Amador ledger., 1909-10-29
of the Pole
Ready For the Dash to
the Worlds Farthest
North---ExpeditiOn Well
Planned and Equipped
IsEcoND ARTIcLEl

Se glad TO see us. Here was the
chance to arrange iuuut in the mo-
torbOat The tanks were filled. suit
able food aud camp equipment were
loaded. aud Off we started on the
morning Of Aug. u for mans ultima
Thule.
II was Il beautiful day. with light
air from The sea Passing inside of
Littleton island. we searched for rel
les along Lifeboat cove. The desoate
cliffs of Cape Hntherton were blaze
of color and light. but the sea was
refreshingly cool. with fleets of blue
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 wulrus. but little shooting
was done. for we were bent on en-
joying the quiet sport of niotorboat-
ing.
Arrival at Annootok.
AS we passed the sharp rocks of
Cairn Point we located nine tents in
small bay under Cape Inglefield.
"Look-there is Annootokv' said
TunGan. our native guide.
Looking up Smith sound. we noted
that the entire channel beyond was
blocked with jam of hard hue ice.
The norhernmost limit of motorboat-
ing had been reached. A perpendicu
lar cliff served as pier to which to
furtnu fI@ = n vst-
and fall with the tide. and the drifting
ice did not give much trouble.
A diiigent exploration of the town
disclosed he 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 nthered here for the winter
bear hunt.
Their game catch had been very
lucky. Immense clutches of meat were
strewn along the shore. More than Il
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
100 miles of the pole. The strongest
force of men. the hest teams of dogs
aud an unlimited supply of food. com
bned vii h the equipment on board
the yacht, formed an ideal plant from
which to work out the campaign. The
seeming hOpeleSSneSs of the task had
a kind of weird fascination for me.
Many years of schooling in both polar
zones and in mountaineering would
serve 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.
My own equipment aboard for
sledge travelling could be made TO
serve every purpose in the enterprise.
The possible combination left abso-
lutely nothing to he desired TO insure
success.
Only good health. Pndurable wealth
er and workable ice were necessary.
The expenditure of Il million dollars
could not have placed an expedition
ut better advantage. The opportu-
nity was too good to he lost. We
therefore returned to Etah to prepare
for the quest.
Strong efforts had been made TO
reach the pole from every available
quarter. Only the angle between
Alaska and Greenland had been left
untried. In our prospective venture
we aimed to pierce this area of the
globe.
If we failed in our main effort we
would at least make Il track over Il
blank spot. With the resources for
TRANSFORMATION which the Eskimos Of
fered hoped to carry ample supplies
over Ellesmere Land and along the
west coast OF the game land.
There was reason TO suppose tnat
we would avoid the troublesome pack
agitated by the Greenland currents.
The Eskimos were willing to trust TO
the game resources OF this region to
feed and fire the expedition en- route
to the lands end.
Splendid Advantages offered.
II their faith proved correct. it Of
fered me series of advantages de-
MED TO every other leader of polar
expeditions. for the movement would
not only be supplied at the expense Of
the land WHICH II explored, but men