Arizona republican., 1909-09-02

saw the last signs of solid earth. There was nothing stable to be seen. We ad- Yanced steadily over the monotony oi moving sea ice and now found our selves beyond the range of all life neither foot prints bears nor the blow i holes of seals were detected. Even the microscopic creatures of the deep were no longer under us.
 Moved to Keep Warm
 "The maddening influence of the ! shifting desert of frost became almost uncomfortable in the daily routine. The surf of the pack offered less and less trouble and the weather improved but there still remained the life-sapping wind which drove despair to its low rest recess. Extreme cold compelled physical action. Thus day after day our weary legs spread over big dis tances. Incidents and positions were recorded, but adventure was 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 Sea. Sunburns and frost bites now were recorded on the oeliilt higs Oul liC detg ter infused quite an incentive into ones life shivers.
 "Our observations on April plac- ed the camp in latitude S63G longi- tude 942. In spite of what seemed long marches we advanced but little over a hundred miles. Much of our work was lost in circuitous twists around troublesome ice pressure lines and high irregular fields. A very old ice drift, too. was driving eastward with sufficient force to give some anxiety. Although still equal to about fifteen miles daily, the extend ed marches and the long hours for travelling with which fortune favored us earlier were no longer possible
 we were now about 200 miles from the pole and the sledge loads were reduced. One dog after another went into the stomachs of the hungry survivors until the teams were con- siderably diminished in number. but there seemed to remain a sufficient balance for man and brute to push along into the heart of the mystery to which we had set ourselves.
 The Great Nail"
 "On April 21 we reached S9 de- grees, 59 minutes and 46 seconds The pole was in sight. We covered the remaining fourteen seconds and made a few final observations. told Etukishook and Ahwelsh (the accom- panying Eskimos) that We had reached the great nail" Every where we turned was south. With a single step we could pass from one side of the earth to the other, from midday to midnight.
 The American Flag.
 At last the flag floated to the breeze at the pole. It was April 21, 1908. The temperature was minus 3S centigrade, barometer 29.S3, latitude 90; as for longitude. 1t was nothing. as it was but word. Although crazy with joy our spirits began to undergo a feeling of weariness. Next day after taking all our observation a sentiment of intense solitude pre- vailed while we looked at the horizon. Was it possible that this desolate re- zion, without path of earth, had aroused the ambition of so many men for so many centuries? There was no ground only an immensity of dazzling white snow, no living being, no point to break the frightful mon otony. On April g we started on our return"
 The dream of finding the north pole has for centuries lured explorers, sci entists and daring adventurers.
 That this dream has now become a reality rests upon reports cabled from Copenhagen. apparently through an official source and upon Dr. Cooks express declaration in a dispatch to the observatory at Brussels from Ter wick.
 Several days must elapse before any confirmation is available. The Dan ish government steamer Hans Egede has left Lerwick. Shetland Islands, bound for Copenhagen, where she is due next Saturday.
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