Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-09

cred hut and also kept the temperature
at 6S degrees Fahrenheit Great care
was taken to secure proper ventilation.
which was most satisfactory thruout.
Connected with the hut were work.
shops, provision cellars. observatortes
and baths, all dug out Of the Ice bar
rier. so the headquarters were abso-
lutely self-contained. In addition to the
alteration Of the equipment consider
able amount Of scientific work was
done and many interesting observa-
tions were made
The temperature during the winter
averaged between minus so and minus
so celsius, but there wass'very little
snow and actually open water was
close at hard. The coolest day was
Aug. 13, when minus So celsius was
registered. Contrary to expectation.
there were only two storms thruout the
five months both moderate. Thanks
to the excellent living arrangements,
the whole party was in'splepdid health
when the sun realleared Aug. "a and
all were eager f2f the southwark dash.
Early in September the temperature
rose rapidly and on the sth party
started, consisting of eight men. seven
sledges and ninety dogs, carrying four
months provisions. The expedition no
sooner started than there was a sudden
cold spell. the thermGmetery showing
well below so. This told terribly on
the dogs, but the men were we'll pro-
tected by furs. At depot 80 degrees 1t
was decided to return. and a long stay
was made waiting for spring, which
arrived in the middle of October.
The party had spent the time mostly
IN their hut, only few dogs got lost
and some frozen feet of the men being
the losses.
Spring temperature, between 20 and
81 degrees Celsius, seals and Dlrds
seen again, and a change of plan was
now made. Five men were to go south
and the other three to so east to King
Edward land. as the English had not
been able to get there during the pre-
vious summer. On Oct. 20 the party set
out for the south with five men. four
sledges and fifty-two dogs.
Provisions were taken for four
months. The temperature remained
steady and the party took it, easy. The
fog was thick, but the men were guild
ed by the depot flags. The plan was
twenty to thirty kilometers per day.
but the dogs, fed up plentifully with
seal fish. could not be kept within this
limit. Along the journey We're built
snow pillars, six to seven feet high, to
mark the return route.
Getting Close to Pole.
From SO degrees 25 minutes onward
the slope Of the plateau commenced to
gradually decline, enabling steady pro-
gress to be made during the next Ave
days. Thus IA. II, 10. Is and Is min
utes, respectively. were reeled off.
Dec. 13. SO degrees As minutes being
reached. the party rckoned they ought
to reach tie pole the next day. Then.
observations and dead reckoning hav-
ing agreed, as wei as beautiful wealth
or and perfect going having marked
Dec. II. at 8 p. m. that day, the party
halted. reckoning they. had arrived at
the pole. u
& Then. each member taking hold Of
their sillssn nag, they planted 1t. nam
ing the plateau, which IS seemingly
endless plain, after King Haakon. Fine
weather continued next day, enabling
them to take thirteen hours observa-
tions. which gave as the result 80 de-
grees IS minutes.
The party therefore travelled the re-
naming nine kilometers as nearly true
south as possible, camping again on
Dec. 16 in the bright sunshine. Four
members Of the party then took obser-
vations every hour Of the twenty-four.
Amundsen says: ~,
THE exact result will be, a matter for
expert examination. This much is GER
tain-we observed the position of the
pole as close as it is in human power
to do with the instruments we had,
namely, a sextant and an artificial
horizon. The place circles within a
radius Of eight kilometers."
On Dec. II a ceremony was per-
formed, a small tent being erected. with
the Norwegian flag and the Fran pen
nant fastened to the tent top This
home on the south pole was appropri-
ately named Polheim.
Return Journey Begun.
The 1,400 kilometer journey was re-
commenced. On the outward march
the average progress was twenty five
kilometers per day. but fine weather
enabled them to average thirty-six
kilometers when returning. Winter
quarters were reached on Jan. 25. All
the party were we'll. with two sledges
and eleven dogs. after experiencing the
lowest temperature of minus 81 celsius
and the highest of minus celsius.
Amundsen says the chief results. be-
sides reaching the pole. are "the de-
termination Of the extent and charac-
ter of Ross, barrier the discovery Of
the connection Of South Victoria land
and probably King Edward land, with
their continuation in mighty mountains
running toward the southeast. which
were observed as far as So degrees
south. but In all probability continuous
across the antarctic continent.
1.-THE entire length Of the newly dis
covered mountains is about $50 kilom-
eters. We gave them the name Of
Queen Maud's ranges.
"The expedition to King Edward land
under command of Lieutenant Prestud
achieved excellent results. Scott's dis
coveries are confirmed and the party's
survey Of the Bay Of Whales and Bar
rier surface are Of great interest. A
good geological collection from King
Edward ,land and South Victoria land
has been brought
The Fran arrived at the Bay Of
Whales on jan q. after delay by easter
ly winds.
On Jan. 16 the Japanese expedition
arrived and landed near Amundsen's