Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-03-21

aIike-8S degrees. IS minutes. 1916 sec
onds south
Before Us lay an absolutely plain
plateau, only here and there marked
with tiny sastrugi.
Establish Last Depot
In the afternoon We passed IS de
grees % minutes (Shacketon's fur-
thest south was IS degrees 25 min.
utcs). We camped and established
our last depot depot No. 10. From 80
degrees % minutes the plateau began
TO slope down very gently and smooth
ly toward the other side.
On the 9th OF December We reached
IS degrees SO minutes; on Decem Der
10, IS degrees IS minutes; December
II, SO degrees 15 minutes; December
y, SO degrees 80 minutes; December
%, So degrees As minutes
Up to this time the observations
and dead reckoning agreed remarka-
bly, well and we made out that we
ought to be at the pole on December
Il in the afternoon.
That day was a beautiful one-a
light breeze from the southwest. the
temperature minus 23 celsius (9.4 de-
grees below zero Fahrenhett) and the
ground and sIedging were perfect.
The day went along as usual, and at
three p. N. We made 4 halt
According TO our reckoning we had
reached our destination All of us
gathered around the coIors-a beauti-
full silk fag-all hands taking hold of
it and planting it.
Name Plateau King Raakon VII.
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-
Fauons from six a. N. to seven p. N.
The result gave US SO degrees So 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 16 there we camped. 1t
was an excellent opportunity There
was brilliant sun Four of US took
observations every hour of the days
twenty-four hours. The exact result
will be the matter of a professional
private report.
territory 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 1nstru-
ments we had-a sextant and an arti-
fetal horizon. On December IT every
thing was in order on the spot We
fastened to the ground a little tent We
had brought along, Norwegian flag
and the Fran pendant on the top
of it.
The Norwegian home at the south
pole was called "Polhe1m."
The distance from our winter quar-
ters to the pole was about 1,400 kilo-
meters. The average march a day was
rs kilometers.
Start on Return Trip.
We started on the return trip on
the 18th of December. Unusually ia
voTabIe weather made our way home
considerably 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
(23.8 degrees below zero Fahrenheit);
the highest, minus celsius (23 de-
grees above zero Fahrenheit).
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
probability continue across the antarc-
tic continent.
The entire length of the newly dis
covered mountains is about $50 kilo-
meters. They have been 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 beer
confirmed and the survey of the Bay
of Whales and of the barrier dome b!
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 easterIy 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 80. 1t was a long voyage,
with contrary winds. All are we'll