Mexico Missouri message., 1909-09-16

sledge all the way from Cape Columbia,
and with his enthusiasm and the powers
and physique OF the trained athlete
had confidence in him for at least the
seth parallel, but there was no alterna-
tive.
The best sledges and dogs were select
ed and the sledge loads brought up to
the standard The sounding gave a
depth OF 325 fathoms.
We were over the continual shelf, and
as / had surmised, the successive leads
crossed In the fifth and sixth marches
composed the big lead and marked the
continual shelf
On leaving the camp the expedition
comprised lG men, u sledges and 100 dogs
The next march was satisfactory as re-
CARDS distance and the character of the
going. In the latter part there were
pronounced movements in the ice. both
visible and audible.
Some leads were crossed, in one Of
which BOrup and his team took a bath,
and we were finally stopped by an Inn
practicable lead opening in front of u.s.
We camped in a temperature Of so de-
grees below.
At the end Of two short marches we
came upon Hansen and his party in
camp, mending their sledges. We de-
voted the remainder of the day to over
hauling and mendlng sledges and break
ing up our damaged ones for material.
Make Forced Marches.
The next morning ! put Marvin in the
lead to pioneer the trail, with instruc-
tons TO make two forced marches to
bring up our average which had been
cut down by the last two short ones.
Marvin carried out his instructions inn
plicitly. a considerable amount Of young
ice assisted in this.
At the end of the tenth march, latitude
%, BOrup turned back in command of
the second supporting party, having trav-
elcd a distance equivalent to Nansen's
distance from this far to his farthest
north.
/ was sorry to lose this young Yale
runner, with his enthusiasm and pluck.
He had led his heavy sledge over the
foes in a way that commanded every
ones admiration and would have made
his fathers eyes glisten.
Changes His Plan.
From this point the expedition COM
prised 20 men, 10 sledges. and 70 dogs. 1t
was necessary for Marvin to take a
sledge from here and l put Bartlett
and his division in advance to pioneer
the trail
The continual daylight enabled me to
make a moderation here that brought my
advance and main parties closer together
and reduced the likelihood of their be-
ing separated by open leads.
After Bartlett left camp with Hender-
son and their division. Marvin and 1 re-
malned with our division 20 hours long
err and then followed. When we reached
Bartlett's camp he broke out and went
on and we turned in. BY this arrange
ment the advance party was travelling
while the main party was asleep, and
vice versa. and l was in touch with my
advance party every "a hours.
Moves Expedltiously.
I had no reason TO complain OF the
going for the next two marches. though
for a less experienced party, less adapt
able sledges, or less perfect equipment II
would have been an impossibility.
At our position at the end Of the sec
| ond march, Marvin obtained a satisfac-
| tory sight for latitude In clear weather,
| which placed us at Sj.4S. The result
agreed satisfactorily with the dead reck-
| Oning of Marvin. Bartlett and myself.
Up 10 this time. the slight altitude of
the sun had made it not worth while to
| waste time in observations.
On the next two marches the going inn
| proved, and we covered good distances.
| In one of these marches lead delayed
us a few hours. We finally ferried across
| the ice cakes.
Makes Record Run.
The next day Bartlett let himself out
| evidently for IA record, and reeled off q
miles. Here Marvin obtained another
| satisfactory sight on latitude, which gave
| the position as S6.3S Cor beyond the farth-
est north of Nansen and AbruzzD, and
showed that we had covered so minutes
| of latitude in three marches.
| In these three marches We had passed
the Norwegian record Of S6.14, by Nan
| sen, and the Italian record of 1884, by
| Cagni.
From this point Marvin turned back ir
command of the third supporting party
| My last words TO him were: BE care
| full OF the leads, my boy"
The party from this point comprised
nine men. seven sledges. and 60 dogs
| The conditions at this camp and the ap
parently unbroken eNpanse OF fairly leve
| ice in every direction reminded me Of
Cagnrs description Of his farthest north
Danger Is Encountered.
But was not deceived by the appar
emily favorable outlook, for available
conditions never continue for any dis
lance or any length OF time in the arc
tic regions.
The next march was over good GO
ing, but for the first time since leavini
land we experienced that condition, FIRE
Quent over these ice helds, OF hazy at
mosphere. In which the light is equa
everywhere. All relief Is destroyed an,
1t is impossible to see for any distance
We were obliged In this march 10 max
detour around an open lead. In tn
next march we encountered the heavies
and deepest snow OF the Journey througl
thick. smotherlng mantle lying in tn
depTessions of heavy rubble ice.
Temporarily Discouraged.
I came upon Bartlett and his party
tagged out and temporarily discourage
by the heartracklng work Of maxim
| road.
knew what was the matter wit
them. They were simply spoiled by tn
good going on the previous marches.
rallied them bit, lightened their sledge
and sent them on encouraged again.
During the next march we travele
through a thick haze drifting over IN
ice before a biting air from the north
east. At the end Of the march we cam
upon the captain cAmped beside a Wild
open lead with q dense black water ak
northwest. north and northeast.
The next march was also a long on
1t was Bartlett's last hit, He let him
self out over series Of large old noe
steadily increasing in diameter an
covered with hard snow.
Wind Helps Out.
During the last few miles I Wake
beside him or In advance. He was 80
enin and anxious 70 SO farther. but q