New-York tribune., 1909-03-24
WITHIN Ill MILES
OF SOUTH POLE
LIEUT.. SH4CKLETON SETS
NEW MARX.
Men of British antarctic Expeditions
Haul SIedges OJer CreUasse
BurrOzced Glacier.

gradually yielding up their secrets 10 nuhlaH
perseverance and determination Lieutenant
Ernest II. Shackleton. of the British navy, who
left his permanent quarters last autumn for a
dash TO the pole. having succeeded. after
arduous sedge journey OF Los miles. whic6
occupied 126 days. in reaching within III miles
of the South Pole. S54 miles nearer than the
point attained by the Discovery expedition. or
which he was an officer. AS the expedition to
the south undertaken rather for the pur-
poses Of geograp phical survey than with the idea
of reaching the pole itself it may be said tn
have succeeded beyond the most sanguine- ex-
pectations.
Prohting by former experiences IN the Ant
arctic regions when all the dogs succumbed 10
the strain and rigors OF the climate. Lieutenant
Shackleton made some departures from the
usual preparations for a journey across the
snow and ice. He took with him motor car,
which could be converted into a sledge- and
substituted ponies for dogs and light woOllen
clothing for heavy furs-
The main expedition, OF which Lieutenant
shackleton in command. reached latitude
SS: % longitude 162 east. while a second party
pushed forward to the southern magnetic pole.
reaching latitude 72:2J. longitude 154 east The
British flag was left flying at both points.
The narrative Of Lieutenant Shackleton's
achievements shows that the expedition endured
the greatest trials and privatiOns- The motor
which useful IN tne preliminary
p4ditions. failed on the uneven surface OF the
barrier ice Briefly summarized. the results or
the expedition are that point was reached
within III miles Of the South Pole; the magnetic
poIe was also reached: eight mountain chains
were discovered. and one hundred mountains
Mount Erebus. -,,.t2O feet in altitude was as .
cended by the party; new coast and hlsn
mountains were located running west from VIC
toriaIand and coal measures we're d1scoveFed IN
the Antarctic continent The theory OF the ex-
fstence Of an area OF atmospheric calm arouna
the South Pole disproved.
Lieutenant shackIeton thus describes the dash
for the pole
The southern party. composed OF Adams
Marshal Wild and myself. with four ponies and
a supporting party consisting Of Brocklehurst'
Jovce Marson. Armytage and Priestley. left
Cane Rovd on October %. 1905 on November
we left Hut Point with ninety-ons days pro-
visions but were held up on White Island Wnicn
we reached on November >. for four DAYS by
blizzard The supporting party returned to the
permanent quarters on November !. Owing to-
| the bad light among the Ice crevasses Aoan,S
| and mis- pony were nearly lost
SHOOT PONY FOR FOOD
&c. few davs later We reached the depot az
latitude 1926. longitude 16S east, where we ap-
propriated the maize and other provisions pre-
viousIy left there We commenced 10 redu-7 our
daily rations and travelled south along merldian
les over a varying surface of ridges ana noun
tafns of snow alternating with soft snow IN
which the ponies often sank TO their bellles-
In latitude s1.O4 we shot a pony and made
da,o+ Of oil biscuit and pony meat taking the
-a,,afnder of the pony meat TO exc out our dried
ro+iona We reached the Discoverys southern-
r,ostalatitude on November 26- The surface no"
became soft with large undulations- Inc poiiieS
were attacked by snow blindness. and the sec
ond Of them was shot, a depot being maze ln
1stttude s245 longitude 10 ON November %
we killed third pony
..ctserins south and southeast We were no"
ap,roaching a high range OF new mountains.
t5fe- +o the southeast. on December 3 VS.
sfoo,ered a glacier 120 miles long and approx
t,e+alv 40 miles wide running in a south ana
o+b1rasterlv direction. and on December Ws
started to ascend 1t at latitude SS-SS' loisitu7
10 The glacier was full OF bad creVasses ss tns
-ssrIt Of tremendous pressure IL TOOK lhe "hOi7
Of the next day for to fight our way SIX nun
dred wards. There were many dangers 70 %
faced for at any moment one might U 'liiO''"
into some unknown depth
CpEvAsSE SWALLOWS LAST POM
AS il was. on December Z. the iast remain
inc nonv broke through snow I'D ana olSap-
.ao-ad in a crevasse. Fortunately. the swinsie-
frno
which was damaged The party vas now iaD
ing a weight OF 25O pounds man
.,rba cIouds dfsa ppearing on December > w
discovered new mountain ranges. trendlns sOu'h
Cd southwest. Moving up the glacier over thS
+raacberous snow covering the crevasses We IFe
o,,enrI, fell through. but we're saved Dy OuE
L-,ass and pulled out with an Alpine rope
-e,,,5 sladee was badly damaged by the knife
1u.a advs of the crevasses but we managed 20
retain supplies
| ..cir,ilar conditions obtained on our way up
tho glacier from December 8 TO Is ph Iii0
latter date We reached altitude OF o'Soo fesl.
In latitude S5:1O:3, we made depot anu
1sft everything there but our food' hlSuu-
rnents and camp equipment. and reduced our
,.ians 70 twenty ounces a man daily
Dn -. 18th we reached a plateau. sftec
oross,rg ice falls. at an altitude OF 9Noo feet
- GRADUALLY rising in long ridges 70 lo0oo
go, Having finished our relay work. We dis
,.~,od- our second sledge There was now
,,rstsnt southerIy blizzard Of wind and drifting
rov with a temperature ranging from 81 20 80
,-aas Of FROST ON the 25th We lost sight OF
| the new mountains
THE FI-RTHEST SOUTH REACHED
| ..1,,rdirg that the party was becoming weak
I'D from the effects Of the short allowance OF
- - rarosad air and the cold decided 20
80, ,,aLi,y a depot on the plateau ON jan
| - % nrocaeded. with one tent. utilizing the
| ToIss of the second tent for guidins marks tor
! - return. The surface now became very sOi1
- The blizzard continued for sixty hours DuT-
tr,, January :. s and the wind blew at seventy
/ lies an hour. with - degrees Of frost IL was
/ t,ossibIe TO move and members OF the party
| - freouentIv frostbitten in their sleeping
| hags ON January we left camp and reacneu