Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-09-23

east Al the END or me marcn we came
upon the captain camped beside wide
open lead with dense black water sky
northwest. north and northeast.
The next march was also long one
1t was Bartlett's last hit, He let him
self out over series of large old foes,
steadily increasing in diameter and
covered with hard snow.
WIND HELPS OUT.
During the last few miles l wallsed
beside him or in advance. He was SOL
emn and anxious TO go further. but the
program was for him to go back from
here In command of the fourth sup
porting party. and there were no sup
plies for an increase in the main party.
BARTLETT DID GOOD WORK.
Whom he left felt for a moment
pangs of regret as he disappeared in
the distance. but II was only momen-
tary. MY work was stu ahead. not-iD
the rear.
Bartlett had done good work and had
been great help to me. Circumstances
had thrust the brunt OF the pioneering
upon him instead of dividing 1t among
several. as l had planned
He had reason to take pride in tho
fact that he had bettered the Italian
record by degree and quarter and
had covered a distance equal to the
entire distance of the italian expedi-
ton from Franz Josef's land to Cagni'e
farthest north.
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 cheersuily stood
between me and many trlflug annoy
ances on the expeditions.
Then there was third reason. II
seemed to me appropriate In view OF
the magnificent British record OF arc
tic work. covering three centuries. that
-. Il
could boast that, next to an American,
he had been nearest the pole
LAST STRUGGLE AT HAND.
with the disappearance OF Bartlett i
turned TO the problem before me. This
was that for which had worked for ~
years, for which had lived the simple
life; for which l had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip; for which
/ had trained myself as for race. crush
Ing down every worry about success
In spite of my years, felt In trim
fit for the demands OF the coming days
and eager TO be on the trail.
As for my party, my equipment. and
my supplies. was In shape beyond my
most sanguine dreams OF earliest years
MY party might be regarded as an
Ideal which 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. sledges Ice, and cold as 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 Clarks division.
which had such narrow escape at that
time, and now were willing to 20 any
where with my immediate party and
willing to risk themselves again In any
supporting party
The hfth was young man VINO had
never served before In any expedition.
but who was. II possible even more
willing and eager than the others for
the prncey gifts-a boat, ride 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 stubborn father the girl
whose image filled his hot young heart.
HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
All had blind confidence so long az
| was with them, and gave no Thought
for the morrow. sure that whatever hap
pened | should somehow get them back
to land. But dealt with the party
equally. / recognized that all its i'm
petus centered in me, and that whatever
pace / set II would make good II any
one played out, would stop for short
time.
l had no fault to find with the condl-
tions. My dogs were the best. the pick
of 100 with which we left Columbia AL
most all were powerful males, hard az
nails, in good flesh, but without super
iluous 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
AT little after midnight OF April /,
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 l set another hole in my
belt, the third since started Every
man and dog of us was lean and nat
bellied as a board and as hard
CONDITIONS ALL FAVORABLE.
It was a ine morning The wind OF
The last two days had subsidized and the
going was the best and most equable
of any had had yet. The foes were
large and old, and clear. and were sur
rounded by pressure ridges some OF
which were almost stuperdous.
The biggest of them, however, wero
easily negotiated. either through some
crevice or up some huge brink. set
good pace for about ten hours.
Twenty-Five miles took me well be-
yond the eighty-eighth parallel,
While / was building my igloos a
long lead forward by the east and
southwest of us at distance OF a few
miles
TRAVEL WAS EASY.
few hours sleep and we were on.
the trail again. AS the going was now
practically horizontal. we were un~
hampered and could travel as long as
we pleased and sleep as little as we
wished
The weather was fine and the going
ike that of the previous day, except
at the beginning. when pickaxes were
ls'required. This and brief stop at an
other lead cut down our distance. But
we had made 20 miles in ten hours and
were half way to the eighty-ninth