Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-09

began to slope down very gently and
smoothly toward the other side.
80 minutes; December 10, So degrees IS
| minutes: December H. 90 degrees II min
utes: December II. 80 degrees 20 minutes;
December 13. So degrees 45 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 December IA, in the afternoon.
/ The day was beautiful one, a light
breeze from southeast. the temperature
minus 23 Celsius 9.4 degrees below zero
FahrenheiU. and the ground and sledg-
ing were perfect The day went along as
usual and at 8 pm. we made halt.
Pole Is Reached.
i According, to our reckoning we had
reached our destination. All Of us gathered
around the colors-a beautiful silk flag
all hands taking hold of it and plant
ing it.
The vast plateau on which the pole is
standing got the name of the King
Haakon VII Plateau" 1t is a vast place,
alike in all directions; mile after mile
during the night we circied around the
camp -.
+ In the fine weather we spent the fol-
lowing day taking a series Of obaerva-
tons from 8 am. to pm. The result
gave us 50 degrees % minutes.
In order to observe the pole as close as
u
possible, the remaining kilometers.
On December Is there we eamped. 1t
was an excellent opportunity mere Was
brilliant sun. Four of us took ob8erva-
,tions every hour of the day. twenty-1our
hours The exact result will be the mat
ter of a professional private report
| Tins much is certain-that We discov-
cred the pole as closely as It Is IN hu-
man power to do 1t with the instruments
we had-a sextant and an artificial hori-
zon
December II everything was in order
on the spot. We fastened to the ground
a little tent we had brought along. a
Norwegian flag and the Fran pennant
on the top of 1t.
The Norwegian home at the south pole
was called "POlheim.
The distance from our winter quarters
to the pole was about 400 kilometers.
The average march a day. was twenty-five
kilometers.
Begin Return Trip.
We started on the return trip Decem-
Der L. Unusually favorable weather
made our way home considerably easier
than the journey to the pole. We arrived
at our winter quarters. "Framheim,
January %, 1912. with two sledges and
eleven dogs, all well.
The daily average speed on the return
trip was thirty-six kilometers: the lowest
temperature was minus 81 Celsius (Sjo
degrees below zero Fahrenheit), the
highest minus ) Celsius (23 degrees above
zero FahrenheiD.
Among the results are the determination
of the extent and character Of the Ross
barrier and the discovery OF the connec-
ton of the South Victoria Land and prob
ably King Edward VII Land, with their
continuation in the mighty mountains
running toward the southeast, which were
observed as far as So degrees south, but
which, in all probability, continue across
the antarctic continent.
Named After Queen Maud.
The entire length of the newly discov
cred mountains Is about $50 kilometers.
They have been named Queen Maud's
range.
The expedition to King Edward VII
Land, under the command Of Lieut.. Pres
tud. has given excellent results. Capt.
SCOTS discoveries have been confirmed
and the survey Of the Bay of Whales and
of the Barrier Donna by the Prestud party
are OF great interest.
A good geological collection from King
Edward VII Land and South Victoria
Land is being brought home.
The Fran arrived at the Bay of Whales
January 8. She had been delayed by the
easterly winds.
On January 16 the Japanese expedition
arrived at the Bay of Whales and landed
on the barrier near our winter quarters.
We left the Bay Of Whales January 30. |
1t was a long. voyage, with contrary
winds. All are we'll
(Signed} ROALD AMUNDSEN.