The new era., 1909-09-23

program was for him to 20 back from
here In command of the fourth sup
porting party. and there were no sup
plies for an increase in the main party.
When he left 1 felt for moment
pangs OF regret as he disappeared In
the distance. but 1t was only momen-
tary. My work was still ahead. not in
the rear.
Bartlett had done good work and had
bsen great help to me. Circumstances
had thrust the brunt of the pioneering
upon him instead of dividing 1t among
several. as 1 had planned.
He had reason to take pride in the
fact that he had bettered the Italian
record by degree and a quarter and
had covered a distance equal to the
entire distance of the Italian expedi-
tion from Franz Josef's land to Cagnis
farthest 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 me and many trifiing annoy
ances on the expeditions.
Then there was a third reason. It
seemed to me appropriate in view of
the magnificent British record of arc
tic work. covering three centuries. that
1t should be 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
turned to the problem before me. This
was that for which I had worked for 80
years. for which / had lived the simple
life: for which I had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip; for which
I had trained myself as for a race. crush
ing down every worry about success.
In Vr,ty FaIk L., Ali.
At for the demands of the coming days
and eager to be on the trail.
Al for my party, my equipment, and
my supplies. l was in shape beyond my
most sanguine dreams of earliest years.
My party might be regarded as an
ideal. whrcn 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. sedges. Ice. and cold their heri-
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 a narrow escape at that
time. and now were willing to go any
where with my immediate party. and
willing to risk themselves again In any
supporting party.
The fifth was young man who had
never served before in any expedition.
but who was. II possible. even more
willing and eager than the others for
the princely gifts-a boat. a 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
wrest from a stubborn father the girl
whose image filled his hot young heart.
Had Confidence In Him.
All had bllno confidence so long as
I was with them. and gave no thought
for the morrow, sure that whatever hap
pened I should somehow get them back
to land. But l dealt with the party
equally. l recognized that all its i'm
petus centered in me. and that whatever
pace set 1t would make good. II any
one played out, ! would stop for q short
time.
had no fault to find with the condi-
tions. My dogs were the best. the pick
of 122 with which we left Columbia. AL
most all were powerful males. hard as
nails. in good flesh. but without super-
tluous 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 so.
His Program Planned.
Pacing back and forth In tn ice of the
pressure ridge where the igloos were
built. while my men got their loads
ready for the next marches. l settled on
my program. 1 decided ! should strain
every nerve to make five marches of lo
miles each. crowding these marches in
such a way as to bring us to the end of
the fifth long enough before noon to per-
NIT the immediate taking of an observa-
ton for latitude.
lieved l 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-To make the last march forced
one. stopping to make tea and rest the
dogs. but not to sleep.
Second-At the end of the fifth march
to make a forced march with light
sledge, 4 double team of dogs. and one
two of the party. leaving the rest in
camp.
Sees Danger In Gale.
Underlying all these calculations was
recognition of the ever present neghbor-
hood of open leads and impossible water.
and the knowledge that 4-hour gale
would knock all my plans into cooked
hat. and even put us in imminent peril.
At 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 I set another hole In my
man and dog of us was lean and fiat
bellied as a board and hard.
Conditions All Favorable.
1t WAS a fine morning. The wind Of
the last two days had subsided. and the
going was the best and most equable
of any l had had yet. The foes were
large and old. and clear. and were sur
rounded by pressure ridges. some of
which were almost stupendous.
The biggest Of them. however. were
easily negotiated either through some
crevice or up some huge brink. set
a good pace for about ten hours.
Twenty-Five miles took me well be-
yond the eighty-eighth parallel.
While was building my igloos
long lead forward by the. east and
miles.
Travel Was Easy.
A few hours sleep and we were on
It J trail again. AS the going was now