Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-10-08
Ready For the Dash to
the Worlds Farthest
NOrth-.-ExpeditiOn Well
Planned and Equipped
SECOND ARTICLEl

towering bergs to dispel the fire of
arctic midsummer.
As we rushed in comfort past the
Ice polished and wind swept head.
lands the sea was alive with birds
seal and walrus, but little shooting
was done, for we were bent on en-.
joying the quiet sport Of motorboat.
ing.
Arrival at Annootok.
AS we passed the sharp rocks Of
Cairn Point we located nine tents in
a small bay under Cape Ingleaeld.
"Look-there is Annootokp said
Tungan. our native. guide.
Looking up Smith sound, we noted
that the entire channel beyond was
blocked with jam Of hard blue ice.
The northernmost limit of motorboat.
ing had been reached, A perpendicu.
lar cliff served as a pier to which to
fasten the boat. Here 1t could rise
and fall with the tide, and the drifting
ice did not give much trouble.
A dillgent exploration of the town
disclosed the fact that we had reach
ed not only the northernmost town.
but the most prosperous settlement of
the Greenland shore. The best hunt
ers had gathered here for the winter
bear hunt.
Their game catch had been very
lucky. Immense catches of meat Were
strewn along the shore. More than a
hundred dogs voiced the hunt force.
with which Eskimo prosperity is
measured, and twelve long haired
wild men came out to meet us as
friends.
The wealth In food and furs Of this
place fixed my determination on this
spot as base for the polar dash
We were standing at point within
700 miles Of the pole. The strongest
force of men, the best teams Of dogs
and an unlimited supply Of food, com
bined with the equipment on board
the yacht, formed an ideal plant from
which to work out the campaign. The
seeming hopelessness Of the task hac
a kind Of weird fascination for me
Many years Of schooling in both polal
zones and in mountaineering would
serve a useful purpose.
Conditions Right For Dash.
Here was my chance. Here was
everything necessary conveniently
placed within the polar gateway. The
problem was discussed with my col
league. Mr.. Bradley generously vol
unteered to land from the yacht the
food fuel and other supplies we had
provided for local use. There was
abundant trading material to serve
as money.
NV own equipment aboard fol
sledge travelling could be made 70
serve every purpose in the enterprise
The possible combination left abso'
lutely nothing to be desired to insure
success.
Only good health. endurable wealth
or and workable ice were necessary
The expenditure of million dollars
could not have placed an expeditloh
at n better advantage The opportu'
nitv was too good to be lost we
therefore returned to Etah to prepare
for the quest.
strong efforts had been made to
reach the pole from every availaole
quarter. Only the angle between
Alaska and Greenland had been lel'
nntried. In our prospective venture
we aimed to pierce this area OF the
globe. -. 80
n we failed in our main ef1ort we
would at least make a track over
HANK SPOT. with the resources foI
transportation which the Eskimos OF
tered hoped to carry ample supplies
over Ellesmere Land and along the
west coast Of the game land.
There was reason to suppose tna'
we would avoid the troublesome PACK
apitated by the Greenland currents
TSa Eskimos were willing to trust to
tho came resources Of this region 70
feed and ERE the expedition en- route
to the lands end.
Splendid ADVANTAGES oHsrsd,
70 tbeir faith proved correct 1t Of
,orad me a series Of advantages de-
n r 70 every other leader of polar
expeditions, for the movement woul \,
not only be SUPPLIED at the eXpenss .,
the land which it explored put m mel
and dogs would be taken to the battle e
ground in superb training, with tnel n
Vigorous bodies nourished by whole S,l'.
some fresh meat, not the nauseatina
laboratory STUFF which is usually
crowded into the unwilling stomach.
- rr'.,,1,ornore Il afforded me a chance