The new era., 1909-09-23


sledEes and finally broke as the last
sledge left 1t.
we stopped in sight of the eighty
ninth parallel in q temperature of 40
degrees below. Again a scant sleep
and we were on our way once more
and across the eighty ninth Sarallel
This march duplicated the previous
one as to weather and going. The Iaet
few hours 1t was on young ice and oc-
casionally the dogs were galloping.
We made twenty-five miles or more.
the air, the sky. and the bitter wind
burning the face TIL 1t cracked 1t was
like the great interior ice gap of
Greenland. Even the natives COM
plained of the bitter air. 1t was as
keen as frozen steel
little longer sleep than the previ-
Gus one had to be taken here. as we
were all in need of 1t. Then on again.
Up to this time. with each successive
march. our fear of an impossible lead
had increased. At every inequality OF
the Ice found myself hurryihg breath
lessy forward. fearing that 1t marked a
lead. and when I arrived at the summit
would catch my breath with relief-only
to find myself hurrying on in the same
way at the next one.
But on this march. by some strange
shift of feeling, this fear fell from me
completely. The weather was thick. but
1t gave me no uneasiness.
Before l turned in 1 took an observa-
tion which Indicated our position as 50
degrees Is minutes.
A dense. lifeless pail hung overhead
The horizon was black and the Ice be-
meath was a CHASTITY. chalky white. with
no relief-a striking contrast to the glim-
mering. sunl;t fields Of 1t over which we
had been travelling for the previous four
days.
Weather Becomes Milder.
The going was even better and there
r,aI1 4, nvI
granular last summers surface of the
old toes. dotted with the sapphire ice
OF the previoL' summers lakes.
A rise in temperature to 15 degrees be-
low reduced the friction OF the sledges
and gave the dogs the appearance of
The more sprightly ones. as they went
along with tightly cured tails. frequent
ly tossed their heads, with short, sharp
barks and yelps.
In 12 hours we had made 40 miles,
There was no sign of lead in the
march.
Arrival at the Pole.
/ had now made my five marches. and
was in time for hasty noon observation
through temporary break in the clouds.
which indicated our position S9.57. l
quote an entry from my journal some
hours later:
The pole at last The prize of three
centuries, my dream and goal for 20
years, mine at last. l cannot bring my
self to realize 1t.
1t all seems SO simple and common
place. AS Bartlett said when turning
back. when speaking of his being in
these exclusive regions, which no mortal
has ever penetrated before: "It is just
like every day"
OF course / had my sensations that
made sleep impossible for hours. despite
my utter fatigue-the sensations of a life
time: but l have no room for them here
The first 30 hours at the pole were
spent in taking observations: in going
some ten miles beyond our camp and
some eight miles to the. right of It, in
taking photographs. planting my flags.
depositing my records, studying the hori
zon with my telescope for possible land.
and searching for n practicable place to
make a sounding.
Plan for Return Trip.
Ten hours after our arrival the clouds
cleared before light breeze from our
left and from that time until our depar-
ture in the afternoon of April I the
weather was cloudless and flawless.
The minimum temperature during the
80 hours was 33 below. the maximum u.
We had reached the goal. but the re-
turn was still before us 1t was essential
that we reach the land before the next
spring tide. and we must strain every
nerve to do this.
had brief talk with my men. From
now on IL was 10 De II DIG traVel, lttle
sleep and n hustle every minute.
We would try. i told them, to double
march on the return-that Is. to start
and cover one OF our northward
marches. make tea and eat our luncheon
in the igloos. then cover another march.
eat and sleep a few hours. and repeat
this daily
Speed Nearly Doubled.
AS n matter of fact. we nearly did
this covering regularly on our return
journey five outward marches In three
return marches.
Just long we could hold the
trail we could double our speed. and
we need waste no time in building
new igloos every day. so that the time
we gained on the return lessened the
chances OF n gale destroying the track.
Just above the eighty-seventh paral
lei was a region some fifty miles wide
which caused me considerable uneasi
ness. Twelve hours of strong easterly
westerly. or northerly wind would
make this region an open sea.
In the afternoon OF the 7th we start
ed on our return. having double fed
the dogs, repaired the sledges for the
last time. and discarded all our spare
clothing to tighten the loads
Tries to Sound Sea.
Five miles from the pole a narrow
crack filled with recent ice. through
which we were able to work a hole
with a pickax. enabled me to make a
sounding. All my wire. 1900 fathoms
was sent down. but there was no bot
tom.
In pulling up the wire parted few
fathoms from the surface and lead and
wire went to the bottom OF went reel
and handle. tightening the sledges stin
further. We had no more use for them
now.
Three marches brought us back to
10 q cn m n n
back. The last march was In the wild
sweep of n northerly gale. with drift
ing snow and the ice rocking under as
we dashed over it.
Not Delayed by Leads.
South OF where Marvin had turned
back we came to where his party had
built several igloos while delayed by
open leads. Still further south we
found where the captain had been held
up by an open lead and obliged to
camp.
Fortunately the movement of these