Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-02

tue QORS Caught lut luIcSliOub cuIuucr
asm and rushed along at pace which
made 1t difficult for me to keep sufil-
cient advance to set good course.
The horizon was still searched for
something to mark the approaching
boreal center, but nothing unusual was
seen. 1t was the same expanse Of
moving seas Of ice on which we had
lived for 500 miles.
But, looking through gladdened eyes,
the scene assumed new glory. There
were plains Of gold fenaed In purple
walls, with gilded crests. It was one
of the few days on the stormy pack
when all nature smiled with cheering
lights.
From my position a few hundred
yards ahead Of the sleds could not
resist the temptation to turn frequently
to see the movement Of the dog train
with its new fire. In this direction
the color scheme was reversed. The
icy walls were in gold and burning col.
ors, while the plains represented every
shade of purple and blue.
At the North Pole.
Through this sea Of color the dogs
came with a spirited tread, noses down.
tails up and shoulders braced to the
straps like chariot horses. The young
Eshmos, chanting songs Of love, came
with easy step. The long whip was
swung with brisk crack, and all over
there rose a cloud Of frosted breath.
Camp was pitched early In the morn
ing Of April 20. The sun was north
east; the pack glowed In tones Of lilac;
the normal westerly air Of shivers
brushed our frosty faces. The surpris-
ing burst Of enthusiasm had been
nursed to Its limits. and under It long
march was made over average ice
with the usual result Of overbearing
fatigue. Too tired and sleepy to wait
for a cup Of tea. melted SHOWS were
poured down and the pemmican was
pounded with the ak to ease the task
of the jaws. The eyes closed before
the meal was finished, and the world
was lost to us for eight hours. The
observation gave latitude SO degrees
1876 minutes, longitude 94 degrees 81
minutes.
With the boys singing and the dogs
bowling we started OF after midnight
on April II. The dogs looked large
and noble as they came along that
day, while Etukishuk and Ahwelah,
though thin and ragged, had dignity
as heroes Of the greatest human bat
tie which had ever been fought with
remarkable success.
We were all lifted to the paradise OF
winners as we stepped over the SHOWS
Of DESTINY for which we had risked
life and willingly suffered the fortunes
Of an icy hell.
The ice under Us seemed almost ga
cred. When therpedometer registered
fourteen and a faif miles we camped
and calmly went to sleep. feeling that
we were turning on the earth's axis.
The observations. ho- ~er. gave az
degrees 30 minutes 40 ec0nds. We
therefore had the pole. or the exact
spot where 1t should be. within sight
We advanced the fifteen seconds.
made supplementary observations.
pitched the tent. built snow igIoo
and prepared to make ourselves COM
Portable for a stay long enough for two
rounds of observations.
Our position was thus doubly assur.
ed, and a necessary day of rest was
gained. Etukishuk and Ahwelah en-
joyed the day in quiet repose. but
slept very little. My goalsras reach.
ed; the ambition of my life had been
fulfilled. How could sleep away
such overwhelming moments of ella.
don?
The Dream Realized.
At last we had reached the boreal
center. The dream of nations had been
realized. The race Of centuries was
ours. The flag was pinned to the GOV.
eted pole. The year was 1908. the day
April 21.
The sun indicated local noon. but
time was q negative problem. for here
! all meridians meet. With step 1t was
possible to 60 from one part OF the
globe to the opposite side-from the
hour of midnight to that Of midday.
Here there are but one day and one
night in each year. The latitude was
80 degrees, the temperature -S8.7. the
atmospheric pressure 1888. North.
east and west had vanished. 1t was
south in every direction, but, the COM
pass, pointing to the magnetic pole,
was as useful as ever.
Though overjoyed with the success
Of the conquest our spirits began to
change on the next day after all the
observations had been taken and the
local conditions were studied. A sense
Of intense loneliness came with care
full scrutiny Of the horizon. What
chJerless spot to have aroused the am
bition of man for so many ages! End
less fields of purple SHOWS! No life. no
land, no spot, to relieve the monotony
of frost. We were the only pulsating
creatures in dead world Of Ice.
On April %. 1908. DR.. Cook began
the long return march. With fan.
weather. good ice and the inspiration
Of the home run long distances were
at first quickly covered.
With a good deal Of anxiety Cook
watched the daily reduction Of the
food supply. 1t now became evident
that the crucial stage Of the campaign
was to be transferred from the taking
of the pole to a final battle for life
against famine and frost. Early In
July farther southwark progress be-
came impossible. and In quest Of food
he crossed the Firth Of Devon into
Jones sound. On Feb. IS, 1909. the
start was made for Annootok. With
newly prepared equipment the Green
land shores were reached on April Is.
Here DR.. Cook was greeted by Harry
Whitney and anxious Eskimo friends.
To facilitate an early return he moved
southwark to the Danish settlement
and reached Upernavik on May q,
1oOo