The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-03-13
Conquerlng Norwegian Reaches
Antarctic Goal in Wide Plateau
After Plunge Through Ice.
MOUNTAINS OF ICE
BLOCKED The WAY
Glaciers in PIenty-Norwesian Flag
Pitched at Pole on Dec. 17-Named
Huge Mountains for Queen
Maud Confirms Scott.

New York.-The New York Times
publishes Captain Roald Amundsens 3
account of this discovery of the South
Pole. The interest excited by the news
of this great feat was sufficient to
keep thousands of persons out of bed
until copies of "The Times" could be
secured.
Captain Amundsen describes the
long journey over the great ice bar
rier and tells how he followed the out
line of South Victoria and King Ed
ward Land. A great mountain range
which stretches across this region,
the general direction of which ho fol-
lowed, he named the Queen Maud
Range. The hardy explorer does not
devote many words to his descriptions
of his feelings upon arriving at the
Pole, but there is just sufficient vague
ness with regard to details to suggest
that he shared the great discovery
with others. He says that he left his
winter quarters on the Bay of Whales,
on October 20.
After crossing the great ice barrier
and following the mountain ranges he
arrived December at Shackleton's
Farthest South. Following the due
southern direction, he came to great
plateau in six days march. This plat
eau, which he reached on December
IA, was a vast plain, monotonous in
its appearance. stretching for miles in
every direction.
Observations showed that the party
was in latitude SO degrees So minutes
South. On December 10 the party
travelled nine kilometres in as near
as possible a direct southerly line. OBJ
servations taken at the point then
reached on December Is and the fol.
lowing day fixed this as the approx
mate position of the Pole A hut was
erected here and the Norwegian flag
hoisted. 1t remained as the only evi-
dence Of the discovery when the trip
back began.
The Pole was in the midst of the
great plateau, which Amundsen, in
honor of the King of Norway, named
King Haakon Plateau.
The following is that part Of
Amundsen's narrative, copyrighted by
the New York Times, which tells of
his actual attainment of the South
Pole:
The Pole Attained.
THAT day was a beautiful one-a
light breeze from southeast, the tenn
perature minus 23 Celsius, (9.4 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit,) and the
ground and sledging were perfect. The
day went along as usual, and at
p NJ, we made halt.
According to our reckoning we had
reached our destination All of us
gathered around the colors-a beauti-
full silk flag-all hands taking hold Of
1t and planting 1t.
"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 during the night we circled
around the camp.
"In order to observe the pole as
close as possible, we travelled as near
South as possible, the remaining
kilometres.
"On December 16 there we camped.
1t was an excellent opportunity There
was a brilliant sun. Four of us took
observations every hour of the days
tventy-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 hui
man power to do it with the instru.
ments we had-a sextant and an arti.
fetal horizon.
"On December II everything was in
order on the spot We fastened to the
ground a little tent we had brought
along, Norwegian flag, and the Fran
pendant on the top of it."
Captain Amundsen sums up the
principal results of the expedition as,
first, the determining of the extent of
the Ross Barrier; second, ascertaining
the apparent connection of South Vic
toria Land and King Edward Land
and the huge mountain ranges therein
which probably continue across the
Continent. He named them Queen
Maud's ranges; third, the exploration
of part of King Edward Land; fourth,
confirmation of the discoveries of Cap
tain Scott.