The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-07

The first message with the definite
statement from Amundsen that Scott
had reached the South Pole was re
eeived from Wellington, N. T., by the
Daily Express.
The cable dispatches from New Zea-
land announcing that Captain Scott
had found the South Pole, come as u
startling climax to the race which five
explorers of different nationalities have
been making to reach this last ex-
tremity of the undiscovered portion
of the globe. Captain Robert Falcon
Scott started on his expedition from
Port Chalmers, New Zealand, Noveln-
ber g, 1910.
He was well equipped for this dash
for the farthest south, having made Z
previous expedition under the direc-
tion of the Royal Geographical society.
At that time he attained a record OF
81 degrees 80 minutes which remained
the record up to the time of Lieutenant
Shackleton's notable exploits. Shackle-
ton pushed further south and in 1907
reached So deg. % min. or about 100
miles from the South Pole. This re-
mained the record and inspired naviga-
tors of many nations to attempt the
eliminating feat of reaching the pole.
Captain Scott took the route by way
OF Australia and New Zealand. lie
sailed due south into Ross sea, a great
stretch Of water reaching toward the
South Pole His chief competitor was
Captain Roald Amundsen, who is COM
missioned by the king of Norway ard
the Norwegian government. Amundsen
chose the route by way of South Amer
lea as against Scott and three Others
who went by the Australian rout7.
Amundsen left Buenos Ayres on board
the steamer Fran toward the close OF
1910. He passed through the Straits IF
Magellan and then steered for Ross
sea. the same sheet of water which
ut nn NnNFr
Zealand and Australian route
Followed Shackleton's Trail.
Captain Scott planned to follow the
same land trail that Shackleton had
taken. This is along a mountain range,
thought to be an extension or the
Andes range running southWa-d
through South America.
At the furthermost point of Ross
sea Captain Scott debarked his party
from his ship, the TerranCva- At this
point stands the great volcano. Mount
Erebus from which rises constantly
great column of steam. 1t is one of
the dreaded localities of the Antarctie
to which navigatcrs have given the
anne of Terror Bay, for here Nor
deneskiolo'S ship, the Antarctic was
crushed in the ice. Back of this bay
the steam wrapped volcano stands out
like a sentinel against the ice covered
mountain range stretching southwark.
Captain Scott made his first wint r
quarters on the slope of the mountains
and there remained until November,
1911. 1t was then that his dash be-
gan. His plan was to cover the re-
manning distance by the end of Decem-
ber and then Immediately about face
and make the dash back again
Besides his equipment of food he
had placed reliance on a score of ponies !
with % dogs and one motor sledge. He
designed to use this sledge in making
rapid progress over the comparative
ly level stretches of the foothills Due
allowance was made for the death os
ponies and dogs. the steady depletion, |
of stores and the loss of vitality of |
the party making up the expedition |
Captain Amundsen had no ponies and |
no motor sledge as his experience told |
him to place all his reliance on ST. !
berian dogs
The three other competitors in the