Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-09-23

ninth parallel In q temperature OF 40
degrees below. Again Hcnnt sleep
and we were on our way once more
and across the eighty-ninth parallel.
This march duplicated the previous
one as to weather and going. The last
few hours it was on young ice and oc-
casionally tho dogs were galloplng.
We made twenty-five miles or more,
the air, tho sky. and the bitter wind
burning the face till II cracked II was
like the great interior Ice gap of
Greenland. Even the natives com
planned Of the bitter air. 1t was as
keen as frozen steel.
A little longer sleep than the prevI-
Gus one had to be takqi ere. as we
were all in need OF It. m n on again.
Up to this time. with each successive
march, our fear OF an lmpassable lead
had Increased. At every inequality OF
the Ice found myself hurrying breath
essly forward, fearing that 1t marked a
lead, and when arrived at the summit
would catch my breath with relief-only
to find myself hurrying on in the same
way at the next one.
But on this march. by some strange
shift of feeling, this fear fell from me
completely. The weather was thick but
1t gave me no uneasiness.
Before turned In took an observa-
ton which Indicated our position as 80
degrees 25 minutes.
low reduced the friction OF the sledges
and gave the dogs the appearance OF
having caught the spirits OF the party
The more sprightly ones, as they went
Along with tightly curled tails. frequent
ly tossed their heads. with short, sharp
banks and yelps.
In ~ hours we had made 40 miles.
There was no sign OF a lead In the
march,
ARRIVAL AT THE POLE.
I had now made my Ave marches. and
was In time for hasty noon observation
through temporary break in the clouds,
which Indicated our position as 1857 /
quote an entry from my Journal some
hours later;
The pole at last. The prize Of three
centuries my dream and goal for 20
years. mine at last. cannot bring my
self to realize II.
1t all seems so simple and common
place. As Bartlett said when turning
back, when speaking OF his being In
these exclusive regions, which no mortal
has ever penetrated before: ut Is Just
like every day."
OF course / had my sensations that
made sleep impossible for hours, despite
my utter fatgue-the sensations OF a life
time; but have no room for them here.
The first 30 hours at the pole were
spent in taking observations; IN going
some ten miles beyond our camp and
some eight miles to the right of IT. in
taking photographic, planting my flags
depositing my records, studying the horl-
zon with my telescope for possible land
and searching for a practicable place to
make q sounding.
PLAN FOR RETURN TRIP.
Ten hours after our arrival the clouds
cleared before light breeze from our
left and from that time until our depar-
ture in the afternoon OF April Z the
weather was cloudless and nawless.
The minimum temperature during the
% hours was % below. the maximum Ia.
We had reached tho goal, but the re-
/ turn was stll before us. 1t was essential
/ that we reach the land before the next
spring tide, and we must strain every
\ nerve to do this.
had brief talk with my men, From
now on It was to be big travel. little
sleep and hustle every minute.
4 we would try. i. told them, to double
march on the returns a 81 IL, 10 start
and cover one OF our northward
marches. make tea and eat our luncheon
In the igloos, then cover another march,
eat and sleep few hours. and repeat
this daily.
SPEED NEARLY DOUBLED.
AS matter OF fact, we nearly did
this. covering regularly on our return
journey five outward marches in three
1sreturn marches.
Just as long as we could hold the
tran we could double our speed and
we need waste no time in building
new igloos every day SO that the time
we gained on the return lessened the
chances of a gale destroying the track.
Just above the eighty-seventh paral-
| lei was region some Atty miles wide
which caused me considerable uneasi-
h ness. Twelve hours of strong easterly,
westerly, or northerly wind would
make this region an open sea.
In the afternoon of the 9TH we start
ed on our return. having double fed
the dogs. repaired the sledges for the
last time. and discarded all our spare
clothing to tighten the loads.
TRIES TO SOUND SEA.
Five miles from the pole narrow
crack filled with recent ice. through
which we were able to work a hole
with a pickax, enabled me to make a
sounding. All my wire. 1900 fathoms
was sent down. but there was no bot
tom.
!, In pulling up, the wire parted few
fathoms from the surface and lead and
wire went to the bottom. on went rec
and handle, Tightening the siedges still
further. We had no more use for them
now.
Three marches brought us back tc
the igloos where the captain turned
back The last march was in the wild
sweep of a northerly gale, with drift
ing snow and the Ice rocking under as
we dashed over II.
NOT DELAYED BY LEADS.
South of where Marvin had turnec
back we came to where his party hae
built several igloos while delayed b,
open leads. Still further south WI
found where the captain had been helt
up by an open lead and obliged e
camp.
Fortunately the movement of thes,
leads was simply open and shut. and h
took considerable water motion to fauir
the trail seriously
While the captain. Marvin, and as
found later. Borup. had been delayed
by open leads, we seemed to bear !
charm and with no single lead were w.
delayed more than couple Of hours
Sometimes the ice was fast and arm