Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

through the pores or the skin, satu-
rated the boots. formed a band Of Zee
under the knee and a belt OF frost
about the waist. while the face was
nearly always incased in a mask OF
icicles from the breath-a necessary
part OF our hard lot I'm life. and we
learned TO take the torture phIloso-
phically. From fee Il comes. 10 ice
II goes" like the other elements OF
the body. when the good preacher pro-
nounces the last words "from dust 20
dust"
From the eighty-seventh to the
eighty-eiGhth parallel we passed for
two days over old ice without pressure
lines or hummocks. There was no dis
cernible line OF demarcatiOn for the
fields. and IL was quite impossible 10
determine IL we were on land or sea
Ice. The barometer indicated no Gle
walton. but the ice had the hard. way
ing surface Of glacial fee. with only
superficial crevasses. The water OBJ
tanned from this was not salty. but all
Of the upper surface OF the ice OF the
polar sea makes similar water The
nautical observations did not seem 20
Indicate drift. but nevertheless the
combined fluctuations do not warrant
the positive assertion OF either land or
sea for this area.
An Air Line Course.
This ice gave n cheering prospect. A
plain Of purple and blue ran I'm easy
undulatiOns TO the limits Of vision
without the usual barriers Of uplifted
blocks. over IL a direct air line course
was possible. Progress. however. was
quite as difficult as over the irregular
pack. The snow was crustcd with
large crystals. An increased friction
reduced the speed. while the surface.
too hard for snowshoeS. was also too
weak 10 give a secure footing. The
loneliness. the monotOny. the hardship
Of steady. unrelieved travel were now
kcenly felt
II is not often that mans horscpow-
er is put 10 the test as ours was We
were compelled 20 develop a working
energy 10 the limit OF animal capacity.
Day after day we had pushed along
at the same steady pace over plains OF
frost and through n mental desert
AS the eye opened at the end Of an
icy slumber the tire was lighted little
by little. the stomach was filled with
liquids and solids. mostly cod-enough
10 last for the day. FOR there could be
no halt or waste OF fuel for midday
feeding. We next got into harness
and paced of the days pull under the
lash OF duty. We worked until stand
ing became impossible-longcr In light
winds. shorter In strong winds, but al
ways until the feet became numb and
heavy.
. Then came the arduous task OF build
ing snow house. In this the eyes. no
longer able TO wink. closed. but soon
the empty stomach complained. and Il
was filled up again-nOt with things
that pleased the palate. only hard fuel
10 feed the inner fires. while the ear
sought the soft side OF ice 10 dispel
fatigue; no pleasure I'm mental recre-
alton. nothing to arouse the soul from
it's icy Enclosure.
To eat, TO sleep. TO press one foot
ahead OF the other. was our steady vo-
cation. like the horse to the cart.
but we had not his advantage OF an
agreeable climate and comfortable
stable at night.
Where Madness Sits.
Words and pictures cannot adequate
ly describe the maddening influence
OF this Sameness Of polar glitter, com
bined with bitter winds. extreme cold
and an overworked body. To me there
was always the inspiration OF auiici-
patton OF the outcome OF ultimate sue
cess. but for my young savage com
panions II was torment almost be-
yond endurance. Their WEAKNESS was
made evident by lax use OF the whip
and an Indifferent urging OF the dogs.
They were. however, brave aud faith
full TO the bitter end. seldom allowing
selfish ambitions or uncomfortable
passions seriously TO interfere with the
main effort OF the expedition.
On the morning OF April l3 n strain
OF agitating torment reached a break
ing point For days there had been a
steady cutting wind from the west.
which drove despair to its lowest
reaches. The west again blackened
TO renew its soul deSpairing blast The
sun was screened with ugly vapors.
aud the path was as cherries as the
arctic night
No torment could be worse than that
never ceasing rush OF icy air. Alive
lab bent over his sled and refused TO
move. His dogs turned and looked in
quiringly. / walked over and stood
ey his side. Etukishuk came near and
stood motionless, staring blankly at the
southern skies. Large tears fell from
AhweIobfS evpS and Iilpd a Iifffa FROST
or sadness in the blue Of his own shad-
ow for several minutes. Not a word
was uttered. but knew that each felt
that the time had come 10 free the fet-
tiers of human passions. Slowly Ahwe-
lah said. "Unne sinig pa oo-ah-tonie
i-o-doria cit Is well to dIe-beyond is
impossibe''l.
Titles In Spain.
The assumption Of a title In Spain,