The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-18
AMUNDSEN''S STORY
OF DASH TO POLE.
INTREPID EXPLORER PLANTS
FLAG OF NORWAY AND STAYS
THREE DAYS At SOUTH POLE
Little Party Of Determined Men Fact
Untold Hardships and Peril In Sue.
cessful Effort to. Reach Southern.
most Point Of World.

Hobart. acknowledgement Raold |
Amundsen, the explorer accredited I!
with the discovery of the south pole, |
has issued statement in which he |
declares that he and his party reach |
ed the south pole on December IA,
1911. and that the party spent three |
days at the pole, where the flag of
Norway was planted.
Captain Amundsen says the pole is
situated on. vast plateau, which
stretches away in either direction for
miles and miles.
The explorer whose name will go
down through the centuries to come
for his contribution to the worlds
greatest discoveries, has given the
story Of his journey to the world in
his characteristic simple and unas.
Stunning way, and that story seems to
have been generally accepted as the
unauthorized truth. m~
The last stages of the journey
seem to have been the most difficult,
barring the last days, for the explor.
ers. The real dash for the pole be-
gan on February 10, 1911, when the
party began to work its way south,
establishing food depots on the way.
For four months from April % the
party did not see the sun, but this
winter season seems not to have
caused any great hardship, except to
the dogs, while the time was profit.
q In, tChi
geological observations. There was
very little snow, and there was open
water by the camp of the exploring
party throughout the winter.
A start was made from the winter
home on September 8, but encounter
Ing severe weather, the thermometer
showing rs degrees below zero, Cap
tain Amundsen ordered return to
their winter hut to wait for spring
weather, which did not come until the
middle of October.
On October 20, five men of the par
ty started on the final dash for the
pole, having four sledges, fifty-two
| dogs and provisions for four months.
The trip must indeed have been a
| trying one, even for men used to such
hardships. Caches of food were made
at different points along the route
taken, to be used on the return jour.
ney, in case the explorers should ever
return.
Over mountains and glaciers, across
Ice covered stretches of water, where
the ice creaked and groaned and
threatened to at any moment enguli
the entire party, through valleys and
across plains. the intrepid explorers
patiently plodded, until on December
s camp was established at the point
farthest south visited by Lieutenant
Shackelton. From there on to the
paratively easy, being mostly down
hill pull for the dog teams.
On December IA at p. m. they
halted, having by the reckonings
made, arrived at the goal for which
many brave and hardy explorers had
searched in vain.
Then, according to Captain Amund
sen, all of the party gathered around
the colors-a beautiful silk fag-al
hands taking hold of it and planting
it,
Three days were spent in that vi
cinity, and numerous observations
were taken and reckonings made, thu
explorers having thoroughly satisfied
themselves that the south pole had a
last been visited by man.
On December II there was fastene,
to the ground little tent which hal
been taken along. Norwegian fla
and the Fran pendant on the top of it
, The Norwegian home at the soutl
, pole was christened "Polheim."
, Then began the return trip on tn
17th.- and the return seems to hav
been much easier than when the me-
!. were searching for the pole.
The Fran. conveying the victoriou
explorers, left the Bay of Whales O
January 80, and after long voyag
against contrary winds, arrived q
j. ! Hobart