The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-09-10

There was urgent need OF rapid
advance Our main mission ala MOI
permit Of detour for the purpose of
exploring the coast
Last Signs Of Solid Earth.
Here were seen the last signs az
solid earth; beyond there was moth
ing stable to be seen.
We advanced steadily over the
monoiony OF moving sea ice. and now
found ourselves beyond The range ~
all life neither footprints or bears
nor the blow hole Of seals were de-
tected. Even the miscroscopic Great
ufes Of the deep were no longer un-
der us
The maddening influence of the
shifting desert OF frost became al.
most uncomfortable in the daily rou:-
inc
The surface Of the pack offered
less and less trouble and the weather
improved, but there still remained the
life-sapping wind which drove despair
to It's lowest recess. The extreme
cold compelled action.
Day After Day Over Big Distances.
Thus day after day our weary legs
spread over big distances Incidents
and positions We're recorded. but al.
venture vas promptly forgotten in
the next days efforts
The night Of April was made
notable by the swinging Of the sun at
midnight over the northern ice.
Suuburns and frosibites now were
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
me camp IN latitude $3.50. longitude
94.2
In spite Of what seemed long
marches. We advanced but little over
100 miles. Much Of our work was
lost In circuitous twists. around troub-
lesome pressure lines and high ir-
regular fields.
A very old ice drift, too. was driv-
ing eastward with sufficient force TO
give some anxiety. Although still
equal 10 about fifty miles daily. the
extended marches and the long hours
for travelling with which fortune ia
yored US earlier were 10 longer pos
sible
We were now about 200 miles from
the pole, and sledge loads were re-
duced.
Dogs Used as Food.
"One dog after another went i3to
the stomachs OF the hungry survivors.
until the teams were considerably di- |
minished in number. but there seemed I
10 remain sufficient balance for /
man and brute to push along into the |
heart Of the mystery TO which we had /
set ourselves
ON April p We had reached SO de- |
grees 80 minutes &c seconds
North Pole At Last in Sight.
The pole was in sight
we covered the remaining four |
teen seconds and made lew final /
observations.
Il told EtukishoOk ana Ahwelsh I
Uhe accompanying Eshimosl that we /
had reached the great nall
Everywhere we turned was south I
with a single step We could pass \
from one side OF the earth TO the I
other-from midday To midnight.
AT last the flag hoated TO the \
breezes at the pole.
1T was April n. 1905
The temperature was minus 80 \
centrigrade, barometer 29S3. latitude \
90: as for the longitude it was moth ,
lilEs az IL WIS uul "a MOiu.
Although crazy with JOY. our
spirits began to undergo feeling of |
WEAKNESS.
Next day. after taking all our OBJ
servations. a sentiment OF intense
solicitude penetrated us while We
looked at the horizon.
WAS it possible that this region
without q patch OF earth had aroused
- -
many centuries?
There was no ground only an i'm
mensity Of dazzling white snow: no
living being. no point TO break the
frightful monotonv.
"On April % we started on our re-
turn"
The conquerinc of the north by Or.
Cook was achieved with remarkable
lack OF publicity that has been given
practically every other expedition
against the power OF the ice god
Comparatively few people knew OF
the event when IN the little schooner
John r. Bradley he weighed anchor
and sailed north from Sydney, n. s.
The vessel was equipped and furnish
ed by Or. Roswell o. Stebbns. AID
the master OF the vessel and its crew
were not informed Of the purposes of
the trip.
DR. Cook. a man experienced in arc
tic exploration. had ideas Of his own
as to methods by which the pole
could be reached. He had accompa-
MED the Peary expedition OF 1891 as a
surgeon. and he won fame for his
GOODNESS and courage by leading a
party Of explorers 10 safety in an open
boat through a dangerous sea He
had commanded an expedition of
sportsmen. explorers aad scientists
into the polar regions. where he made
important observations and described
them in accepted geographical works.
Decorated by Belgian Navy.
He had been attached to Belgian
antarctic expedition and on account
OF his courage and resourcefulness
saved the entire party from death
For this he was decorated by King
Leopold.