The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-09
CAPT. AnUNDSEN'
DISCOVERY OF
SOUTH POLE
viii Not Return To Europe To
Be LiOnized.
NO WORD YET FROM SCOTT
Capt. Amundsen Reached the Pole on
December IA and Stayed There
Three Days

when Capt. Raold Amundsens
brother Leon personally took the eX'
siorer's telegram announcing that he
had attained the south pole to King
Haakon at Christiania Thursday, his
majesty was attending the maneuyers
at Sandviken King Haakon immedi-
ately read the dispatch and address
ed one to Amundsen at Hobart Tas-
mania, saying: 81 thank you for the
information. The queen and beg to
send you and all on board the Fran
sur most cordial congratulations on
the occasion of your results which are
SO satisfactory to all of u.s. This
is all the correspondence that has
passed between King Haakon and
Cant. Amundsen King George of
Great Britain and King Frederick of
Denmark have telegraphed their felic-
itations to King Haakon.
The confirmation Of Capt Raold
Amundsens attainment of the south
pole on December IA, 1911, received
yesterday from the explorer himself
at Hobart, Tasmania, sets at rest the
conflicting reports current on the sub
ject Thursday, A dispatch published
by the Daily Express in London on
Thursday morning, dated Wellington,
n. H., declared that Amundsen had
stated that Scott had reached the
south pole. It was assumed that this
declaration indicated that Amundsen
himself had not succeeded in attain
ing the object of his expedition and
credit was generally given to the Brit
ish explorer
Nothing has hitherto been heard
from Capt Scott, and Amundsen now
denies that he said OF telegraphed
anything referring to his British rival
or his expedition. The honor for the
achievement of reaching the south
sole must now be given to the Nor
wegian explorer until Capt. Scott an
sOunces the result of his expedition.
Capt Amundsen has for many years
been considered one OF the most dar-
ing and most competent of Arctic and
Antarctic explorers. sailor from
his youth, he started polar research
at the age of 25, when he participated
in the Belgian Antarctic expedition
under the command Of Gerlach. He
was first officer OF the vessel and the
VOYAGE lasted from 1897 to 1899 On
ais return he made up his mind to
costinue polar research, but this time
ne decided to 90 to the north in an
endeavor to discover the northwest
passage which has been sought for
200 years by daring sailors.
He prepared himself for the task
by undergoing a course Of two years
study in magnetism and meteorology
after which he sailed for the north
from Christiania on board the Gioa
with a crew Of only eight men on June
is, 1903 Proceeding to Lancaster
sound he sailed past Cape Adelaide
and King William land and Porr strait
The vessel wintered in that port For
nany months Admundsen drifted
along, and finally on August 26 met
an American whaler 70 the east of
Cape Bathurst He finally brought
his little vessel through the Behrine
strait, and thus for the FIRST time ac
compllshed the Northwest passage
During the voyage he determined ex
actly the position OF the magnet,
pole. Altogether he was three years
away from Norway He arrived II
New York after this expedition 81
November 6, 1906
Several years have been spent b!
him in making preparations for az
expedition TO the north pole on which
ne was to start IN 1910, He h0weve'
later changed his plans and decided L
go to the Antarctic instead. The Fran
which he selected for his expedition
is a most remarkable ship She ha
been used for years In Arctic eXplora
ton.
Capt Amundsen left Buenos Ayre
in his present trip toward the clos
Of 1910 with small party Of Norweg
ians, all OF them experienced in Arc
tic work He took with him n larg
pack of Siberian dogs and his mel
were all provided with skis whic
we're thought to OFFER great adyantag
in traversing the glacier ice. Cap
Amundsens' party made its base an
winter quarters so miles nearer IN
south pole than his British rival
Nothing was heard from the expeG
ition for many months until the arrl'
al OF the Fran was reported two day
ago at Hobart, Tasmania Theme
came rImors that the great Norwel
ian explorer had not succeeded In hi
dash to the south and also report
that he had brought the news {
Scots success. The whole worl
was kept In a state Of suspense wal
ing for definite information MS
whether the secret OF the south POI
had been solved or not Nothing can
until early yesterday morning whe
a short message announced that n
hardy Norseman had reached n
southernmost point Of the earth q
December IA, and had remained q
the spot until December II OF la
year.
with characteristic Scandinavia