The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-13


bility of broken ice and the depressing
mystery of an unknown position For
many days no observations had been pos
sible and our location could only BE-
guessed at.
The maddening struggle was daily
forced. while the spirits were pressed to
the verge of extinction Now that the
object of our trip had been accomplished
much of the incentive was gone. At times
it seemed as if our Iife's work had been
accomplished. and to have lain down for
the final sleep would have been easy. but
the feeble fires of the homing passion
kept the eye open.
At the Fi~hfy-fOwvth P~rsueI.
On May "a the sky cleared long enough
to give us a set Of observations. We
were on the eiGhty-fourth parallel. near
the ninety-seventh meridian. The nevi
lands were hidden behind a low mist
The ice was much crevassed and drifted
eastward. Many open spaces of water
were noted in the west by patches OF
water sky.
The pack was sufficiently active to give
us considerable anxiety though pressurs
lines and open water did-not at the tina
seriously impede orr progress
There remained on the sIeds scarcely
enough food to rench our caches. unless
we averaged fifteen miles daily On the
return from the pole to here we had only
heen able to make twelve miles daily.
NOW our strength. even under fair con-
ditions. did not seem IN he eouaI to rnor.
than ten miles The outlook was far fro-,
hopeful TO me. though the sight of ths
cleared sky infused new courage into
Etukhishuk and AhweIah
Trying to make the hest of our hard
lot. straight course was set for the
musk OK lands IF fhe inner crossing
At the eighty-third parallel we found
to the west of a large tract
southwark The ice CHANGED
to small fields. The temperature rose to
zero and a persistent mist obscured thu
heavens.
With few lines on paper IN register
he life or suffering. The food for man
Ind dog was reduced to a three-ouarter
alton. while the difficulties of ice travel
ose to disheartening heights.
AT the end Of a struggle of twenty
lays through thick fog the sky cleared
md we found ourselves far down in
'rown Prince Gustav Sea. with open
wafer and impossible small ice as a bar
Ter between MS and Heiberg Island
With the return to Annootok rendered
by the unfortunate westerly
rift our only alternative was to go south
With the ice. We hoped in this course
o ind game for food and fuel The
Scottish whalers enter Lancaster Sound
nd touch at Port Leopold. The distance
o this point was shorter than that to
greenland. and by this route hoped that
could return to Europe during the sauna
ear. 1908.
Passing through Hassel Sound between =,
he Ringnes Lands bears and seals were
ecured. and slowly we moved southwark
yer Norwegian Bay into Wellington
'hannel. The ice was small, there was
luch open water and progress was slow.
ut the drift carried us along.
Crossed TO Jones sound.
at Pioneer Bay we were stopped BY a
Am of small ice over which shedding was
npossible. Unable to wait for the ice
move because no large game WIS here
ecured, we crossed in early July to
ones Sound. Here again no big game
as found. There was much open water
nd the folding canvas boat was spread
II use.
Unable to feed the dogs, they were
ven the freedom of their wild nroqan.
ors, the wolves.
One sled was left here, the other was
ken apart and placed in the boat Then
moved long and perIlous adventure
boat and sled, during which our last
was expended in securing
rds for food. After that by Io,,,,,.d
Ies and shngshots birds were stiIl can
red.
Early in September we were beset on
e shores OIL Balm Bay with neither
ou' Auei nor ammunItIon. New Imple-
enIs were shaped, und we returned
est"ard to Cape Spar1o. to seek a pIace
pitch winter camp.
An underground den was buiIf of
ones, bones aud turf, and with our
inltlVe weapons we fought the wal
s. the bear, the musk OK aud otber
lnlils. Linus food, tuei ana SANS ware
cured and death by tamlne was
erted.
Lie winter aud the night of Iytps-1atrl
re spent preparing tovu ana e,,,I,,,,,..n,
: the return. !
IN beDruary 10, 1909, we starta5 ,-;.A\
renlodeiIeu sled and reached ,,Ir Co...
Annootok IN the middle of Anr,t
ere l met Mr. harry W hIrney and foid
a of our conquest of the pole.
Because a ship was to come afta, A.
hltney to take him direct to home
pres. most or my instruments were in
Isted to his care. Anxious to gain
y months in the return home. | pro-
'ded by sled over land and sea sontb-
I'd to Upernavik and from there on
I'd TO CopeDhngen by Danish steamers
The End.