The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-08
scott HAD III new
MILES TO TRAVERSE
Across an Ice Plateau at Two Miles
Above Sea Level the
Whole Way.
SHACKLETON'SW WORK A HELP
Plan of Amundsen. Who Is More the
Scientific Explerer--Many Prob
lens Still Unsolved.

The distance over new country that
Capt Scott had to travel to reach the
south pole was about that between Yon-
kers and Philadelphia-in other words.
iii miles. He probably stuck to his
plan, which was TO follow Shackleton' g
route ov er the Barrier Ice TO the east west
trending continental coast, then up Beard
more Glacier for more than a hundred
miles and across TIE plateau. nearly two
miles above the sea. TO Shackleton
farthest; there he REACHED untrodden
ground the III miles ahead Of him to
the pole was virgin territory.
It is no disparaRement Of SCOTS &C.
hievement to cay that no one we'd he
would fail easily to reach the pole unless
circumst ancee were greatly against him.
From his winter quarters in 1902 he had
travelled over about half Of this very
same route; and on January q. 1909.
Shackleton reached his most advanced
camp on thu Same road. 421 miles nearer
the pole than Scott had attained. With
average luck II was to he expected that
Scott. resourceful as he 10 and splendidly
equipped. would overtake Shackleton's g
record and mako up the little gap Of III
miles remaining.
II was a great point in his favor that
he knew. from his own experience and
Shackleton's brilliant work. excatly what
was ahead Of him. His task was cut out
for him and he could plan for every con-
tingency. His path led over the solid
Barrier Ice and the continental land
mass. He knew his problem would not
be complicated by drift ice like that be
tween Peary and the north pole. There
is no doubt that the north pole would have
been reached at least several years before
Peary finally got there II the going hac
been. solid and secure. like that which
Scott followed to the triu mphant full
| filment Of his hopes.
His success was expected but the story
will doubtless be very interesting. Il
will be worth while, for example. to know
| IL his big motor car was at all helpful II
moving his supplies. Probably few per
sons have imagined that it could mucl
reduce the work Of his ponies and dogs.
Ampnd.en may have accomplished
great deal or not very much. but he ha
had a unique experience. Years ag'
an explorer found in the precipitious ic
front that forms tho northern edge o
the Barrier Ice a deep and wide reces
into which he sailed. Many whales wer
disporting in this remarkable bay. who's
shores are solid ice. towering 700 fee
above the sea: and so the explorer name'
the place the Bey of Whales.
Amundsen reached the neighborhoo'
Of this bay and. as ice completely blocke'
his way to King Edward VII. Land.
few miles away. where he had hoped t
winter, he entered the bay, unloade'
the Fran on the ioe foot in front Of tn
wall, managed, to carry the cargo to tn
top Of il. sent the Fran north into tn
Pacific and, for the first time in history
an explorers winter camp was pitche
on the polaf ice. He expected to plan
at least two caches OF supplies far sout
before he started at sundown for the sout
pole. Amundsen's personal qualities an
his fine record both in the Arctic an
Antarctic had made him many friend
outside Of Norway. who hoped he woul
win the prize he sought.
When Amundsen reached Madeira ol
the Fran he wrote to Nansen that in
stead Of carrying out his plan Of goin
to the Arctic through Bering Strait TO
n FIVE years drift acrossl lthe polar are
he intended to make dash for the sout
pole. He said he needed $4,000 NOR
for his Arctic enterprise and he though
that an attempt to reach the pole Nigh
reawaken public interest and bring hin
the money he required. This may prov
true, whatever his fortune has bee
in the South. One compatriot has al
ready guaranteed to make good tn
entire cost Of his southvpolar enterprise
and there is faith in Norway that tn
bunkers OF the Fran will no filed a
San Francisco with everything needle
for the comfort and safety OF her Gre
as she heads north for the Arctic Ocean.
Amundsen is distinctively a scientif
explorer and Scott had one Of the finet
scientific equipments ever taken into tn
polar regions. II is to he expected tina
good scientific work has been done b
both parties.
Geographers generally will be yer
} glad that at last both poles Of the cart
have been discovered. A great man
leading authorities have long discourage