Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-03-13

had 5000 kilos of seal meat in the
deDots, enough for ourselves and 10
/ DOGS. Eight dog houses, a combi-
nation of tents and snow huts were
built.
Having cared for the dogs the turn
came to use our solid little hut 1t
was almost entirely covered with
snow by the middle of April. First
We had to get light and air.
The Lux lamp, which had a power
of 200 standard candles, gave us a
brilliant light and kept the temper
ature up to 20 degrees Celsius Cos
degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the
winter and our excellent ventilation
system gave us all the air we want
ed.
In direct combination with the
nut and dug-out on the Barriers
were workshops, packing rooms, cel-
lars for provisions, coal, wood, and
| Oil, plain bath, a steam bath, and
observatories. Thus we had every
thing within doors If the weather
should be 100 cold and stormy.
The sun left us on the 22nd of
April and did not return until four
months later The winter was spent
| in changing our whole outfit, which
on the depot trips was found to be
too clumsy and solid for the smooth
surface of the Barrier.
Besides this, as much scientific
work as possible was done, and some
astonishing meteorological observa-
tions were taken.
! There was very little snow and
there was open water close by thro'-
out the winter. For the same rea-
son higher temperature had been ex-
pected, but it remained very low.
| In five months there were
observed temperatures between min
us so and 90 degrees Celsius (5S
AM rs degrees below zero Fahren-
heit,l the lowest temperature on the
18th of August, being minus SO de-
grees Celsius. 1t was then calm.
On the lst of August the temper
ature was minus 5S degrees Celsius,
The temperature for the year was
minus 26 degrees Celsius GAS be-
low zero Fahrenheit.)
/ had expected hurricane after
hurricane, but | observed only two
moderate storms and many excellent
auroras-australis in all directions.
The sanitary conditions were of
the best all the winter, and when
the sun returned. on the oath of
August, it met the men sound in
mind and body, ready to set about
the task that had to be solved.
Already, the day before, We had
brought our sledges to the starting
plsce fc our march toward the
sopSh.-, Only in the. beginning of
September did the temperature rise
to such an extent that there was
any question of setting out.
On the Sth of September eight
men, with seven sledges, ninety dogs,
and provisions for four months,
started. The ground was perfect. The
temperature was not bad. The next
day it appeared we had started too
early, as the temperature of the fol-
lowing days fell, and was kept steady
between minus so and 60 Celsius
| (5S degrees and 76 degrees below
Fahrenheit.
Personally we did not suffer at all
from this cold. Our good furs pro-
tected us. But with our dogs it was
different matter.
! 1t could easily be seen that they
shrunk from day to day, and we
understood pretty soon that they
could not stand the long run to our
depot at so degrees south.
| We agreed on returning and to
wait for the arrival of spring. The
provisions were cached and off We
went for the hut. With the eXcep-
tion of a couple of frozen heels ev-
erything was all right.
Only in the middle of October
spring came in earnest. Seals and
birds appeared The temperature
was steady between 20 and 80 Gel
sius "a degrees and 22 degrees Fab
renheit.)
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 program, but owing
to the fact that the English had not
reached it, at least this summer, as
was their intention, We agreed that
the best ting to do was to make
this trip.
! On October 20 the southern party
started-five men, four sledges, fif-
ty-two dogs, and provisions for four
months, everything in excellent or
der.
We had made up our minds to
take the first part of the trip as
easily as possible. in order to give
ourselves and the dogs a rational
training, and on the Sd we made our
depot in 80 degrees south. We went
right ahead.
Because of the dense fog an error
of two or three kilometers happen
ed once in while. but we were
caught by the flag marks and found
those on our way without difficulty.
Having rested and fed the dogs
on all the seal meat they were able
TO eat, we started again on the 26th,
with the temperature steadily be-
tween minus 20 and 80 Celsius CA
degrees and % degrees below zero
Fahrenheit)
From the start 1t was the inten-
tion not to drive more than thirty
kllOmeterS a day hut In apnaarad