Evening journal., 1909-10-07
DIFFICULT Area 17zo<ee,.zzzeay ~. 15 COOK

! movement Of the dog train with its new
dre In this direction the color scheme
was reversed. The icy walls were in gold
and burning colors, while the plains rep
resented every shade Of purple and blue.
At the North Pole.
Through this sea Of color the dogs
came with spirited tread. noses down,
calls up and shoulders braced to the
straps like chariot horses. The young
Eskimos. chanting songs Of love, came
with easy step. The long whip was
swung with a brisk crack. and all over
there rose a cloud Of frosted breath, "a
certain signal of efficient motive power,
which an easy southern air was driving
poleward.
Camp was pitched early in the morn
ing of April 20 The sun was northeast.
the pack glowed in tones of lilac, the
normal westerly air of shivers brushed
our frosty faces. the surprising burst of
enthusiasm had been nursed to its limits
and under it a long march was made
over average ice with the usual result of
overbearins fatigue. Too tired and sleepy
to wait for a cup Of tea, melted SHOWS
were poured down and the pemmican
was pounded with the axe to ease the
task of the jaws. The eyes closed before
the meal was finished and the world was
lost to us for eight hours The Observa-
tion gave latitude 50 deg. 46.5 min.
longitude "a deg. 50 min.
With the boys singing and the dogs
bowling we started off after midnight on
! April II. The dogs looked large and
noble as they came along that day, while
Etukishook and Ahwelah. though thin
and ragged. had a dignity as heroes OF
the greatest human battle which had
ever been fought with remarkable sue
cess.
We were all lifted to the paradise Of
winners as we steDped over the SHOWS Of
/ q destiny for which we had risked life
and willingly suffered the tortures of an
/ icy hell
The ice under us seemed almost sacred.
/ When the pedometer registered fourteen
and half miles we camped and calmly
went 20 sleep, feeling that we were turn
ing on the earth's axis.
The observations. however. gave 50 deg.
% min. 40 sec. We therefore had the
pole, or the exact spot where it should be,
within sight.
We advanced the fifteen seconds. made
supplementary observations, pitched the
tent, built a snow igloo and prepared to
make ourselves comfortable for a stay
long enough for two rounds of obserYa-
tons
Our position was thus doubly assured
and 4 necessary day Of rest was gained.
Etukishook and Ahwelah enjoyed the day
in quiet repose But ] slept very Titles
my goal was reached. the ambition OF my
life had been fulfilled: how could ! sleep
away such Overwhelming moments Of
elstionI
The Dream Realized.
At last we had reached the boreal ecu
tire. The dream Of nations had been re.
allied. The race of centuries was ours
The dag was pinned 10 the coveted pole
The year was 1908. the day April 81.
The sun indicated local noon. but time
was a negative problem. for here all merid-
ians meet With a step Il was possible
10 go from one part OF the globe TO the
opposite side. from the hour of midnight
10 that Of midday. Here there is but one
day and one night in each year. The lati-
tude was 90 deg. the temperature -SS7,
the atmospheric pressure 29.S3. North.
east and west bad vanished. IL was south
in every direction. but the compass point
ing 10 the magnetic pole. was as useful as
ever.
Though overioyed with the success Of
the conquest our spirits began to change
on the next day after all the observations
had been taken and the local conditions
were studied. 4 sense Of intense loneii-
ness came with a careful scrutiny Of the
horizon. What a cheerless spot to have
aroused the ambition Of man for so many
ages Endless helds Of purple SHOWS.
No life. no land. no sDot TO relieve the
monotouy Of frost. We were the only
pulsating creatures in dead world Of ice.
End OF EIescntb Lnstalnent.