The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-14
Story OF Discovery

AT|-NOOA>.- special standing out
in the narrative of Captain Roald
Amundsen's discovery of the South
Pole. which was published here to-
day, that part OF the account. which
IS OF pre-eminent interest to scien-
lists and geographers, shows the ease
with which the dash was made and
the location OF territory and noun
tains hitherto unknown.
while Norway gains high prestige
through the successful quest OF one
OF her citizens, she gains in a ma
terlal way, too, for the Norwegian
nag floats over hundT eds OF square
miles of newly discovered ground
within the Antarctic circle. There
Is still further distinction, for the
pIateau upon which the very pole it,
SELF stands has been named King
Haakon's Plateau. and the newest
mountains known TO EeograD piers has
been designated Queen EGaud's range.
captain Amundsen's story is so con-
VincinS that all doubt in England has
oeen swept away. and. as he made no
mention OF finding indications of anv
other expedition at the pole. II Is now
admitted that he is the discoverer.
IL is also minated that the Jana
neSe party may be second at the pole.
Tor Amundsen said that the Japs. un-
DER Lieutenant Shirase, had arrived
AT the barrier. near Amundsen party's
n.
were rapidly making their way south.
NO mention is made at all Of Cap
tam Scott and the British party
after Journey over ice fields, gla-
ciers and snow and roundabout ex-
cursions to avoid yawning crevasses.
captain Amundsen and his party of
iour men and eighteen dogs stood at
the South Pole at o'clock in the
afternoon of December IA. 1911
so perfect had been the reckoning
or the explorer that, while he was
miles away. he had calculated that
ne would attain the goal on December
14th.
1t took just forty-five DAVIS to ne
gotiate the distance from the winter
quarters to the pole, the distance be-
ing about 700 miles
with single exception on the final
dash the weather was favorable. the
Thermometer ranging from 23 to 9 be-
low zero.
In fact says Amundsen. it was more
like pleasure trip than a voyage of
prlVauon. After false start, which
was cause by hurricane, the party
nnaiiy got away from the winter quar-
ters on October 20, 1911.
simultaneously another party of five
men left for q southern tour OF ex-
ploration and scientific experimentinp
In the party led by Amundsen were
four men and fifty-two dogs. Later
however. 1t became necessary to Kill
thirty-four of the faithful animals.
II is interesting to compare the
hardships which Peary and his men
endured with the ease which Amund-
sen ana his party Travelled. Peary had
10 cross broken ice ridges and encoun-
tered storm after storm. The weather
AT the North Pole is also much colder
than that at the South Pole, Judging
from comparison of the two narra-
tives.
In the beginning the Norwegian
started to make his way southwark on
February 10, 1911. BY April 18th
tnree depots, with cached provisions.
nao been established. respectively. at
80: 81 and 80 degrees Of latitude.
me Ice plain upon which these de-
pots were built were marked with
flags to designate the stations.
Describing the dash over the bar
rler on this trip, Amundsen again laws
stress upon the favorable conditions
ana the ease with which the party got
through.
-Four Months Of Night.
Inc sun went down April 22d and
TOUR months of winter night set I'm.
But the expedition had prepared for
II. Dog houses had been built and a
VeritaDle Ice palace constructed for
the men, There were living quar-
ters, bath rooms. work shop and an
apartment Tor making observations
zOO-candle-power lamp furnished
light for the winter house.
The light heated the quarters and.
Kept them at 6S degrees Fahrenheit.
AT first the party suffered from
lack Of ventilation. but later this was
remedied.
The winter was spent IN prepar-
ing for the final dash.
Amundsen had expected terrific
gales, but, aside from heavy snow.
which nearly buried the Igioo, the
weather remained fairly favorable.
Another remarkable circumstance
that differed from Arctic conditions
was that water remained open in
many places.
During the winter the thermom eteA
ranged from So to 20 degrees below
zero, but the men did not suffer. and
wnen the sun finally rose on August
z4th, and the hong winter night lifted.
all were in perfect physical condition.
and the dogs were fat and anxious for
work.
On Qaufannho~ ror1 .