Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-03-16

commenced To work our way toward
the south, from that day to the 18th
OF April establishing three depots.
which in all contained quantity of
provisions OF about 1000 kilos. One
thousand six hundred kilos. including
100 kilos OF seal meat. were cached
in 50 degrees. ZOO kilos in 81 degrees,
and 500 kiios In 50 degrees south lati.
tude.
AS no landmarks We're 10 be seen.
these depnts We're marked with flags,
seven kilometers on each side in the
easterly and westerly directions.
The sun lei, MS on the 22d of April
and did not return until four months
later The winter was spent In
changing our whole outfit. which on
the depot trips was found TO be too
clumsy and solid for the smooth sur.
face OF the barrier Besides this. as
much scientific work as possible was
done and some astonishing meteoro.
logical observations were taken.
Only in the middle Of October
spring came in earnest Seals and
birds appeared. The temperature was
steady between ~ and 80 celsius (6S
degrees and 50 degrees fahrenheiu.
The original plan that all Of us
should so toward the south had been
changed Five men had to do this
work while the other three were to
start for the east and visit King Ed.
ward VII land
On October % the southern party
started. five men. four sledges, fifty
two dogs and provisions for tour
months. everything in excellent order
We reached the depot at So degrees
dogs Tor the last time got all they
wanted to eat On the Sth. southwark
again. with a daily march Of - kilo.
meters.
In order to tighten our heavy
sledges we established depots at each
degree Of south latitude.
The trip from 81 degrees to SO de
grees became pleasure trip. excel
lent ground fine sledging and an even
temperature. Everything went like a
dance.
On the 18th we reached 81 degrees.
where We established depot. on the
10th we were al 81 degrees. where we
also made a depot
The land under which we lay and
which we now had to attacl, looked
quite imposing The nearest SUBMITS
along the barrier had height from
2000 to ln.000 feet. but several Others
further south were $1,000 feet or more.
The next day we began the climb
The first part OF I, was an easy TASK
light stops and well-iilicd mountain
sides. II did not take long time, for
our willin. dogs worked their way up.
Further up we met with some small
bu, very steep glaciers. Here we had
10 harness twenty dogs To each siedge
and take the four sledges in two turns.
I'm some places II WAS 50 steep that Il
was difficult enough Ia use nur skis.
The next day We began the longest
part ol our climb Many detours hau
10 be made in order to avoid broad
cracks and open crevices These were
apparently mostly filed up. as the
glaciers in all probability had long ago
stopped moving. but We had TO be very
careful. never knowing for certain
how thick was the LAYER that covered
them.
II took lis only four days from the
barrier 70 ge; up on the vast inland
plateau.
We eamped the. light al a height Of
l5.Gn0 feet He we had TO kill
tweniy.iour Of our brave companions
and keep eighteen. six for each Of ouI
three sledges.
On the LIST of December We left this
ices without number. with It's height OF
9i0O feet. Before us. looking In the
mist and snowdrift like a frozen sea,
appeared light sloping ice plateau
filed with small hummocks.
On the 9th OF December We reach Ell
IS degrees 30 minutes. on Dec. 10.
SIS degrees - minutes. Dee II. So
degrees Is minutes: Dec Il. 50 de
grees 50 minutes. Dee. 49, 50 degrees
a. minutes
Up to this time the observations and
dead reckoning agreed remarkably
well and we made ont that We ought
to be al the pole on Dec. "a In the al.
ternoon
There was beautiful ligh.
breeze from southeast. the tempcra
ture minus % celsius CA degrees he
low zero lahrenheit and the grounC
and shedding were perfect The das
went along AS usual. and al p. NJ
We made a halt.
According To our reckoning We had
reached oar destination All of NJ
gathered around the colors "a heauil
ful silk flag an hands taking hold o.
It and planting II.
The vast plateau on which the pole
IS standing got the name OF the "Kini
Haakon VII Plateau II is vast plain,
alike ia all directions Nil. after mile
during The night We circled around ID.
camp
IN the i'm, weather We spent the for
lowing day taxing a series Of obsel