The Green Forest tribune., 1912-03-15

Hobart, Tasmania. - On the 10th of February, 1911, we commenced to work our way toward the south, from that day to the 11th of April establishing three depots, which in all contained quantity of provis- ions of about 5000 kilos. One thou sand six hundred kilos, including HOO kilos of seal meat, were cached in 80 degrees, 700 kilos in 81 degrees and 800 kilos in S2 degrees south lat itude.
 As no landmarks were to be seen, these depots were marked with flags seven kilometers on each side in the easterly and westerly directions. The ground and the state of the barrier were of the best, and specially well adapted to driving with dogs. On February 15, we had thus travelled about 100 kilometers. The weight of the sledges was 300 kilos, and the number of dogs was six for each sledge. The surface of the barrier was smooth and fine with no sastrugi The crevices were very local and were found dangerous in only two places. For the rest, long, smooth undulations.
 The weather was excellent, calm or a light breeze. The temperature on these depot trips was minus 45 Gel sius or Centigrade (49 degrees below zero Fahrenheit). On the 4th of March, on our return from the first trip, beginning on the 18th of Feb ruary, we found out that the Tram had already left us. With pride and delight we heard that her smart cap- tain had succeeded in sailing her farthest south and there hoisting the colors of his country. A glorious mo- ment for him and his comrades-the farthest north and the farthest south Good old Tram. The highest south latitude attained was 7S degrees 417 minutes.
 Winter on the Ice Barrier.
 Before the arrival of winter we had 6,000 kilos of seal meat in the depots, enough for ourselves and 110 dogs Eight dog houses, combination of tents and snow huts, were built.
 Having care for the dogs, the turn came to use our solid little hut It was almost entirely covered with snow by the middle of April. First we had to get light and air. The Lux lamp, which had power of 200 stand ard candles, gave us brilliant light and kept the temperature up to 20 l lei, Vol, heit) throughout the winter, and our excellent ventilation system gave us all the air we wanted
 In direct communication with the hut and dug-out on the barrier were workshops, packing rooms, cellars for provisions, coal, wood, and oil, plain bath, a steam bath and observatories. Thus we had everything within doors if the weather should be too cold and stormy.
 The sun left us on the 22nd of April and did not return until four months later. The winter was spent in changing our whole outfit, which on the depot trips was found to be too 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 50 and 60 degrees Celsius (5S and 76 de- grees below zero Fahrenheit), the lowest temperature on the 18th of August being minus 59 degrees Gel sius It was then calm. On the 1st of August the temperature was minus 6S degrees Celsius. and there were