Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-08
hot tea, there was some animal COM
forts occasionally to be gained.


forts occasionally to be gained.
'For several days after the sight
of known land was lost, the overcast
sky prevented an accurate determi-
nation of our positions. On March
3O'~the horizon was partly cleared
and new land was discovered. Our
ub ervations gave our position as
latitude S4.47, longitude $3.50.
There was urgent need of rapid ad-
vance. Our main mission did not
permit detour for the purpose of
exploring the coast. Here were seen
the last signs of solid earth; be-
yond, there was nothing stable to
be seen.
Beyond the life Line.
1--WE advanced steadily over the
monotony Of moving sea ice, and
now found ourselves beyond the
range of all life-neither footprints
of bears nor the blow-holes Of seals
were detected. Even the microscop-
ic creatures of the deep were no
longer under us. The maddening in
fluence of the shifting desert of
frost became almost uncomfortable in
the daily routine. The surface of
the pack offered less and less trou-
Bile and the weathse improved, but
there still remained the life-sapping
wind which drove despair to it's low
est recesses. The extreme cold COM
PEELED physical action. Thus day af-
ter day our weary legs spread over
big distances. Incidents and posi-
tions were recorded, but adventure
was promptly forgotten in the next
days efforts.
Sunburn and E'IOStbitc.
The night of April was made
notable by the. swinging Of the sun
at midnight over the northern ice.
Sunburns and frostbites were now
recorded on the same day, but the
double days glitter infused quite an
incentive into ones life Of shivers.
"Our observation on April 6 placed
the camp in latitude $3.50, longi-
tude 94.2. In spite Of what seemed
long marches we advanced but lit
tie over hundred miles. Much of
our work was lost in circuitous
twists, around troublesome pressure
lines and high irregular fields. A
very old ice drift, too, was driving
eastward with sufficient force to
give some anxiety.
"Although still equal TO about so
miles daily, the extended marches
and the long hours for travelling
with which fortune favored us ear
lier were no longer possible. We
were now about 200 miles from the
pole and sledge loads were reduced
One dog after another went into the
stomachs OF the hungry survivors
until the teams were considerably
diminished in number, but there
seemed to remain a sufficient balance
for man and brute to push along
into the heart of the mystery to
which we had set ourselves.
Old Glory Crowns the Pole.
ION April 21 we ,rached 80 de-
grees, SO minutes and 46 seconds.
The pole was in sight. We covered
the remaining fourteen seconds and
made few final observations.
told Etukishook and Ahwelsh (the
m vi Ecly L.. 4
reached the great nail Every
where we turned was south.
with a single step we could pass
from one side of the earth to the
other; from midday to midnight. At
last the flag hoated to the breeze at
the pole. 1t was April 21, 1908.
The temperature was minus 3S CEN
tigrade, barometer 29.S3, latitude
90; as for the longitude it was moth
ing. as it v as but a word.
Crazy With Joy, Utterly DesoIate.
"Although crazy with Joy our
spirits began to undergo feeling of
weariness. Next day after taking all
our observations, a sentiment Of in
tense solitude penetrated us while
we looked at the horizon. Was it
possible that this desolate region,
without patch of earth, had arous-
ed the ambition of so many men for
so many centuries. There was no
ground, only an immensely of daZ-
zlinS white snow, no living being,
no point to break the frightful mo-
notony.
ION April 23 we started on our
return"