The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-16

Captain Roald Amundsen, who arrived
rived here on the steam Fran, Thurs
day, today told the story of his srug-
gle to the South Pole, for which the
civilized world has been waiting.
told it simply, but thrillingly.
The Norwegian explorers convinc-
ing narrative, which must become
historical, describes the new lands he
found, the scientific knowledge he
gained, the tremendous obstacles he
and his companions surmounted and
the sufferings they endured in the
quest that was crowned by triumph
and fame at last.
On February 10, 1911, the adven-
turous Amundsen and his men began
their march toward the South. From
then until April II they set up three
depots, in which they stored in all
5000 kilos 5000 pounds of provis-
ions, of which 100 ldlos were seal
meat. Seven hundred kilos of this
food they placed in the S1st degree
of south latitude and 500 kilOs more
in the sgd degree. In the waste OF
ice and snow there were no land
marks by which they could locate
the depots So they planted flags
seven kilometers to the east and west
of each.
Conditions Were Of the Best.
1,n pnnnitinp
the barrier was the best and driving
the dogs was comparatively easy.
On February IS they drove their
sledges 10 kilometers (6S.2O miles,.
The weight of each sledge was 300
kilos. Six dogs were harnessed to
each.
The barrier surface was smooth.
Crevasses were only local and Amund-
sen found them dangerous only in
two places. For the rest there were
long, smooth fluctuations. The
weather was excellent. 1t was either
calm or light breezes blew. The cold
est temperature while they pro-
crossed to the three depots they laid
down was as degrees minus on the
Calsius thermometer, or 81 below,
Fahrenheit.
On their return from their first
trip on February IS, Amundsen found
that his staunch ship, the Fran,
which had weathered so many storms
in the Arctic, had left him. He says
that his heart swelled with pride and
delight when he heard that the
Frams captain had succeeded in sail
ing her further south and here hoist
ed the colors of his country.
Glad Moment for the Explorer.
1T was a glad moment for me and
my comrades" exclaimed Amundser
today. "Farthest north, farthest south
Good old Fran"
Before the arrival of winter they
had $4,000 kilos of seal meat in thei
depot, enough for themselves anc
their 10 dogs. Humane as brave
they first built eight dog houses, {
combination of tents and snow huts
Then, having cared for their dogs
they set about looking after them
selves, for their little hut was almos
entirely covered by snow before the
middle of April.
First they had to get light and air
Their Lux lamp, which was 200 can
dlepower, gave them brilliant ligh
and kept up the temperature in tn,
hut to 6S degrees Fahrenheit through
out the winter An excellent system
of ventilation gave them all the ali
they needed.
All Material Close at Hand.
Close to the hut and in direct com
munication with it were workshops
packing rooms, cellars for provisions
coal, wood and oil storehouses, {
plain bath and a steam bath and oh
servatories, all dug out of the ice o.
the barrier. So, in way, they lived
in a crystal domicile; they had every
thing within doors and at hand, 4
the weather was too cold or stormy
for them to go into the open.
The sun left them on april ~ anC
for four months they were in the
dark. The winter was passed il
changing their entire outfit, for the!
had found on making their trip anC
building the depots that the sledge'
were too heavy and clumsy for the
barriers smooth surface. Besides
working on the outfit they did as
much scientific work, for as good luck
would have it, there was very little
snow. Although open water was
close by their habitation all through
the winter and for some reason the
temperatures were higher than
Amundsen had expected, they re-