The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-03-08

SCOTT Reached EXTREME SOUTH
The report that Captain Robert Fall
CON Scott had reached the South Pole
IL confirmed by a telegram from Wei
linston, N T., sent by Amundsen, the
Norwegian explorer. who headed an
other expedition, which failed to reach
its goal.
Captain Scott started on his expe-
dillon from Port Chalmers, sNew Zea-
land, on November 30, 1910. He was
well equipped for this dash for the
farthest south, having made pre-
vious expedition under the direction OF
the Royal Geographical Society. At
that time he attained record OF 81
degrees 80 minutes. which remained
the record up to the time of Lieuten-
ant Shackleton's notable exploit. Lieu
tenant Shackleton pushed farther
south. and IN 1907 reached SO degrees.
20 minutes. or about 100 miles from the
south pole. This remained the record
and inspired the hardy navigators of
many nations to attempt the culminat-
Ing feat OF reaching the pole itself.
Captain Scott took the route by way
of Australia and New Zealand. He
sailed due south into Ross Sea,
stretch OF water reaching toward the
pole.
Captain Scott planned to follow the
same land trail that Shackleton had
taken. This is along a mountain range,
thought to be an extension OF the
Andes range, running southwark thru
South America.
At the furthermost point Of Ross
Sea. Captain Scott debarked his party
from his ship. the Terra Nova. Imme-
diately at the point OF debarkation
stands the great volcano. Mount Ere
bus. from which constantly great
column Of steam comes. 1t Is one OF
the dreaded localities Of the Antarctic
regions, to which navigators have CIV
en- the name of Terror Bay" for here
Nordenskjold's ship. the Antarctic, was
the steam-wrapped volcano stands out.
sentinel-like, against the ice-covered
range stretching southwark.
Capt. Scott made his first winter
quarters on the slope Of the mountains
and there remained until November,
1911. 1t was then that his dash began.
His plan was to cover the distance re-
naming by the end of December and
then Immediately face about and make
the backward dash.
Besides his equipment of food, he
had placed reliance on a score OF po-
MES, with 20 dogs and one motor
sledge in making rapid progress over
the comparatively level stretches of
the foothills. Due allowance was made
for the death OF ponies and dogs, the
steady depletion OF stores and the loss
of vitality Of the party making up the
expedition. The telegram from Arnund-
sen proves that his plans worked out
we'll
Other Expeditions
Scott's chief competitor was Captain
Amundsen. who was commissioned by
the king Of Norway and the Norwegian
government Amundsen chose the route
by way Of South America. He left
Buenos Ayres toward the south in
1910. He passed through the Straits
OF Magellan and then started for Ross
Sea. the same sheet Of water which
Scott had gained by way of the New
Zealand and Australian route. Capt
Amundsen had no ponies and no motor
sledges. as his experience led him to
place all his reliance on Siberian dogs.
The other competitors in the race are
Lieutenant William Filchner. of the
general stan of the German army;
Lieutenant N. Shiras, of the japanese
navy. and DR.. Douglas Mawson, repre-
senting Australia.
Lieutenant Filchner followed the
trail of Shackelton. He is a daring
explorer, having been one of the first
to reach Lhassa, in Tibhet. and much
confidence was felt in him by the Geo.
graphical Society in Berlin.
The Japanese explorer followed the
Shackelton route into Ross Sea, but
returned to Sydney, Australia. in 1910
TO repair damage done his ship in Ter
TOR Bay. His second start was made
November last, so that he is rather be-
hind In the race. DR. Mawson the
Australian. took his route from the
Harbor Of Hobart. Tasmania, aboard
the little ship Aurora and took the
land route to the east OF Ross Sea.
These i've men and their parties had
been out Of sight of the world for
many months until the first rumor
came yesterday with the conhrmatory
report that Amundsen had returned
and brought word that his leading OPP
ponent had reached the coveted goal
From a geographical and scientific
standpoint. the discovery OF the south
pole. while momentous event. has
not the same features Of Importance
and danger as related to the north
pole. The quest for the north pole has
been the regular field of open water
Scores Of navigators have persisted In
the quest for the north pole, but rela-
lively few In trying to reach the south
pole The problem has not been one OF
reaching the pole over floating Ice. but
Of passing rapidly over the snow-cov-
cred foothills OF the main land and the
terrifying glacfeN