The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-15

Inc place got the name OF Devil 8
Dancing ROOM. This part of our
march was the most unpleasant. On
Dec. 9Th We got our greatest height,
sccording to the hypsometer and ane'
roid 1880 feet, at 81 degrees 40 min.
utes south. On Dec We came out of
the bad weather Once again the sun
smiled down on us. Once again we
could get an observation; Dead reck,
oning and observation were exactly
alike-8S degrees, IS minutes, 1876
seconds south.
Before us lay an absolute plain
plateau, only here and there marked
with a tiny sastrugi g.....
In the afternoon we passed SS de.
grees % minutes (Shackleton's furth-
est south was IS degrees % minutes)
We camped and established our last
depot depot No. 10, From 80 degrees
rs minutes the plateau began to
slope down very gently and smoothly
toward the other side.
On the 9th of Dec. We reached SS
degrees 80 minutes, onsDecs19 IS de-
grees Sc minutes, Dsc.Ml1 SO degrees
Is minutes, Dec. IL S9degrees 80 min.
utes, Dec. IS SO degrees 45 minutes.
Up to this time the observations
and dead reckoning agreed remark
ably we'll and We made out that we
ought to be at the pole on Dec. 14th
In the afternoon.
The Pole Attained.
That day was a beautiful one-a
light breeze from southeast, the tenn
perature minus % celsius ga degrees
below zero FahrenheiD and the
ground and sleighing were perfect.
The day went along as usual and at
p. m. we made halt. According TO
our reckoning We had reached our
destination. All of us gathered around
the colors-a beautiful silk f1ag--all
hands taking hold of it and planting it..
The vast plateau on which the pole
is standing got the name OF the king
Haakon VII. Plateau" 1t is a vast
plain, alike in all directions, mile after
mile
In the fine weather We spent the fol-
lowing day taking a series of observa'
tons from 6 a. m. to 7 p. m. The re.
suit gave us SO degrees Sc minutes.
In order to observe the pole as
close as possible we travelled, as near
south as possible. the remaining nine
kilometers.
On Dec. 18th there we camped 1t
was an excellent opportunity. There
was a brilliant sun. Four of us took
observations every hour Of the days
twenty-four hours The exact result
will be the matter of a professional
private report.
This much is certain--that We OBJ.
served the pole as close as it is in
human power to do with the instru-
ments We had--a sextant and artificial
horizon.
On Dec. II everything was in order
on the spot. We fastened to the
ground little tent we had brought
along, Norwegian flag and the Fran
pennant on the top of it. The Norwe.
gian home at the South pole was
called "Polheim." 4. .. -
The distance from our, winter quar-
ters to the pole was about 400 kilo-
meters. The average march day
was twenty-five kilometers.
The Return Journey.
We started on the return trip on the
18th of Dec. Unusually favorable
weather made our way home consider
ably easier than the journey to the
pole We arrived at our winter quar-
tiers, "Framheim," on the 25th of JAN,
1912, with two sledges and eleven
dogs, all we'll. L ...1.. -.,s
The daily average speed on the re-
turn trip was thirty-siX kilometers
Lowest temperature was minus 81 eel
sius (23S degrees below zero Fahren-
heit); the highest minus celsius (23
degrees above zero FahrenheiD.
Among the results are the deter
mination of the extent and character
of the Ross Barrier and the discovery
of the connection of South Victoria
Land and probably King Edward VII
Land, with their continuation in the
mighty mountains running toward the
southeast, which were observed as far
as SO degrees south, but which in all
probability continue across the Ant.
arctic continent ~t,a.sa ~ 81.
The entire length of the newly dis.
covered mountains is about $50 kilo-
meters. They have. been named
Queen Maud's range" So.
The expedition to King Edward VII,
Land under the command OF Lieuten-
ant Frestud has given excellent re-
suits Scott's discoveries have been
confirmed and the survey of the Bay
of Whales and of the Barrier Dome by
the Prestud party are of great interest.
| A good geological collection from
King Edward VII. Land and South Vic
! toria Land is being brought home.
The Fran arrived at the Bay OF
Whales on the 9Th of Jan. She had
been delayed by the Roaring Forties"
on account of the easterly winds.
On Jan. 10th the Japanese expedi-
ton arrived at the Bay of Whales and
landed on the barrier near our winter
quarters We left the Bay of Whales
on Jan 80. It was long voyage,
with contrary winds. All are we'll.
= (Signed) ROALD AMUNDSEN.
MAY MARRY FRENCH ACTRESS