Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-12
HALE .AMuNDS0N
!: AS D!sCQvERER
~:
NORWEGIAN EXPLORER CABLES
THAT HE FOUND POLE
ON DEC. -.
SCOTT STORY A MISTAKE
Remained Three Days 70 Secure eroofe
~-NIl,l Return Home Through
TIE Northwest
Passage.
SCOTT STORY A MISTAKE

cs-.st::sa:a, March 3. - Captain
Road Amundsen, the Norwegian ex-
plorer, has cabled two local news
papers from Hobart Tasmania. that
be reached the ecuth pole on Dec, -.
1911.
The dispatch is as follows
Pole reached fourteenthseven.
teenth December"
Captain Amundsen cent second ca
BILE denying having telegraphed that
Captain Scott of the British expedition
rad reached the south pole or that he
had telegrsphed anything at all about
Scott.
Honor Goes te Amundsen,
The honor for the achievement OF
reaching the south pole must now be
given to the Norwegian explorer until
Lieutenant Scott announces the results
Of his expedition,
Captain Amundsen has. for many
years. been considered one of the most
daring and competent Of explorers. A
sailor from youth he started polar re-
search at the age of Is. when he par,
ttcipated In the Belgian antarctic expe-
dition under command of Gerlache.
He was first cflcer of the vessel. and
the voyage lasted from 1897 to 1899.
On his return he made UP his mind to
continue polar research. but this time
he decided to 60 to the north in an
endeavor to discover the northwest
passage.
He prepared himself for the task by
undergoing a course Of two years
study in magnetism and meteoroloey.
after which he sailed for the north
from Christiania on board the Gioa.
with q crew Of only eight men, June
le, 1903.
Proceeding 10 Lancaster sound he
sailed past Cape Adelaide and King
William land and Ross strait. The
vessel wintered in that part. For
many months Amundsen drifted along,
and finally, on August 26. met an
American whsler to the east of Cape
Bathurst. He ultimately brought his
little vessel through the Behring strait
and thus, for the first time. accom-
plished the northwest passage.
During the voyage he determined ex.
ectly the position of the magnetic
pole, Altogether he was three years
away from Norway.
The Fran, which Captain Amundsen
selected for his latest expedition, has
been used for many years in arctic
IN
ing the expedition Of DR.. Fridjof
Nansen, she covered a journey Of
about 1000 miles in the Arctic ocean,
5000 miles of this being accomplished
while she was frozen solid in the ice.
She was not damaged at all during
this voyage,
kilograms of congratulations in the
name Of King Haakon of the Nor.
wekian government and of the Geo
graphical society here were forwarded
TO Captain Amundsen at Hobart. His
majesty has consented to the use Of
his name and that of Queen Maud on
the maps of the newly discovered ter
ritory in the Antarctic. This city is
eayly decorated with flags and bunting
In honor of Captain Amundsens &C.
complishment.
AmUrdsen Makes Denial.
Hobart.-Csptain Rosld Amundsen
the Norwegian explorer, denies having
telegraphed anything regarding Cap
tain Robert Scott or the British expe
dition.
Captain Amundsen, up to the pres.
ent, Is the only member of the ant.
artic expedition who has landed from
the Fran. Nobody is allowed to go on
board the vessel under any pretext
whatever. The explorer says he is
pleased with the results Of his expe
tlttfon but otherwise maintains abso
lute SILENCE on the subject.
Captain Amupdsen intends to stay
At Hobart for a few days. He will
then 60 to Australia and give few
lectures there. afterward departing
for Europe by the circuitous route Of
Busnos Aires, then around Cape Horn
up to RerinE Straits. and through the
Northwest passage and the Arctic
ocean
Dr.. Cooks conxnent.
New York--Dr. Frederick A. Cook
heard the news of the discovery of the
south pole at HIS uptown hotel. where
he had just returned from lecture
tour 1T ia not only possible that
Scott and Amundsen crossed each
other, but it is likely that both men
met at the pole" said Dr.. Cook. with
4 smile Captain Scott. at the very
latest ought to be heard from in ter
days"