The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-03-22

reckoning and observation were sw
actly alike, SO degrees, 90 minutes
1875 seconds south.
Before us lay an absolutely plain
plateau. only here and there marked
with tiny sastrugi
In the afternoon we passed IS de.
grees 20 minutes. (Shackeleon's fur.
therest south was 8s degrees, 25
minutes.l We camped and establish.
ed our last depot. depot No. 10. From
so degrees rs minutes the plateau be-
gan 10 slope down very gently and
smoothly toward the other side.
On the 9th OF December we reached
8S degrees 80 minutes. on December
10, sS degrees Sc minutes. December
IL, $50 degrees 15 minutes, December
IL, SO degrees 80 minutes, Decemp Der
Is, 80 degrees 46 minutes.
Up TO this time the observations
and dead reckoning agreed remarkably
well, and we made out that we ought
to be at the pole on December ia In
the afternoon.
That day was a beautiful one. a
light breeze from southeast, the tenn.
perature minus 20 celsius (9.4 degrees
below zero, fahrenheit), and the
ground and sledging were perfect.
The day went along as usual, and
at B p. m. we made a halt.
According to our reckoning we had
reached our destination. All of us gath.
cred around the cnlors, a beautiful silly
flag, all hands taking hold of IL
and planting 1t.
The vast plateau on which the pole
is standing got the name of the king
Haakon VII Plateau" 1t is a vast
plain, alike In all directions. mile after
mile during the night we circled
around the camp.
In the fine weather we spent the
following day taking series of OBJ
seryations from 6 a. m. to z D. m.
The result gave us SO degrees So
minutes.
In order to observe the pole as close
as possible we travelled as near south
az possible, the remaining 9 kilo-
meters.
On December 16 there we camped.
II was an excellent opportunity.
There was brilliane sun. Four of
US took observations every hour Of
the days twenty-four hours. The
exact result will be the matter of a
private report.
This much is certain, that we OBJ
served the pole as close as it is In
human power to do 1t with the instru-
nents we had, sextant and artificial
horizon.
On December II everything was in
order on the spot.
We fastened to the ground a little
tent we had brought along, a Norwe-
sian flag and the Fran pendant on
the top of it.
The Norwegian home at the South
pole was called "Polheim"
The distance from our winter quar-
ters to the pole was about !, 400 kilo-
meters. The average march a day
was 25 kilometers
We started on the return trip on
the 18th OF December. Unusually
favorable weather made our way
home considerably easter than the
journey to the pole. We arrived at
our winter quarters, "Framheim" on
the 25th of January. 1912. with two
sledges and IL dogs, all we'll.
The daily average speed on the re-
turn trip was SO kilometers, the low.
est temperature was minus 81 celsius,
(2S.S degrees below zero Fahrenheit.)
The highest minus celsius, (23 de-
grees above zero Fahrenheit).
Among the results are the determi-
nation of the extent and character
Of the Ross Barrier, and the dis
covery OF the connection of South
land and probably King Ed
ward VII land. with their continue
lion in the mighty mountains running
toward the southeast which were OBJ
served as far as SO degrees south,
but which in all probability continue
across the antarctic continent.
The entire length of the newly dis. |
covered mountains is about $50 kilo- |
meters. They have been named !
Queen Maud's Range"
The expedition to King Edward VII |
and under the command of Lieut.. |
'VS1uA haS blNSh results.
SCOTS discoveries have been con.
irmed. and the survey of the bay OF
Whales and of the Barrier Dome by |
he Prestud party are of great inter.
,st
A good geological collection from
King Edward VII and South Victoria
and is being brought home.
The Fran arrived at the Bay Of
on the ninth of January. She
lad been delayed by the roaring
critics" on account of the easterly
Winds.
On January 10th the Japanese ex-
'edition arrived at the Bay of
and landed on the Barrier
lear our winter quarters. We left
he Bay of Whales On January 30th.
t was a long voyage with contrary
Winds. All are well.
RAoLD AMUNDSEN.