The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1909-09-16

plies for an increase in the main party
When he left | felt for a moment
pangs of regret as he disappeared in
the distance, but il was only momen-
tary. My work was still ahead. not in
the rear
Bartlett had done good work and had
been "a great help to me. Circumstances
had thrust the brunt OF the pioneering
upon him instead of dividing IL among
several as | had planned.
He had reason to take pride in the
fact that he had bettered the Italian
record by "a degree and "A quarter and
had covered "a distance equal to the
entire distance OF the Italian expcdi-
ton from Franz Josefs land to Cagni's
farthcst north
had given Bartlett this position and
post of honor In command of my
fourth and last supporting party. and
for two reasons: first because OF his
magnificent handling of the Roosevelt:
second, because he had cheerfully stood
between mo and many trfling annoy
anCcs on the expeditions.
Then there was n third reason. II
seemed to mo appropriate in view of
the magnificent British record OF arc
tic work. covering three centuries that
il should be "a British subject who
could boast that, next to an American.
he had been nearest the pole.
Last Struggle at Hand.
with the disappearance of Bartlett 1
turned to the problem before me- This
was that for which | had worked for 80
years, for which l had lived the simple
lfe for which | had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip; for which
| had trained myself as for race, crush
ing down every worry about success
In spite of my years, | felt in trim
fit for the demands of the coming DAYS
ana eager to be on the trail.
AS for my party, my equipment and
my supplies, i was In shape beyond my
most sanEuinc dreams of earliest years
My party might he regarded as an
ideal, which had now come to realization
AS loyal and responsive to my will as
the fingers of my right hand
Party Ideal for Effort.
Four Of them possess the technique OF
dogs. sledccs, ice, and cold as their hcri-
tage. Two OF them, Hansen and Ootam,
were my companions to the farthest point
three years before. Two others. Eginwuk
and SiglOO, were In Clark's division.
which had such narrow escape at that
time, and now were willing to go any
whore with my immediate party and
willing to risk themselves again in any
supporting party.
The iifth was n young man who had
never served before In any expedition.
but who was, If possible even more
willing and eager than the others for
the priuccly gifts-a boat. IA rifle, a shot
gun. ammunition, knives. etc, which |
had promised to each OF them who
reached the pole with me. for he knew
that these riches would enable him to
wrcst from Il stubborn father the girl
whose image filled his hot young heart
Had Confidence in Him.
All had blind confidence so long as
| was with them, and gave no thought
for the morrow, sure that whatever hap
pcncd | should somehow get them back
to land. But ! dealt with the party
equally. l recognized that all it's i'm
petus conferred In me, and that whatever
pace | set 1t would make good. If any
one played out ! would stop for II short
time.
| had no fault to find with the condi-
lions. My dogs were the best the pick
of l22 with which we left Columbia. AL
most all were powerful males. hard as
nails In good flesh. but without "A super
fuous ounce. and. what was better yet
they were all in good spirits.
My Sledges, now that the repairs were
completed, were in good condition. My
supplies were ample for 40 days, and
with the reserve represented by the dogs
themselves, could be made to last 80.
His Program Planned.
Pacing back and forth in tH ice Of the
pressure ridge where the igloos were
built, while my men got their loads
ready for the next marches | settled on
nay program. | decided | should strain
every nerve to make five marches OF Is
miles each. crowdng these marches in
such way as To bring us to the end Of
the hfth long enough before noon to per-
NIT the immediate taking of an observa-
ton for latitude.
Weather and leads permitting. / be-
licvcd | could do this. II my proposed
distances were cut down by any chance
l had two means in reserve for making
up the deficit:
First--ro make the last march q forced
one, stopping to make tea and rest the
dogs but not to sleep.
SeCond-At the end of the NTH march
to make n forced march with light
sledGe a double team Of dogs. and one
or two of the party, leaving the rest In
camp.
Sees Danger In Gale.
Underlying all these calculations was
recognition Of the ever present ncighbor-
hood Of open leads and impossible water.
and the knowledge that Il 24-huur gale
would knock all my plans into a cooked
hat and even put us in imminent peril.
At a little after midnight Of April l.
after few hours of sound sleep, | hit
the trail, leaving the others to break
up camp and follow.
AS | climbed the pressure ridge back
of our igloos | set another hole in my
Delt. the mira since l started. Every
man and dog of US was lean and flat
bellied as "A board and as hard.
Conditions All Favorable.
1t was a fine morning. The wind OF
the last two days had subsidod, and the
going was the best and most equa BILE
of any | had had yet. The foes were
large and old, and clear. and were sur
rounded by pressure ridges. some of
which were almost stupcnduus.
The biggest of them, however, were
easily negotiated, either through some
crevice or up some huge brink. l set
good pace for about ten hours.
Twenty-Five miles took me well be-
You'd the cighty-eighth parallel
While | was building my igloos
long lead forward by the east and
southwest Of us at distance of few
miles
Travel Was Easy.
A few hours sleep and we were on
the trail again. AS the going was now
practically horizontal, we were un-
hampcred ana could travel as long as
we pleased and sleep as little as we
wished,
The weather was fine and the going
like that of the previous day, except
at the beginning, when pickaXes were
required. This and a brief stop at an
At I,. l,a a