The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-09-16

tuNu ibI ndItTlul WIN WnltH 10 repair
the others and set Eskimos at this
work
BARTLETT returned in time to take u
satisfactory observation for latitude in
clear weather, and obtained for our po-
siton S14S and that showed that the
continued north wind had robbed us
of a number of miles of hard-earned
distance
Bartlett took the observation there
as had Marvin 1--WE camps back, partly
to save my eyes, but largely to give
an independent record and determine
ton of our advance.
The observations completed and two
copies made. one for him and the other
for me. Bartlett started on the back
trail in command OF my fourth sup
porting party. with two Eskmos. one
sledge and is dogs.
BARTLETT DID GOOD WORK.
When he left | felt for moment
pangs OF regret as he disappeared in
the distance, but 1t was only momen-
tary. My work was still ahead, not in
the rear.
Bartlett had done good work and had
been a great help to me- Circumstances
| had thrust the brunt of the pioneering
| upon him instead of dividing II among
| several as l had planned.
| He had reason to take pride In the
| fact that he had bettered the Italian
had covered distance equal to the
entire distance Of the italian expedi-
| ton from Franz Josef's land to Cagni's
| farthest north.
! | had given Bartlett this position and
| post of honor in command of my
| fourth and last supporting party, and
| for two reasons: first. because of his
magnificent handling of the Roosevelt;
| second. because he had cheerfully stood
| between me and many trifing annoy
ances on the expeditions.
| Then there was third reason. II
seemed to me appropriate in view OF
the magnificent British record of arc
| tic work. covering three centuries, that
1t should be British subject who
could boast that. next to an American,
he had been nearest the pole.
LAST STRUGGLE AT HAND.
With the disappearance of Bartlett /
turned TO the problem before me- This
was that for which l had worked for 8.
years. for which / had lived the simple
life, for which | had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip for which
l had trained myself for a race. crush
ing down every worry about success.
In spite of my years. l felt in trim
fit for the demands of the coming days
and eager to be on the trail.
AS for my party, my equipment, and
my supplies, l was In shape beyond my
most sanguine dreams of earliest years.
My party might be regarded as ar
ideal, which had now come to realization
AS loyal and responsive to my will as
the fingers of my right hand.
PARTY IDEAL FOR EFFORT.
Four of them possess the technique OF
dogs. sledges. ice. and cold as their heri
tage. Two of them. Hansen and Ootam
were my companions to the farthest poin
three years before. Two others, Eginwul
and Sigloo. were in Clark's division
which had such a narrow escape at tha
time, and now were willing to go any
where with my immediate party. ant
willing to risk themselves again in an,
supporting party.
The fifth was a young man who hat
never served before in any expedition
but who was IL possible. even NOR
willing and eager than the others 70
the princely gifts-a boat, rifle. shot
gun, ammunition. knives, etc. which
had promised to each of them win
reached the pole with me; for he kney
that these riches would enable him t
wrest from a stubborn father the CIR
whose image filled his hot young heart
HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
All had blind confidence so long a
/ was with them, and gave no though
for the morrow, sure that whatever hap
pened l should somehow get them bac
to land. But / dealt with the part
equally. ! recognized that all its i'm
petus centered in me, and that whateve
pace 1 set 1t would make good. If any
one played out, l would stop for a shor
time.
had no fault to find with the cond
lions. My dogs were the best, the pic
Of l22 with which we left Columbia Al
most all were powerful males hard a
nails. in good flesh. but without a super
fiuous ounce. and, what was better We
they were all in good spirits
NV SledgeS, now chat the repairs wpr
completed. were in good condition. NJ
supplies We're ample for 40 days anC
! with the reserve represented by the dog
themselves. could be made to last So
: HIS PROGRAM PLANNED.
Pacing back and forth in tn ice Of tn
: pressure ridge where the igloos wer
built, while my men got their load
ready for the next marches l settled o
: my program. l decided ! should strai
every nerve to make five marches of
: miles each, crowding these marches
such a way as to bring us to the end
the fifth long enough before noon to pei
init the immediate taking of an observe
l ton for latitude.
Weather and leads permitting, / b,
lieved / could do this. IL my propose
distances were cut down by any chanC
. i had two means In reserve for maxim
t up the deficit:
First-To make the last march a force
one, stopping to make tea and rest Il
dogs, but not to sleep.
Second-At the end of the fifth marc
=, 10 make a forced march with igl
i sledge. double team of dogs. and OF
: or two of the party. leaving the rest
camp.
h SEES DANGER IN GALE.
9 Underlying all these calculations was
l recognition of the ever present nelghbo
5 hood of open leads and impossible waite
and the knowledge that a 24-hour ga
d would knock all my plans into a cooke
e hat. and even put us in imminent peril.
At little after midnight OF April
e after few hours of sound sleep, l h
e the trail, leaving the others to brea
up camp and follow.
AS | climbed the pressure ridge bac
:. OF our igloos l set another hole in m
= belt the third since 1 started. Ever
), man and dog of us was lean and fl
d bellied as a board and as hard.
CONDITIONS ALL FAVORABLE.
1t was a fine morning. The wind
the last two days had subsidized, and Il
. going was the hest and most emma IA