Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-02
longed storm has hitherto been record
ed in these regions in December.
Slow Progress in the Deep Snow.

The 9th, after the storm, eighteen inches
of wet snow covered the originally soft
surface. We could not have advanced at
all had not the leading pony worn snow
shoes. The men hauled on skis. 1t took
fourteen hours without a meal to do eight
miles. At the first halt the ponies were
destroyed as we had no more forage for
them. Today we have come through the
pass and descended on Beardmore glacier.
but only with infinite difficulty and after
twelve hours work. The soft snow
brought by the storm continued over the
pass. Men on foot sank to their knees,
and sledges sank to their crossbars con-
tinually. The dogs have given some help,
but could only be lightly laden on such
surface.
l send this note by returning teams.
The party is very fit, but cannot keep up
the hours which we have been working
The storm has already cost us five DAYS.
Its effects may yet delay us further,
which would be serious matter. Other
wise everything has worked as planned.
We hope to find better conditions as we
advance up the glacier. We are neces-
Sarily dependent on the weather and the
season thus far has been very unpromis-
ing
Hard to Cover Five Miles a Day.
December u, latitude IS degrees min
utes south, longitude 1913 degrees 4 min
utes east, height about $500 feet, four
miles south, thirty west, Of Mount OAR
win. Largely as a result of the storm re-
ported in my last dispatch, the lower
reaches of the glacier were filled with ter
rlbly soft snow Men on foot sank to the
knee at each step. 1t would have been
quite impossible to advance had we not
pulled on skis. AS it was, the runner sur
face of sledges proved inadequate. They
frequently sank to the crossbars, requir-
ing to be extracted with standing pulls.
For four days we struggled in this
morass, scarcely advancing five miles
day, although working ten to eleven
hours. 1t is difficult to pitch camp and
load sledgeS on such a surface. On the
fifth day the surface grew a little harder
and We were able to push on, still pulling
on skis. We did not get abreast of Cloud
breaker mountain until the 18th, so that
the snow cost us weeks advance.
Since the 10th we have been able to
make very good marches, working UP
from thirteen to twenty-three statute
miles per day. BY program / arranged
to push on from the eighty-fifth parallel
with eight men and twelve units Of pro-
visions, but l hoped to reserve a margin
over this. AS we stand We are only half
a days food short on program and should
have good chance of getting through.
The weather continues unsatisfactory.
we idu I'd IUdTCH WltHOuL Sight Oh ldnQ
On occasions. We are getting intermit-
tent fog in this most ecrevassed part OF
the glacier. Everybody is in the best Of
health and spirits
1t has been most difficult to select the
returning party OF four which carries this
note. Our position constitutes our upper
glacier depot. Complete depots have been
established on the homeward route. The
track of the barrier is well marked with
snow cairns. The members going forward
are Scott Lieut.. Evans. Wilson, Bowers,
Oates. Lassley, Petty Officer Evans and
Cream.
Last Word From Scott.
January 3, 1912. latitude 1872,
height $500 feet.-After leaving the
upper glacier depot, south of Mount
Darwin 1 steered southwest two DAYS
This did not keep us clear OF pressure
ridges and crevasses. which occurred
frequently at first and gave us trou-
BILE, but we rose rapidly in altitude.
Probably the difficult places were more
snow-covered than farther eastward.
The advantage of this course was
mainly felt on the third and fourth
days, when, owing to our altitude, we
got a splendid view Of the distribution
of land masses fringing the ice sheet
and the arrangement of ice falls.
Since leaving the depot our marches
have averaged over fifteen statute
miles day.
Christmas day we were close up to
the seth parallel, and the prospect of
Christmas fare gave us an excellent
march, seventeen miles, but the eff
feet was not SO happy the following
day. The surface grew more difficult
as we approached the S7th parallel. New
Year eve, in latitude So degrees So min
utes, we depoted there a unit of pro-
visions and rebuilt our sledges with new
short runners, which remarkable piece of
work was performed by the seamen OIL
the party under adverse conditions.
Although It cost us nearly days