Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-03-14
AMuNDSEN WINS
SOUTH POLE RACE
The Norwegian Explorer Tells Of His
Antarctic Dash.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE TRIP
Captain Amundsen's Own Narrative o.
His Attainment Of the South
Pole December IA, H.
1911.


1912. by The N. Y. Times co. All
rights reserved.)
Hobart, Tasmania, March Sat
a m. on the 10th day OF February
1911. we commenced to work our way
coward the south, from that day to
she 18th OF April, establishing three
depOts, which in all contained a
auantity OF provisions OF about 1870
kllos, including LOO kilos Of seal
meat, were cached in 80 degrees, 7OO
kIlos In 81 degrees and 800 kilos In S2
degrees south latitude.
As no land marks were to be seen
ahese depots were marked with nags,
seven kilometers on each side In the
wnsterly and westerly directions.
The ground and the state OF the
Barrier were of the best and special
" we'll adapted to driving with dogs.
On February Is, we had thus travel
I'd about 100 kilometers. The weight
Of the sledges was 400 kilos, and the
@umber OF dogs was six for each
aIedge. The surface Of the barrier
was smooth and fine with no sastrugl
The crevices were very local and were
NAnnd dangerous In only two places.
For the rest long, smooth india
lions.
The weather was excellent, calm
or a light breeze. The lowest tenn
perature on these depot trips was
minus As celsius or centigrade, (4S
degrees below zero, fahrenheit.) On
che 4th of March, on our return from
che first trip beginning on the 18th
of February, we found out that the
Fran. had already left US. With
Bride and delight we heard that her
smart captain had succeeded In
sailing her furthest south and
there hosting the colors Of his coun'
aEy, a glorious moment, for him and
mis- comrades, the furthest north and
The furthest south, good old Fran
che highest south latitude attained
~as 78 degrees Al minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival Of winter We
Dad 5000 kllos Of seal meat in the
MepOts, enough for ourselves and
.alO dogs Eight dog houses, a COM
Aination of tents and snow huts
Waere built.
Having cared for the dogs the turn
same to use our solid little hut. 1t
was almost entirely covered with
snow by the middle of April. First
Ne had to get light and air. The
Lax lamp, which had a power 200
standard candles, gave us bril-
aiaMt light and kept the temperature
mp to 20 degrees celsius (6S degrees
FahrenheiD throughout the winter,
our excellent ventilation system gave
ms all the air we wanted.
In direct communication with the
nut and dog houses on the Barrier
were workshops, packing, rooms, eel
aArs for provisions, coal, wood and
Oil, plain bath, steam bath, and
observatory. Thus we had everything
within doors II the weather should
DE 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
An changing our whole outfit, which
on the depot trips was found to be
TOO clumsy and solid for the smooth
surface of the Barrier. Besides this,
% much scientific work as possible
was done, and some astonishing
meteorological 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 1t remained very low.
In Ave months there were observed
temperatures between minus so and
80 degrees celsius, (5S and rs de-
grees below zero Fahrenheit) the
lowest temperature on the 18th of
August, being minus SO degrees
Delsius. 1t was then calm. On the
list of August the temperature was
minus So degrees celsius, and there
we're six meters of wind.
The mean temperature for the year
was minus 26 degrees celsius. GAS
below zero fahrenheit.)
had expected hurricane after hur-
f8eane, but observed only two mode
rate seorms and many excellent
aaroras, in all directions.
The sanitary conditions we're of the
Aast all the winter and when the sun
gsturned on the oath OF August he
aset the men sound In mind and body
s1ady to set shout the task that had
- De solved.
Already the day before we had
Agonght our. sIedges 70 the starting
elace for our march toward the south.
Only IN the beginning Of September
cid the temperature rise to such an
extent that there was any question OF
setting out
First start for the Pole.
On the 9Th OF September eight men,
with seven sledges. ninety dogs and
e. Rs..w w.oukhn 10000