Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-07
DISPATCH TO A LONDON
DAILY BASIS OF REPORT
Latter's Early Return to Civiliza-
ton Surprises Scientists.
WIFE DOUBTS HIS SUCCESS
Mrs. Scott "Dares Not Believe It."
Five Engaged in Dash-News
Pleases Peary-No
Surprise Here.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand,
March Capt. Roald Amundsen,
the Norwegian explorer, states
that Capt. Scott, the British ex-
plcrer, reached the south pole.
| LONDON, March THE
first message with the def
mite statement from Amundsen
that Scott had reached the south
pole was received from Yelling
ton, New Zealand, by the Daily
Express.
Capt. Amundsen's return TO civilization
has caused some surprise This is felt
| especially by the members of the British
Royal Geographical Society, who declared
| this morning that they have had no news
OF Capt Amundsen except that contained
in the newspaper dispatches recording his
| arrival in Tasmania. -
HRS. Scott is Skeptical.
Mrs. Scott, the wife of the British ex-
plorer. has not received any direct news
| of her husbands reported success She
said this morning that she was unable to
| imagine how Capt. Amundsen would
know. declaring: II hope the news is
true, but at present / do not dare to be-
lieve it,
| Lieut.. Evans, the London secretary Of
the Scott expedition. authorizes the state
ment that no news whatever of Capt.
Scott's success had reached the local
| headquarters beyond the newspaper dis
patches.
| 1t is stated on good authority, accord
| ing to a special dispatch received here
this evening from Chrstiania, Norway.
that Captain Roald Amundsen. the Nor
wegian explorer and leading rival OF
Capt Scott. did not reach the south pole.
Climax to Race of Five.
The cable dispatches from New Zealand
announcing that Capt Scott had found
the south pole come as startling climax
| to the race which five explorers or dif-
| ferent nationalities have been making to
reach this last extremity of the undtscov-
cred portion of the globe.
| Capt. Robert Falcon Scott started on
| his expedition from Port Chalmers. New
Zealand, November 20, 1910. He was
| well equipped for this dasn for the far
thest south. having made a previous ex-
petition under the direction of the Royal
4 ~ hn
attained a record of 81 degrees 30 min
| utes, which remained the record up TO
the time OF Lieut.. Shackletons notable
exploit.
Shackleton pushed farther south and in
| 1907 reached SS degrees 23 minutes. or
| about 100 miles from the south pole.
| This remained the record and inspired
the hardy navigators of many nations to
| attempt the eliminating feat OF reaching
| the pole itself.
Both Entered Ross Sea.
| Gait Scott took the route by way of
Australia and New Zealand. He sailed
| due south into Ross sea, u great stretch
| of water reaching toward the south pole.
| His, chief competitor in this dash was
| Capt Roald Amundsen. who is commits
stoned by the King of Norway and the
| Norwegian government.
Amundsen chose the route by way or
South America, as against Scott ana
three others, who went by the Australian
route Amundsen left Buenos Aires on
| board the steamer Fran toward the c.ose
of 1910. He passed through the Straits
| of Magellan and then steered for Ross
sea, the same sheet of water which Scott
| had gained by way Of the New Zealand
and Australian route.
Followed Shackleton's Trail.
Cant. Scott planned to follow the same
| land trail that Shackleton had taken.
| This is along a mountain range thought
| 70 be an extension of the Andes range
running southwark through South Amer.
lea.
At the furthermost point Of Ross sea
Can't. Scott debarked his party from his
ship, the Terra Nova. Immediately at
the point of debarkation stands out the
great volcano, Mount Erebus. from which
rises constantly great column OF steam.
II is one of the dreaded localities of the
antarctic to which navigators have given
the name of Terror bay, for here Norden.
skjold's ship. the Antarctic. was crushed
in the ice Back of this bay the steam
wrapped volcano stands out like a senti-
mel against the ice-covered mountain
range stretching southwark.
Capt. Scott made his first winter quar-
ters on the slope of the mountains. and
there remained until November. l911 1t
was then that his dash began. His plan
was to cover the remaining distance by
the end of December. and then immediate
ly about face and make the dash back
again.
Carried a Motor Sledge.
Besides his equipment of food he had
placed reliance on a score of ponies. with
twenty-nine dogs and one motor sledge.
He designed to use this sledge in making
rapid progress over the comparatively
level stretches Of the foothills. Due al
lowance was made for the death oe