Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-03-20


aIike-ss degrees. So minutes. Ito S
onds south.
Before Us lay an absolutely plan
plateau. only here and there marked
with tiny sastrug1
Establish Last Depot
In the afternoon We passed IS de
grees 20 minutes tShackietons fur
thest south was IS c srees Is min.
utos). We camped end established
our last depot. depot No 10 From 80
degrees Is minutes the plateau began
to slope down very gently and smooth
~ toward the other side.
On the 9th OF December We reached
IS degrees 80 minutes; on December
10. IS degrees So minutes: December
II, 50 degrees Is minutes; December
70. 90 degrees 30 minutes. December
10, 50 degrees 40 minutes
Up to this time the observations
and dead reckoning agreed remarka
bly, well and we made out that we
ought to be al the pole on Declmber
Ii in the afternoon.
That day was a beautiful one-a
light breeze from the southwest. the
temperature minus % celsius 1914 de-
grees below zero FahrenheitD and the
ground and sledging were perfect
The day went along as usual. and at
three p. m we made halt.
According to our reckoning we had
reached our destination. All OF us
gathered around the colors-a beauti-
full silk fiag-all hands taking hold OF
1t and planting IT,
Name Plateau King Haakon WI.
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 the fine weather we spent the fol
lowing day taking a series of obser-
yations from six a. m. to seven p. N.
The result gave US SO degrees IS min
utes.
In order to observe the pole as close
as possible We travelled, as near south
as possible. the remaining nine kilo-
meters.
On December IS there we camped 1t
was an excellent opportunity. There
was brilliant sun. Four of us took
every hour of the days
twenty-four hours The exact result
will be the matter of a professional
private report.
In the antarctic.
This much is certain--that we OBJ
served the pole as close as it is in
human power to do it with the instru-
ments We had-a sextant and an arti-
fetal horizon. On December II every
thing was in order on the spot. We
fastened to the ground little tent we
had brought along. a Norwegian flag
and the Fran pendant on the top
of 1t.
The Norwegian home at the south
pole was called "Polheim"
The distance from our winter quar-
tiers to the pole was about l 400 kilo-
meters. The average march day was
rs kilometers
Start on Return Trip.
We started on the return trip on
the 18th of December. Unusually ia
vorable weather made our way home
easier than the Journey
to the pole. We arrived at our winter
quarters, 'Framheim," on the 25th OF
January. 1912. with two sledges and
eleven dogs. all well.
The daily average speed on the re-
turn trip was SO kilometers; the low
est temperature was minus 81 celsius
CPS degrees below zero Fahrenheit);
the highest. minus celsius (2S de
grees above zero F'ahrenheit).
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
continue across the antarc-
tic continent.
The entire length of the newly dis
covered mountains is about $50 kilo-
meters. They have beer named
Queen Maud's Range"
Confirm scott's Discoveries.
The expedition to King Edward VII.
land. under the command of Lieuten-
ant Prestud, 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 Prestund party are of great inter
est.
A good geological collection from
King Edward VII. and South Victoria
land is being brought home.
The Fran arrived at the Bay OF
Whales on the ninth of January. She
had been delayed by the roaring for
ties" on account of the easterly winds.
On January is 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 January so 1t was long voyage.
with contrary winds. All are we'll.
Feared the 6riny Deep.
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