The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-03-16

Hobart, Tasmania.-The recltal OF
the march of Amundsen and his little
band to the South Pole Is graphic
but simple story of extraordinary
achievement. as told by a modest lead
er, whose men are as unemotlonaNas
their captain.
1t was ON February 10. 1911. that
the march to the south was begun
over an open waste. The absence OF
all landmarks made IT, necessary for
them to plant flagABo mark their
course and to guide their return to
winter quarters on the ice barrier.
Provisions Stored.
Between the time of their start and
April IL they set up three depots, in
which they stored, in all, $50 pounds
OF provisions, of which 1920 pounds
was seal meat. OF this food they
placed 1,54O pounds in the Slst de-
gree, south latitude, and 1850 pounds
more in the 82d degree.
At the start they had favorable
weather and ground conditions, and 1t
was easy to drive their dogs. On Fep-
ruary Is the sledges. each weighing
$50 pounds. were driven 73 miles.
Six dogs made up h<e team for each
sledge. The lowest temperature they
found at this time was 49 degrees be-
low zero. Fahrenheit.
New Ship Record.
On their return on February Is
from this first trip of laying down
provisions, Amundsen and his follow
ers were rejoiced to find that in their
absence the Fran had been sailed the
farest south of any vessel and that
the Norwegian colors had been raised.
Good old Franz" Amundsen de-
scribes his feelings; "farthest north
and farthest south"
Before the arrival of winter. the
north&h summer, the crew OF the
Franhh4d in their depots six and
half tons of seal meat-enough for
themselves and 110 dogs. They had
buatahuts and tents for their dogs, and
a ySntable house had been erected for
the men. They were showed in by
April and spent very comfortable
wintqSAA Lux lamp OF 200 candle
powes Ave them brilliant light and
kept the temperature up to 20 de-
grees Fahrenheit. To-
Four Months OF Darkness.
For four months they were in dark
ness. The sun left them on April 12
but they were not idles and. working
under the light ofStheir powerful
lamp, made a complete change in theil
equipment The sledges had been
found too heavy and clumsy. All the
equipment was lightened up fol-
speed. They did some scientific work
and made some very interesting me
neurological observations.
The observation of temperatures
showed unusually mild weather
mucbf Ailder than Amundsen expect
ed tdeHps@ The general range during
the fivAn6nths they were in winte,
quarters was from So to rs degrees
below zero. The lowest temparAture
actually taken was on Ausunt IL
when the thermometer marked "a de
grees below zero. The mean tempera
ture for the year, according to Amund
sens observaaaaps. was 1i.S degrees
below zero.
Start for the Pole.
Alt was on September 3 that eigh
%Nfen and seven sledges, 80 dogs ant
provisions for four months started il
quest of the pole.
I t this time the ground was perfec
for sledge work and the temperature
was not too severe. The next day
however, they feared that they start
ed too soon, for the temperature be
gan to fall and reached between 81
and "A degrees below zero. The fine
equipment of Amundsen and tn meI
with furs protected them FROM suffer
ing, but dogs lost strength daily.
On account of the dogs. Amundse1
determined to return to the winter
quarters and wait for spring. He los
q few dogs and couple OF his mel
had their heels frozen.
Spring in October.
Spring appeared in the middle o
October. At this time the tempera
ture was from to % degrees below
zero. Amundsen, before starting
however, changed the plan that al
should go south. He determined tt
take only four men and the otheI
three were detailed to start for th'
east and visit laapg Edward VII land
On Octobet dE9 the party, which
wasfeseek the pole, started. Amund
SEM hss four men, four sledges ant
50 dogs and provisions for fou
months, was the strength OF the ex
pedition.
The first part of the march was
made In easy stages in order to con
serve the strength Of men and ami
mails. They made their depot in th'
eighueth degree on the 23d. stoppet