Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1912-03-14

luth OF February. 1911. we commenced
to work our way toward the south
from that day TO the nth of April 81.
tablishing three depots. which In all
contained quantity of provisions oi
about 5000 kilos. One thousand Six
hundred kilos. including 1,10o kilos Of
seal meat. were cached Ia so degrees.
100 kilos Ia 81 degrees and 500 kilos
In 81 degrees south latitude
AS no landmarks were to be seen
these depots were marked with flags.
seven kilometers on each side in the
easterly and westerly directions.
The ground and the state of the
barrier were OF the best, and specially
well adapted to driving with dogs. on
February l5, vie had thus travelled
about 100 kilometers. The weight of
the sledges was 800 kiloa. and the mum.
Der Of dogs was SIX for each sledge
The surface of the barrier was smooth
and tine with no sastrugi The crew
ices we're very local and were found
dangerous In only two places. For the
rest long. smooth undulations.
The weather was excellent. calm or 4
light breeze The lowest temperature
on these depot trips was minus III
celsius or centigrade. (49 degrees be-
low Zero Fahrenheit). On the 4th of
March, on our return from the flrst
trip beginning On the 18th al February
we found out that the Fran had 81.
ready left us. With pride and delight
We heard that her smart captain haa
succeeded in sailing her furthest south
and there hosting the eolcrs of his
country glorious moment for hin
and his Comrades the fu1thest north
nnd the furthest south good old Fran.
The highest south latitude attained
was rs degrees Al minutes.
Winter On the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival OF winter we had
6.000 kilOs or seal meat III the depots,
enough for ourselves and 10 dogs.
Eight dog houses, combination 0f
tents and snow huts, were built
Having caree for the dogs the turn
came to use our solid little hut. II was
almost entirely covered with snow by
the middle Of April
First WE had to get light and air.
The Lux lamp. which had power 5f
200 standard candles gave ns bril-
liant light and kept the temperature
I'D to 70 degrees celsius (6S degrees
Fahrenheitl throughout the winter,
and our excellent ventilation system
gave ug all the air We wanted.
In direct Communication With the
hut and dsig-ous Oh the Barrier we're
work shops, packing rooms. cellars for
provisions. coal. wood and OH, q plain
bath, steam bath and observatories.
Thus we had everything within doors
II the weather should be too cold and
stormy
The sun left us on the 22d of April
and did not return until four months
later.
The winter was spent Id changing
our whole outfit. which on the depot
trips was found to be too clumsy and
solid for fhe smooth surface or the
barrier. Besides this, as much scien-
tho work as possible Was done. and
some astonishing meteorological obser-
vationa were taken
Open Water All Winter.
There was very little snow. and
there was open water close BY through.
ont tho winter. For the same reason
higher temperature had been expected.
but Il remained very low.
I'll fiye months there were observed
temperatures between minus 80 and
s0 degrees celsius (5S and 76 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit), the lowest
Temperature on the 18th bic August
being minus So degrees celsius, +
Was then calm. on the lit of August
the temperature was minus S. degrees
aplslus, and there were six meters Of
Nipd TIE mean temperature for the
roar Waa minus a6 degrees celsius
z4.S below zero Fahrenheit)
Aa6 expected hurricane after hufri-
cane. bnt observed only twu moderate
asoraas aad many excellent aurofas-
aliRfFA1i " In III directions
Tbs sanitary conditions were Qf the
Af All Ihe winter and when The sun
z5s1z7e,: 81 ths 24th of August Il met
H aesi a0nnd Til mind ard bedy ready
81 zsz about tie task tint bad t. be
sAdz. ill., day before. w had
kf0sI 6af sI@dKes "a the starting
l12z EI1l slir ssHrch toward the south
#AIS S. zl.e beginning 81 September