The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-04

| TIC DOuy VI MS iIlOuus DuI ACA'
minute he started up with an in
describable cry, and shouted
"Alive! alivei"
"Yes!" said feeble voice, yes
alive at the north pole, on Queens
island"
"Hurrah for England" shouted
all with one accord.
"And for America" added
Clawbonny, holding out one hand
to Hatteras and the other to Alta.
mont.
| Duke was not behind with his
hurrah, which was worth quite as
| much as the others.
| For a few minutes the joy OF
recovery of their captain filled all
their hearts, and the poor fellows
could not restrain their tears.
The doctor found, on examina-
ton, that he was not seriously
hurt. The wind had thrown him
on the coast where landing was
perilous work, but, after being
driven back more than once into
the sea, the hardy sailor had man.
aged to scramble on to rock and
gradually to hoist himself above
the waves.
Then he must have become in
sensible, for he remembered moth
ing more except rolling himself in
his flag. He only awoke to con-
seriousness with the loud barking
and caresses of his faithful Duke.
After little Hatteras was able
to stand up, supported by the doc
tor, and tried to get back to the
sloop.
He kept exclaiming, 1.-The pole!
the north pole!"
you are happy now?" said his
friend.
Yes, happy! And aren't you!
Isn't it joy to find yourself here!
The ground we tread is round the
pole! The air we breathe is the air
that blows round the pole! The
sea we have crossed is the sea
which washes the pole! Oh! the
north pole! the north pole!"
He had become quite delirious
with excitement, and fever burned
in his veins. His eyes shone with
unnatural brilliancy, and his
brain seemed on fire. Perfect rest
was what he most needed, for the
doctor found 1t impossible to quiet
him.
A place of encampment must
therefore be fixed upon immedi-
ately.
Altamont speedily discovered a
grotto composed of rocks which
had so fallen as to form a sort
of cave. Johnson and Bell car
ried in provisions and gave the
dogs their liberty.
About IL o'clock, breakfast, or
rather dinner, was ready, consist
ing of pemmican, salt meat, and
smoking hot tea and coffee.
But Hatteras would do nothing
till the exact position Of the island
was ascertained, so the doctor had
Altamont set to work with their
instruments and found that the
exact latitude of the grotto was
IS9 degrees So minutes Is seconds.
The 80 degree of latitude was
then only about three-quartres of
a mile off, or Just about the sum-
NIT of the volcano.
When the result was given to
Hatteras, he had a formal docu-
ment drawn up to attest the fact
land two copies made, one of
which should be deposited on a
cairn on the island.
Clawbonny was the scribe, and
indited the following document,
a copy of which is now among the
archives of the Royal Geographic
al society of London:
ION this 18th day of July, 1851
in north latitude 50 degrees 80
minutes is seconds, was discov-
cred Queens island at the north
pole, by Capt. Hatteras, COM
mander of the brig Forward of
Liverpool, who signs this, as also
all his companions.
"Whoever may find this docu-
ment is requested to forward IL to
the admiralty.
(Signed) JOHN HATTERAS,
| Commander Of the Forward.
"DR. CLAWBONNY.
."ALTAMONT, Commander OF
the PorpOise.
JOHNSON, Boatswain.
BELL Carpenter"
And now, friends. come to
table," said the doctor. merrily.
Coming to table was just squat
ting on the ground.
But Who" said Clawbonny,
"would not give all tho tables and
lining rooms In the world to dino
at SO degrees SO minutes and IS
seconds north latftude:"
1t was an exciting occasion
this first meal at the pole!
What neither ancfents nor
moderns. neither Europeans, nor
Americans, nor Asiatics had been