The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-03-14

Our dogs, which up to this time had
covered a distance OF about 700 kilo-
meters. the last days very hard work.
ran this day thirty-tive kilometers. the
ascent being $500 feet--an almost In
credible record
Ii took us only four days from the
barrier to get up on the vast Inland
plateau. r..a.r... . e-.~
We camped that night at height OF
10000 feet. Here We had to kill "a
of our brave companions and keep Is.
six for each of our three sledges.
We stopped here four days on &C
count of bad weather. Tired Of this.
We set out on the 25th of November.
On the 26th, in furious blizzard
and in dense snowdrift, absolutely
nothing was to be seen, but We felt
that, contrary to expectations. We
were going fast downhill. The hypso-
meter gave us that day descent OF
600 feet
- Faces Frozen During Gale.
We continued our march the next
day in a gale, and dense snowdrift
got our faces badly frozen. We could
see nothing.
We reached that day Sc degrees
dead reckoning. The hypsometer in
dictated a fall OF 800 feet. The next
day was similar.
The weather cleared a little at din.
ner time and exposed to our view
mighty mountain range to the east.
and not far Off, only for moment,
and then 1t disappeared in the dense
snowdrift.
On the 29th II Gained down and
the sun sbone, though 1t was not the
only pleasant surprise he gave us. In
our course stretched a big glacier run
ming toward the south.
Discover Mountain Range.
At it's eastern end was the mountain
range going in a southeasterly direc-
ton. OF the western part Of It no
view was to be had, 1t being hidden
in the dense fog
At the foot Of this glacier, the
DEVILS glacier. a depot for six days
was established at 1921 degrees south
latitude. The hypsometer indicated
5000 feet above sea level.
On November 80 we began to climb
the glacier. The lower part Of it was
much broken and dangerous. More
over, the snow bridges often burst.
From our camp that night we had a
splendid view over the mountain top
to the east.
See Many Great Peaks.
There was "Helmer Nansen's sum
nit" the most remarkable Of them all
1t was 10000 feet high and covered
with such broken glaciers that In all
probability no foothold was to be
found. Oscar Wistings," "Sverre
hasses." and "Oiav Hjanlands" noun
tains also lay here beautifully illu
minated in the rays Of the bright sun.
In the distance only alternately
to be viewed in the fog appeared from
time to time Mount Nelson" with itt
SUBMITS and peaks. about Is, 900 fee'
high. We only saw the nearest sur
roundings.
1t took us three days to surmoun
the Devils glacier. always In misty
weather.
On the first of December We lef
this broken glacier, with holes ant
crevices without number, with 1t,
height of 900 feet Before US, look
ing, in the mist and snowdrift, like &
frozen sea. appeared q light. slopint
ice plateau filed with small hum
mocks.
Man and Dogs Fall In Sea.
The walk over this frozen sea wal
not pleasant. The ground under III
was quite hollow. and 1t sounded al
though We were walking on the bot
toms OF empty barrels. AS 1t was, 4
man fell through, with a couple o
dogs. We could not use our skis OIL
this polished ice. Sledges had tn,
best Of 1t.
This place got the name OF tn,
Devils Dancing Room" This part O
our march was the most unpleasant
On December We got our creates
height, according to the hypsometel
and aneroid. 1880 feet. at 81 de
| grees 40 minutes south.
On December 3 we came out Of tn
bad weather. Once again the SUI
smiled down on us. Once again W,
could get an observation. Dead reck
oning and observation were exactl,
alike-SS degrees, IS minutes. 1876 sec
! onds south.
Before us lay an absolutely plail
plateau, only here and there marke,
with a tiny sastrugi.
Establish Last Depot.
In the afternoon We passed IS de
grees % minutes (ShackIeton's fur
thest south was IS degrees rs min
utes). We camped and establishe,
our last depot, depot No. 10. From 3
degrees 25 minutes the plateau begal
to slope down very gently and smooth
ly toward the other side.
Up to this time the observation
and dead reckoning agreed remarks
bly, we'll and we made out that VI
ought to be at the pole on Decembe
II in the afternoon.
That day was a beautiful one,
light breeze from the southwest, tn
| toronaraturn ,,,,puc % caletus fua "a .