The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-14
BY ROALD AMuNDSEN.
Copyright, 1912, by the New York
Times Company, all rights
reserved.)
Hobart, Tasmania, March 8, 11:2O

reserved.)
Hobart, Tasmania, March s, 11:20
q. m.
On the 10th of February. 1911, we
commenced to work our way toward
the south. from that day 70 the 18th
OF April establishing three depots,
which in all contained a quantity of
provisions of about 5000 kilos. One
thousand six hundred kilos, including
LOO kilos of seal meat, were cached
In 80 degrees. 700 kilos in 81 degrees,
and 500 kilos in SO degrees south lati-
tude.
AS no landmarks were TO be seen,
these depots were marked with flags,
seven kilometers on each side in the
easterly and westerly directions.
The ground and the state of the bar
rier were of the best, especially well
adapted to driving with dogs On
Feb. Is, We had thus travelled about
100 kilometers. The weight of the
sledges was 800 kilos, and the number
OF dogs was six for each sledge The
surface of the barrier was smooth and
hne with no sastrugi The crevices
were very local and were found dam
gerous in only two places. For the
rest long, smooth undulations
The weather was excellent calm or
a light breeze. The lowest tempera-
ture on these depot trips was minus
40 celsius or centigrade, CAS- degrees
below zero Fahrenheit.) On the 4th
Of March, on our return from the first
trip beginning on the 18th of Febru-
airy. we found out that the Fran had
already left us. With pride and de-
light we heard that her smart captain
had succeeded in sailing her farthest
south and there hosting the colors of
his country, a glorious moment for
him and his comrades, the farthest
north and the farthest south. good old
Fran. The highest south latitude at.
tanned was 7S degrees Al minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival of winter we had
5000 kilos of seal meat in the depots,
enough for ourselves and no dogs.
tents and snow huts were built.
Having cared for the dogs the turn
came for US to use our solid little hut.
1t was almost entirely covered with
snow by the middle of April. First
we had to get light and air. The lux
lamp, which had a power of 200
standard candles, gave us a brilliant
light and kept the temperature up to
300 degrees celsius (63 degrees Fahren-
heit) throughout the winter, and our
excellent ventilation system gave US
all the air we wanted
In direct communication with the
hut and dug-out on the barrier were
workshops. packing rooms, cellars for
provisions, coal wood, and oil, a plain
bath, a steam bath, and observatories.
Thus we had everything within
doors IL the weather should be too
cold and stormy.
The sun left us on the 22nd Of April
and did not return until four months
later. The winter was spent in chang
ing our whole outfit, which on the
depot trips was found to be toe clum-
sy and solid for the smooth surface
of the barrier. Besides this, as much
scientific work as possible was done,
and some astonishing meteorological
observations were taken.
Open Water All Winter.
There was very little snow, and
there was open water close by
throughout the winter. For the same
reason higher temperature had been
expected. but it remained very low.
In five months there were observed
temperatures between minus so and
so degrees celsius, (58 and rs degrees
below zero Fahrenheit), the lowest
temperature on the 18th of August be-
ing minus SO degrees celsius. It was
then calm On the LIST of August the
temperature was minus So degrees
celsius and there were six meters of
wind The mean temperature for the
year was minus 26 degrees celsius
14.8 below zero Fahrenheit).
1 had expected hurricane after bur-
ricane, but i observed only two mod
crate storms and many excellent au-
roras-australis in all directions.
The sanitary conditions were of the
best all the winter and when the sun
returned on the oath of August he met
the men sound In mind and body, ready
to set about the task that had 20 be
solved.
Already, the day before, we mad
brought Gus sledges to the starting
place for our march toward the south.
Only In the beginning of September
did temperature rise to such an ex-
tent that there was any question of
setting out
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
AZURE was not bad The next day 1t
appeared that We had started too
early, as the temperature of the fol-
lowing days fell and was kept steady
between minus so and GO celsius (58
degrees and rs degrees below zero