Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-10-18

HIM AT THE POLE.
though thin and ragged. had a dignity
as heroes of the greatest human bat
tie which had eyer been fought with
remarkable success.
We We're all lifted to the paradise of
winners as we stepped over the SHOWS
of a destiny for which we had rsked
life ana willingly suffered the tortures
of an icy he'll.
The ice under us seemed almost Sa-
cred. When the pedometer registered
fourteen and half miles we camped
and calmly went to sleep. feeling that
we were turning on the carth's axis.
The observations. however. gave 80
degrees 50 minutes As seconds. 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 snow igloo
and prepared to make ourselves COM
Portable for stay long enough for two
rounds of observations.
Our position was thus doubly asSur.
ed. and a necessary day of rest was
gained Etukishuk and Ahwelah en-
ioyed the day in quiet repose. but l
slept very little. My goal was reach
ed: the ambition Of my life had been
fulfilled. How could sleep away
such overwhelming moments of Ella
ton?
At last we had reached the boreal
center The dream of nations had been
realized The race Of centuries was
ours. The flag was pinned to the COW
ctcd pole The year was 1908, the day
April 81.
The sun indicated local noon. but
time was a negative problem. for here
all meridians meet. With step it was
possible to 20 from one part OF the
globe to the opposite side-from the
hour of midnight to that of midday.
| Here there are hut one day and one
night in each year. The latitude was
90 degrees. the temperature -3S.I the
atmospheric pressure 2o.S3. North.
east and west had vanished. 1t was
south in every direction. but the COM
pass, pointing to the magnetic pole.
was rs useful as ever.
Though overioycd with the success
of the conquest our spirits began 10
| change on the next day after all the
observations had been taken and the
| local conditions were studied. 4 sense
| of intense loneliness. came with care
| full scrutiny Of the horizon. What a
cherries spot TO have aroused the am
hition Of man for so many ages End
| less fields of purple SHOWS NO NE. no
land. no spot. to relieve the monotony
of frost, We were the only pulsating
creatures in dead world of ice.
On April 90 1905, Dr. Cook began the
long return march. with ta,r Weather,
| GOOD ice and the inspiration or the nome
nm long distances were at first quickly
| covered.
with good deal of anxiety Cook
watched the daily reduction of the 1000
| supply. 1t row became evident that the
| CRUCIAL stage of the campaign was to be
transferred from the taking of the pole
IA :, final battle for life against famine
and frost Early in July farther south
card progress became impossible. and in
nuest of food he crossed the Firth of
Devon into Jones sound. on Feb. ls 1909,
the start was made for Annootok. WITH
n newly prepared equipment the Green
, land shores were reached on Aprli 10.
! Here DR.. Cook was greeted by Harry
: Whitney and anxious Eskimo friends To
facilitate an early return he moved south
ward to the Danish settlement and reach
ed Utpernavik ON May "A, 1909. Inc DAN
| ish shin Hans Egede took lin. from
Cpel uavik to Denmark.