The Red Cloud chief., 1912-03-14

brought our sledges to the starting
place for our march toward the south.
Oniy in the beginning OF September
did the temperature rise to such an
extent that there was any question OF
setting out
First start for the Pole.
On the 8th of September eight men,
with seven slcdges, ninety dogs and
provisions for four months started.
The ground was perfect. The TEN.
perature was not bad. The next day
IL appeared that we had started too
early, as the temperature OF the FOL.
lowing days fell and was kept steady
between minus so and 90 celsius tJS
degrees and 76 degrces) below zero
fahrenheit. Personally we did not
suffer at all from this cold. Our good
furs protected us. But with our dogs
II was dilferent matter. II could
easily be seen that they shrunk IRON
day TO day. and We understood pretty
soon that they could not stand the
south.
We agreed on returning and to walt
for the arrival of spring. The provis.
ions were cached and off We went for
the hut. with the exception of the
loss of few dogs and a couple OF
frozen heels everything was all right.
Only in the middle of October spring
came in earnest. Seals and birds ap.
pcared. The temperature was steady
between 20 and so celsius t68 degrees
and SO degrees fahrenheit.
The original plan that all of us
should go 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. This last mentioned
trip was not included in our pro.
gram. but owing to the fact that the
English had not reached II, at least
this summer. as was their Intention.
we agreed that the best thing TO do
was also to make this trip.
On Ocober 90. the southern party
started. five men, four sledges. fifty.
two dogs. and provisions for four
months, everything in excellent
order.
The Journey to the Pole. 4,
We had made up our minds to take
the first part Of the trip as early as
possible In order to give ourselves
and the dogs Il rational training. and
on the 23rd we made our depot In so
degrees south. We went right ahead.
In, Of nr
Of two to three kilomeeers happened
once in a while, but we were caught
by the fagmarks. and found these on
our way without difficulty.
Having rested and fed the dogs on
all the seal meat they were able to
with the temperature steadily between
minus 20 and 30 celsius "A degrees
and 90 dgrees belOwe gro. fahrenheiD. =.
From the start 1t was the intention
not to drive more than 30 kilometers
Il day. but II appeared that this was
too little for our strong. willing ami.
mails. At 80 degrees south we began
To build snow cairns of q mans height,
in order to have marks on our re.
turn trip. On the 31st we reached
the depot at 81 degrees. and stopped
there one day and fed the dogs on as
much pemmican as they wanted.
We reached the depot ut 81 degrees
on the 5th of November. where the
dogs for the last time got all they
wanted to eat. On the Sth, sOuthward
again, with daily march Of 30 kilo.
meters.
In order to light our heavy sledges
we established depots at each degree
of south latitude.
Like a Pleasure Trip.
The trip from so 10 81 degrees be.
came a pleasure trip, excellent ground.
fine sledging, and an even tempera.
ture. Everything went like dance.
On the 9th, we sighted South Vic.
toria land and the continuation OF the
mountain range which Sir Ernest
ShackeltOn mentioned in his chart as
running toward the southeast from
the Beardmore glacier. and on the
same day we reached S3 degrees and
established here depot No 4. On the
lltn we ulaUc an interesting discovery
that the Ross barrier terminated in
blight toward the southeast at 50
degrees south latitude and l63 degrees
west longitude, formed between the
| southeast mountain range running
from South Victoria land and a range
on the opposite side running in a
southwesterly direction. probably Il
continuation of King Edward VII
land.
On the 18th we reached 81 degrees
where We established Il depot, on the
! 10th We were at 50 degrees, wher,
also. we made depot.
From our winter quarters. Fran
heim," Is degrees 3S minutes soutl
latitude, we had been marching due
south. on the 18th of November, a
S5 degrees, we arrived at place
where the land and barrier were con
nected. This was done without an,
great difficulty. The barrier her,
rises in undultations 10 about 80,
feet. Some few big crevices indicated