead and Obliged to
camp. ~
Fortunately the movement of these
leads was simply open and shut and ~.
took considerable water motion to fau1t
the trail seriously.
While the captain, Marvin, and az :
found later, Borup. had been della ved.
by open leads, we seemed to bear q