Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-03-14

Hobart, Tasmania. - On the 10th
of February, 1911, w commenced
to work our way toward the south,
from that day to the 18th of April
establishing three depots, which
in all contained a quantity Of provis-
ions of about 5000 kilos. One thou
sand six hundred kilos, including
1,1OO kilos of seal meat, were cached
in 80 degrees, 700 kilos in 81 degrees
and 500 kilos in 80 degrees south lat
ttude. ~
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 barrier
we're of the best, and specially well
adapted to driving with dogs. On
February 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 fine with no sastrugi.
The crevices were very local and
were found dangerous in only two
places. For the rest, long, smooth
fluctuations.
The weather vas excellent, calm OF
a light breeze. The temperature on
these depot trips was minus As Gel
sius or C~entigrade Gao degrees below
zero ~Fahrenheitl. On the 4th Of
March, on our return from the frs
trip, beginning on the 18th of Feb
ruary, we found out that the Fran
had already left us. With pride ant
delight we heard that her smart cap
tain hade succeeded in sailing he
farthest south and there hosting thu
colors of his country. A glorious me
ment for him and his comrades-th
farthest north and the farthest south
Good old Fran. The highest sout'
latitude attained was rs degrees Al.
minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival of winter we ha
5000 kilos of seal meat in the depots
enough for ourselves and ITO dog:
Eight dog houses, a combination G
tents and snow huts, were built.
Having care for the dogs, the tur
came to use our solid little hut.
was almost entirely covered wit
snow by the middle of April. Firs
we had to get light and air. The Lu
lamp. which had a power Of 200 stan
ard candles, gave us a brilliant ligi
and kept the temperature up to :
degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahre'
heit). throughout the winter, and O
excellent ventilation system gave
: all the air we wanted.
In direct communication with II
hut and dug-out on the barrier we
workshops, packing rooms, cellars +
provisions, coal, wood, and oil, a pla
bath, a steam bath and observatorie
Thus we had everything within doc
If the weather should be too cold al
stormy.
Tile sun left us on the 22nd of Ap
and did not return until four mont
later. The winter was spent
changing our whole outfit, which
the depot trips was found to be
clumsy and solid for the smooth 81
face Of the barrier, Besides this,
much scientific work as possible W
done, and some astonishing meteo
logical observations were taken.
Open Water All Winter
There was very little snow, a
there was open water close
throughout the winter. For the sal
reason higher temperature had be
expected, but it remained very low
In five months there were obserS
temperatures between minus 50 a
GO degrees Celsius (5S and 76
grees below zero Fahrenheit), I
lowest temperature on the 18th
August being minus So degrees {
sius. It was then calm. On the
Of August the temperature was mil
So degrees Celsius, and there W