The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-03-17

vince the now skeptical University G
Copenhagen Ii will be impossible
: however. for the discoverer of tn
south pole TO bring on his Eskimos
for the reason that no human being
live on the antarctic continent.
Pole on a High Plateau.
The probability is that the south pol,
is on a plateau 10000 feet In eleva
ton and that both exploring parties
will have an all land route. Shackle
ton found land all the way in hi,
journey and when he reached his far
thest south at Ill miles from the goa
said that powerful fieldglasses reveal
ed a continuing plateau as far as he
could see. His elevation was then
about 10000 feet. Because Of the alti-
tude and for the reason that there is
no sea water TO modify the tempera-
ture the area surrounding the south
pole is colder than that encountered
by arctic explorers. Mountains and
glaciers also make the going in the
antarctic difficult. For all that. the
discovery of the south pole should be
less difficult than was that of the
northern end of the world. There are
no open leads and no drifting ice foes,
two of the Ob"tacles that have de-
feated so many arctic explorers In their
efforts to reach the north pole.
The route TO be followed by the
American party leading in from We'd
! dell sea Is also thought to be over
| the land, though next to nothing is
actually known concerning 1t. A
coast line has been discovered. and
! this is supposed to be the shore of
the antarctic continent. 1t may. how
ever. be only shell, with open sea
| beyond it. Again. it may lead to
high and practically inaccessible
mountain ranges. This uncertainty as
to what the Americans may encounter
would put the odds In favor of the
British. since they will follow for
most of the distance the course al
ready traversed by Lieutenant Shac-
kleton. just as Shackleton. in turn.
kept close to the track made by Cap
tain Scott in his first expedition of
1904.
Two Polar Dashes In 1911.
The Englishmen will go in from
New Zealand and the Americans from
Punta Arenas, on the southern ex-
tremity of South America. The start
in each case will be made next sum-
mer. The seasons In the southern
hemisphere are. of course, the exact
reverse of ours. Christmas occurring
in midsummer there and the 4th of
July in midwinter 1t is designed to
go into winter quarters in 1911 and
to make the actual polar dashes dur
ing the spring and summer of 1911-12
If successful the expeditions will then
start home early in 1912. 1t is bare
~ possible that news may be heard
of one or both ventures before either
reaches cable station. as the British |
intend to take wireless apparatus and |
to establish wireless stations at their |
two bases. which will be approximate |
ly 500 miles apart. 1t is not impossi-
BILE that these wireless stations could |
be utilized for communication with
the outside world. although the dis
lance will be very great.
Captain Robert Falson Scott. the
eader of the British expedition. was
BORN in 1868 and has been in the navy
since 1882. He served in various ships.
becoming successfully lieutenant, com
nander and captain, which last rank
he has held since 1904 His first ant
lrctic expedition started in from Port
Iyttleton, New Zealand. which will
De the base of the new venture. Near
he eightieth parallel a high ice
Ter was found, but a long shift
made, pass discovered, and an
roach was pushed toward the
which stopped a few hundred n
hort of the record made by Lieu
mt Shackleton last year. 1t is
Without interest that Shackleton
d his first antarctic experience al
member of this first Scott expedite
t is hardly probable that he will
ompany the next one. as he is now
usy writing book. but either next
ummer or later may lead an expedi-
ion of his own. He will shortly visit
lmerica. where he is TO be signally
onored.
Why Shaclleton Turned Back.
Lieutenant Shackleton's account of
he last days of his journey is thrill ,
lg, and as it describes conditions
'hich will be met by the two expedi- !
ons now forming | subjoin few ex- /.
acts: ,
The blizzard had done its work. how
'er, and We recognized that we had Just =
bout reached our limit. We got up at
q. m. and at a. m. were away for a
nal march south, taking with us nothing I
1t food Instruments and the queens !
TX, with bamboo rod for stan. !
Half running, half walking, we made !
at last march. and at a. m. in latitude
degrees % minutes we hoisted the union :
ok. We could do no more. for to go
rther meant abandoning all hope of get !
lg back to our depots. !
The pole. though only ninety-seven geo. )
aphical miles away Oil statute miles,. ! ?
rs impossible for US to attain. Before I,
stretched the same white plain over ,
lich we had travelled for many days !
arFr VI ola Oh .aI / 4