The Montgomery tribune., 1909-09-17

0lrectOn, Dut no motion was visible.
Evidently IL was settling back into
northward with its release from the
wind pressure.
SURFACE ALMOST LEVEL.
Again there was a few hours sleep
and we hit the trail before midnight,
The weather and going were even bet
ter. The surface. except as interrupted
by infreduent 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 and finally broke as the last
sledge left It,
We stopped in sight of the eighty
ninth parallel in temperature of 40
degrees below. Again a scant sleep
and we were on our way once more
and across the eighty-ninth parallel.
This march duplicated the previous
one as to weather and going. The last
few hours 1t was on young ice and oc-
casionally the dogs were galloping.
We made twenty-five miles or more.
the air, the sky, and the bitter wind
burning the face till 1t cracked. 1t was
like the great interior ice gap OF
Greenland Even the natives COM
plulHGu VI tut DltleT dlT. II was US
keen as frozen steel.
A little longer sleep than the previ-
Gus one had to be taken here. as we
were all in need of 1t. Then on again.
Up to this time. with each successive
march, our fear of an impossible lead
had increased. At every inequality of
the ice l found myself hurrying breath
lessly forward, fearing that it marked a
lead, and when l arrived at the summit
would catch my breath with relief--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 l took an observa-
ton which indicated our position as SO
degrees 25 minutes.
A rise in temperature to Is degrees be-
low reduced the friction of the sledges
and gave the dogs the appearance Of
having caught the spirits of the party
The more sprightly ones. as they went
along with tightly curled tails. frequent
ly tossed their heads, with short, sharp
barks and yelps.
In IL hours we had made 40 miles.
There was no sign of a lead In the
march
ARRIVAL AT THE POLE.
had now made my five marches. and
WAS III tlIIlt lOT a TASTY UOOI ODSeTNdtlOu
through a temporary break in the clouds,
which indicated our position as S9.57. 1
quote an entry from my journal some
hours later:
The pole at last. The prize of three
centuries, my dream and goal for 20
years, mine at last. cannot bring my
self to realize it.
1t all seems so simple and common
place. AS Bartlett said when turning
back, when speaking of his being in
these exclusive regions, which no mortal
has ever penetrated before: ut Is just
like every day."
OF course I had my sensations that
made sleep impossible for hours, despite
my utter fatigue-the sensations of a life
time; but 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-
zon with my telescope for possible land,
and searching for a practicable place to
make a sounding
PLAN FOR RETURN TRIP.
Ten hours after our arrival the clouds
cleared before a light breeze from our
left and from that time until our depar-
ture in the afternoon OF April the
weather was cloudless and flawless.
The minimum temperature during the
80 hours was 80 below, the maximum H.
We had reached the goal, but the re-
turn was still before us. 1t was essential
that we reach the land before the next
spring tide, and we must strain every
nerve to do this.
had a brief talk with my men. From
now on it was to be a big travel little
sleep and a hustle every minute.
We would try, l told them, to double
march the ratnrn-fhat ia IN of n p
and cover one of our northwarG
marches, make tea and eat our luncheon
In the igloos, then cover another march
eat and sleep a few hours, and repeat
this daily
SPEED NEARLY DOUBLED.
AS a matter of fact, we nearly die
this, covering regularly on our return
journey five outward marches in three
return marches.
trail we could double our speed, ant
we need waste no time in building
new igloos every day. so that the tim,
we gained on the return lessened tn,
chances of a gale destroying the track
Just above the eighty-seventh paral
lei was a region some fifty miles wild,
which caused me considerable uneasi
ness. Twelve hours of strong easterly
westerly, or northerly wind woult
make this region an open sea.
In the afternoon of the 7th we start
ed on our return. having double fec
the dogs. repaired the sledges for tn,
last time. and discarded all our spar,
clothing to Tighten the loads.
TRIES TO SOUND SEA.
Five miles from the pole a marrow
crack filled with recent ice, through
which we were able to work a hol
with pickax, enabled me to make
sounding. All my wire, 1900 fathoms
was sent down, but there was no bot
tom.
In pulling up the wire parted a fey
fathoms from the surface and lead an
wire went to the bottom. Off went rec
and handle, Tightening the sledges still
| further. We had no more use for ther
now.
Three marches brought US back t
| the igloos where the captain turne
| back. The last march was in the will
| sweep of a northerly gale, with drift
| ing snow and the ice rocking under a
we dashed over it.
NOT DELAYED BY LEADS,
South of where Marvin had turne
| back we came to where his party ha
| built several igloos while delayed b
! npan lands Cfi11 furfhar south -,