The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-22

body ready TO set about tho task that
had TO be solved.
Already. the day before. We had
brought our sledges to the starting
place for our search toward the south.
Only In the beginning of September
did the temperature rise to such an
extent that there was any question Of
setting out then.
The First Start for the Pole.
On the sth Of September. eight men.
with seven sledges. ninety dogs. and
provisions for four months. started.
The ground was perfect. The temper
ature was not bad. The next day II
appeared that We had started too early.
as the temperature OF the following
days fell and kept steadily between
minus 80 and 60 CELSIUS (5S degrees
and rs degrees below zero Fahren.
heiO. Personally We did not suffer at
all from the cold. Our good furs pro-
tected us. But with our dogs 1t was
a different matter. II could easily be
seen that they shrunk from day 10
day. and We understood pretty soon
that they could not stand the long run
to our depot at 80 degrees south.
We agreed on returning and to wait
for the arrival OF spring. The pro-
visions were cached and of We went
for the hut. With the exception of the
loss OF few dogs and a couple OF
frozen heels everything was all right.
Only In the middle OF October spring
came In earnest. Seals and birds ap-
peared. The temperature was steady
between 20 and 80 celsius (68 de-
grees and sc degrees Fahrenheit.)
The original plan that all OF US
should 90 toward the south had been
changed. Five mon had to do this
work, while the other three were to
start for the east and visit King Ed.
ward VII. Land.
This last mentioned trip was not
included In our program, but owing to
the fact that the English had not
reached II. at least this summer. as
was their intention. We agreed that
the best thing to do was also to make
this trip.
On October 20 the southern party
started-five men, four sledges. fifty
two dogs. and provisions for four
months-everything in excellent order.
The Journey to the Pole.
From the start it was the intention
not TO drive more than 80 kilometers
day. but II appeared that this was
too little for our strong, willing ami
mails. At so degrees south we began
to build snow cairns OF mans height.
in order to have marks on our return
trip.
We reached the depot at 50 degrees
on the 9Th OF November, where the
dogs for the last time got all they
wanted TO eat. On the 9Th, southwark
again. with a daily march OF 80 kilo-
meters.
In order TO tighten our heavy
sledges We established depots at each
degree Of south latitude.
Like a Pleasure Trip.
The trip from So to So degrees. be-
came pleasure trip-exeellent
ground. fine sledging. and an even
temperature. Everything went like a
dance.
On the ninth we sighted South Vic
toria land and the continuation OF the
mountain range which Sir Ernest
Shackleton mentioned In his chart as
running toward the southeast from
the Beardmore glacier. and on the
same day we reached SO degrees and
established here depot No. 4. On the
eleventh We made the interesting dis
covery that the Ross Barrier termi.
mated in a blight toward the south.
east at Sc degrees south latitude and
l63 degrees west longitude. formed be-
tween the southeast mountain range
running from South Victoria land and
range on the opposite side running
In a southwesterly direction probably
continuation OF King Edward VII.
| land.
On the thirteenth We reached 81 de-
grees where We established n depot:
on the sixteenth we were at SIS de-
grees. where. also. We made a depot
From our winter quarters. Fran
heim." 7S degrees IS minutes south
latitude. we had been marching due
south On the seventeenth OF Novem
Der. at SIS degrees. We arrived at a
place where the land and barrier were
connected. This was done without
any great difficulty. The barrier here
rises in fluctuations to about 800 feet
Some few big creyices indicated the
limited boundary.
Here We made our head depot, IA
king provisions for sixty days OF
sledges and leaving thirty days provi
sions on the spot.
The next day We began TO climb
The first part OF It was an easy tasi
light stops and we'll filled mountain
sides II did not take long time. ici
our willing dogs worked their way UP
Further up, We met with some small
but very steep glaciers. Here We haC
10 harness 20 dogs to each sledge anC
take the four sledges In two turns II
some places II was SO steep that Z
was difiicult enough to use our skis
The next Gay began the longest par
OF our climb. Many detours had to b,
made in order to avoid broad crack,
and open crevices.
| ci,risrs Sourea ~ perIi