Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-09-16

equality Of the Ice / found myself
hurryins breathlessly forward, fearing
that It marked 4 lead, and when ar
rived at the summit would catch my
breath with relief--Only to hnd my
self hurrying on In the same way a.
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 uneaslness.
Before turned in took an observ&
ton which indicated our position ~
SO degrees rs minutes.
Dense Pail Hangs Everywhere.
"A dense, lifeless pail hung over
head. The horizon was black and the
ice beneath was CHASTITY, chalky
white, with no relief-a striking con
trast to the glimmering, sunlit fields
OF 1t over which we had been travelling
for the previous four days. M
A rise In temperature to Is degrees
below reduced the friction Of the
sledges and gave the dogs the ap
pearance Of having caught the spirits
Of the party.
In ~ hours we had made 40 miles
There was no sign Of q lead In the
march.
Pole Reached at Last.
/ had now made my Ave marches
and was in time for a hasty noon OBJ
servation through temporary break
in the Clouds which Indicated our
position as 1857. l quote an entry
from my journel some hours later:
2 "The pole at last. The prize Of three
centuries, my dream and goal for 70
years, mine at last. cannot bring
myself 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 NOR
tai has ever penetrated before: III
is just like every day
Sets Harder Return Task.
OF course had my sensation thai
made sleep impossible for hours, de
spite my utter fatigue-the sensations
of a lifetime; but have no room foI
them here.
The first 80 hours at the pole were
spent in taking observations; In go
ing some ten miles beyond our camp
and some eight miles to the right of 1t;
In taking photographs, planting my
flags, deposting my records, studying
the horizon with my telescope to pos
sible land, and searching for pracu
cable place to make sounding.
! Prepare for the Return.
I, Ten hours after our arrival the
clouds cleared before light breezt
from our left and from that time unit
our departure in the afternoon o.
April the weather was cloudless ant
fawless.
The minimum temperature during
the 80 hours was 80 below, the maxi
mum IL.
We had reached the goal, but the 70
turn was still before us. 1t was essen
tial that we reach the land before tht,
next spring tide, and we must strair
every nerve to do this.
l had a brief talk with my men
From now on it was to be big travel
little sleep and hustle every minute
We would try, told them, TO double
march on the return-that Is, to star
and cover one Of our northwart
marches, make tea and eat our lunch
con In the igloos. then cover another
march, eat and sleep few hours, and
repeat this daily.
Double Speed on Return.
AS a matter Of fact, we nearly did
this, covering regularly on our return
journey Ave outward marches In three
return marches.
Just above the 87th parallel was
region some so miles wide which
caused me considerable uneasiness
Twelve hours Of strong easterly, west
erly, or northerly wind would make
this region on 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 load.
Five miles from the pole marrow
crack filed with recent Ice, through
which we were able to work holG
with pickax, enabled me to make .
sounding. All my wire, $500 fathoms
was sent down, but there was no bot
tom.
In pulling up the wire parted few
fathoms from the surface and lead ant
wire went to the bottom. on went
reel and handle, Tightening the sledge'
still further. We had no more use fol
them now,
Three marches brought US back Y
the igloes where the captain turned
back The last march was In the wild
sweep Of northerly gale, with drift
ing snow and the ice rocking under a.
we dashed over 1t.
Little Trouble In Leade.
South Of where Marvin had turnee
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 nelc
up BY an open lead and obliged To
camp.
Fortunately the movement Of these
leads was simply open and shut, ano
It took considerable water motion to
fault the trail seriously.
While the captain, Marvin, and az
1 found later, Borup, had been DELAYED
by open leads, we seemed to bear .
charm and with no single lead were
we DELAYED more than couple Of