The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-03-21
AMIiNDSEN TELLS OF STRUGGLE
OF MEN AND DOGS OVER
MOUNTAINS OF ICE.
OVERCONES BARRIERS
Placed a Norwegian Home on the
Coveted Spot and After Spending
u Hours Taking Observations
Rcturend 60 Civilization.

Hobart, Tasmania, March 9.-lBS
Special Cable The recital Of tn,
march OF Amundsen and his little
band to the south pole is graphic
but simple story, Of extraordinary
achievement as told by modest
leader whose men are as unemo-
tional as their captain.
Ii was ON February 10, 1911, that
the march to the south was begun
over an open waste. The absence
of all landmarks made il necessary
for them to plant flags TO mark
their course and to guide their re-
turn to winter quarters on the ice
barrier.
Between the time of their start
and April II they set up three de-
pots in which they stored in all
5000 pounds of provisions, of which
2220 pounds was seal meat. Fiji
teen hundred and forty pounds of
this food they placed ia the 8ist de-
gree of south latitude and 1860
pounds more in the SD degree.
At the start they had favorable
weather and ground conditions and
it was easy to drive their dogs. on
February IS the sledges. each
weighing 600 pounds, were driven
seventy-three miles. Six dogs made
up the team for each sledge. The
lowest temperature they found at
this time was 40 degrees below zero
fahrenheit.
On their return on February IS
from this first trip of laying down
depots Amundsen and his followers
were rejoiced to find that in their
absence the Fran had been sailed
farthest south of any vessel and
that the Norwegian colors had been
raised.
Good old Fran" Amundsen de-
scribes his feelings, "farthest north
and farthest south"
Lamp Keeps Them Warm.
Before the arrival of winter, the
northern summer. the crew Of the
Fran had in their depot six and a
half tons of seal meat, enough for
themselves and ITO dogs. They had
built huts and tents for their dogs
and a portable house had been
erected for the men. They were
showed in by April and spent a
comfortable winter. A Lux lamp
OF 200 eandlepower gave them brill
liant light and kept the temperature
up to 6S degrees fahrenheit.
For four months they were in
darkness. The sun left they April
IL, but they were not idle and,
working under the light of their
powerful lamp, made a complete
change in their equipment. The
sledges had been found too heavy
and clumsy. All the equipment was
lightened for speed. They did some
scientific work and made some very
interesting meteorological obser-
vations.
The observation of temperature
showed unusually mild weather.
much milder than Amundsen ex-
pected to find. The general range
during the five months they were in
winter quarters was from SO to IS
degrees below zero. The lowest
temperature actually taken was on
August 10, when the thermometer
marked "A degrees below zero. The
mean temperature for the year, ac-
c0rding to Amundsens observations,
was ii.S degrees below zero.
II was on September 8 that eight
men and seven sledges, ninety dogs
and provisions for four months,
started in the quest of the pole. At
this time the ground was perfect
for sledge work and the tempera-
ture was not too severe.
The next day, however, they
feared they had started too soon,
for the temperature began to fall
and reached between So and "A de-
grees below zero. The fine equip
ment Of Amundsen and his men
with furs protected them from suf-
ferms. but the dogs lost strength
daily
On account of the dogs, Amund-
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