The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-15


Hobart, Tasmania. - On the 10th
Of February, 1911, we commenced
- work our way toward the south,
from that day to the 18th of April
establishing three depots, which
IN all contained q quantity of provis.
Ions of about 5000 kilos. One thou
sand six hundred kilos, including
100 kilos of seal meat, we're cached
in so degrees, 700 kilos in 81 degrees
and 500 kilos in 81 degrees south lat
itude.,
AS no landmarks were to be seen,
these depots were marked with flags
Eeven kilometers on each side in the
easterly and westerly directions. The
ground and the state Of the barrier
we're of the hest, and specially well
adapted to driving with dogs. On
February Is, we had thus travelled
4bOut 100 kilOmeters. The weight of
the sledges was 300 kilos, and the
number Of dogs was six for each
SltUiEt. liz CtilidbG VI WV u
was smooth and fine with no sastrugi,
The creyices we're very local and
We're found dangerous in only two
places. For the rest, long, smooth
fluctuations.
The weather was excellent, calm or
a hight breeze. The temperature on
these depot trips was minus As Gel
sius or Centigrade (49 degrees below
zero Fahrenheit). On the 4th oil
March, on our return from the first
trip, beginning OF the 18th Of Feb
Tuary, we found out that the Fran
had already left us. With pride and
delight we heard that her smart cap
tain had succeeded in sailing heI
farthest south and there hosting the
ColOrs of his country. A glorious mo
ment for him and his comrades-the
farthest north and the farthest south
Good old Fran. The highest south
latitude attained was rs degrees All
minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival Of winter we had
5000 kilos Of seal peat in the depots,
enough for ourselves and 10 dogs,
Eight dog houses, a combination OF
tents and snow huts, were built.
Having care for the dogs, the turn
came to use our solid little hut. II
was almost entirely covered with
SNOW by the middle Of April. First
we had to get light and air. The LUX
lamp, which had a power of 200 stand
ard candles, gave us a brilliant light
and kept the temperature up to 70
degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahren
heit) throughout the winter, and ouI
excellent ventilation system gave uf
all the air we wanted.
In direct communication with the
nut and dug-out on the barrier were
workshops, packing rooms, cellars for
provisions, coal, wood, and oil, a plain
bath, a steam bath and o~bservatories
Thus we had everything within doors
Il the weather should be too cold ant
stormy.
The sun left US on the 22nd of April
md did not return until four months
later. The winter was spent In
changing our whole outfit, which or
the depot trips was found to be toe
clumsy and solid for the smooth sur
face Of the barrier. Besides this, as
much scientific work as possible was
done, and some astonishing meteoro
logical observations were taken.
Open Water All Winter.
There was very little snow, and
there was open water close by
throughout the winter. For the same
reason higher temperature had been
expected, but it remained very low
In five months there were observed
temperatures between minus 80 ano
81 degrees Celsius (5S and rs de
grees below zero F~ahrenheit), the
lowest temperature on the 18th o
August being minus SO degrees Gel
sius. It was then calm. On the Isl
of August the temperature was minus
So degrees Celsius. and there were