The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-14


South Pole by Capt. Amundsen--
New Revolution In Mexico Assum-
ing Alarming Proportions-The
Situation in China is Chaotic. But
Such Condition Will Not Probably
Last Long.
Especial to The Caucasian.)
Washington, d. c., March IL, 1912.
Amid all of the tense political ex-
citement at the National capital over
the political situation, in both the
Democratic and Republican camps,
everybody has taken time to consider
and comment upon the discovery of
the South Pole by Capt. Roald Am
undsen, the famous Norwegian ex-
plorer.
The first news from his expedition,
which was fitted out nearly two years
ago to try to reach the South Pole,
was received by the woria only a few
days ago in a short cablegram sent
by the Captain himself at the first
telegraph station reached on his re-
turn trip. The short announcement
was: South Pole reached Decem-
Der 14th.'
Since then quite a lengthy report
cabled by the explorer has been pub
lished, which shows that he pushed
as far last season toward the South
Pole as practicable and established
winter quarters on the mainland on
the continent surrounding the South
Pole, and that early in October,
which is the beginning of spring In
the southern hemisphere, he starte.
in his dash for the South Pole. He
describes the country as being an
elevated plateau, rising in height as
he approached the Pole @ eleven
thousand feet, with high mountain
range running north and south in the
same general direction as the Rock
les in North America and the Andes
in South America. He says that
some of the rocks on the mountains
were not covered with ice and snow,
while all the plateau and level land
was covered. With ice and snow
but he could not tell how deep as
it was not possible to dig through the
earth.
The dash to the South Pole was
over country less difficult than that
covered by Peary and Cook in their
dash to the North Pole. At the north
they travelled over water covered
with Ice, with snow and then an
open lead of water which for days
would impede and prevent their
progress; then next they were faced
with high walls of broken ice thrown
up by storms which it was almost i'm
possible to pass. On the other hand.
Capt Amundsen went over land that
was covered by ice that was fairly
smooth.
He describes the climate as being
much better than that near the
North Pole: while the temperature
was very low, running from forty to
sixty degrees below zero. yet there
was little wind, the climate was dry,
and therefore they suffered but little
from cold.
The range of mountains across
this great continent surrounding the
South Pole, which seems to be larg-
er than the United States, would ap-
pear to be a part of the Andes range
in South America, and would indi-
cate that that continent was at one
time connected with the continents
Of North and South America.
The world will look with much in
terest to the detailed reports of the
scientific observations made by Capt
Amundsen on his famous trip.
The Boiling Political Pot.
The fight for the nomination of a
candidate for President in both po-
litical camps is growing warmer and
more strenuous each day. Indeed,
it is doubtful IL there was ever a
more interesting and intense politi-
cal campaign waged before In either
party for the Presidential nomina-
ton.
President Taft, of course, has the
advantage on the Republican side.
being President. He has secured a
large number Of delegates, and 1t Is
claimed by his managers that the
people are each day understanding
more and more the great achieve
ments of his administration, and that
his success in the National Conven-
ton is already assured.
This contention, however, is fat
ly and strongly contested by the
Roosevelt headquarters. They are
demanding that the delegates to the