The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-09-11
THIBoDAUx La. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER II. 1909

~.
We secured 101 musk oxen, seven
bears and 335 hares. We pushed
out into the polar sea from the south
ern point of Herbsrt Island on March
Is. Six Esquimos returned from
here. With four men and forty
six dogs moving supplies for eighty
days, the crossing the circumpolar
pack was begun. Three days later
two other Esquimos, forming the last
supporting party. returned, and the
trials had now been reduced by the
survival of, the fittest. The two best
men and twenty-six dogs were picked
for the final effort.
There before us in an AFunknown
line Of $50 miles layaQAE goal. The
/ hrst& days provided 1ong1marches and
we made encouraging progress. A big
gap which separated the land from
the ice OF the central pack was cross
ed with little delay. The low temper
ature was persistent and the winds
I =,
in our snow houses, eating dried
beef tallow and drinking hot tea,
there were some animal comforts oc-
casionally to be gained
"For several days after the sight
| of known land was lost, the overcast
sky prevented an accurate determi-
nation of our position On March
80, the horizon was partly cleared
and new land was discovered. Our
observations gave our position as
latitude 84.47; longitude 1856.
There was urgent need of rapid
advance. Our main mission did not
permit a detour for the purpose of
exploring thls coast. Here were seen
| the last signs of solid earth; beyond
there was nothing stable to be seem
1--WE advanced steadily over the
| monotony of moving sea ice and now
found ourselves beyond the range of
all nfe-neither footprints of bears
nor the blow-hole of seals were de-
tected. Even the microscopic crea-
lures of the deep were no longer un-
der us. The maddening influence of
the shifting desert of frost became
almost unendurable in the daily rou-
time. The surface of the pack Of
fered less and less trouble and the
weather improved, but there still re-
manned the life sapping wind which
drove despair to it's lowest recess.
The extreme cold compelled physical
action.
Thus day after day our weary
legs spread over big distances. In
cidents and positions were recorded,
but adventure was promptly forgot
ten In the next days efforts. The
night Of April Z was made notable
by the sinking OF the sun at mid
night over the northern Ice. Sum
burns and frost bites, we're recorded
o. the same day, bat the double
rays glitter infused quite an incen-i
tive into ones life OF shiyers.
Our observations on April 8 plac-
ed the camp In latitude 86:36; long,
itude 94.2.
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 pressure lines and high,
irregular fields of ice. A very old ice
drift too, was driving eastward with
sufficient force to give some anxiety.
Although still equal to about fifty
miles daily the extended marches
and the long hours for travelling
were no longer possible. We were
now about 200 miles from the pole
and sledge loads we're reduced. One
dog after another went into the
stomachs of the hungry survivors
until the teams were considerably
diminished in number, but there
seemed to remain sufficient balance |
for man and brute to push along |
into the heart of the mystery to !
which we had set ourselves.
ION April 81, we had reached SO
degrees; SO minutes, 46 seconds. The |
pole was In sight. We covered the
remaining IA seconds and made q |
few final observations. told Etuki-
shook and Ahwelsh (the accompa-
nying Eskimos) that we had reach
ed the great nail
Everywhere we turned, our way |
was south. With single step we
could pass from one side of the
earth to the other; from midday to |
midnight. At last the flag floated to
the breezes at the pole.
"It was April Fl, 1908. The tenn
perature was minus 38 centigrade,
barometer 1888; latitude 80; as
for the longitude, it was nothing as
it was but word.
Although crazed with joy our |
spirits began to undergo feeling OF
WEAKNESS. Next day, after taking all |
our observations, a sentiment of in
tense solitude penetrated us while |
we looked at the horizon. Was it |
possible that this desolate region,
without patch of earth, had arous-
ed the ambition Of 80 many men for |
SO many centuries. There was no |
ground, only an immensity of daz-
zling white snow; no living being, no
point to break the frightful monoto- |
ny. /
"On April 20 we started on our
return"
Cupid denies all connection with |
bargaincounter marriages.
The wise man keeps his temper |