The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-03-15
AMUNDSEN's STORY
OF DASH To POLE
INTREPID EXPLORER PLANTS
FLAG OF NORWAY AND STAYS
THREE DAYS AT SOUTH POLE
Little Party of Determined Men Face
Untold Hardships and Peril in Sue
cessful Effort to Reach Southern
most Point of World.

I1ODaTI, IaSmanla.--Captaln RaOld
Amundsen, the explorer accredited
with the discovery of the south pole,
has issued a statement in which he
declares that he and his party reach
ed the south pole on December Ia,
1911, and that the party spent three
days at the pole, where the flag of
Norway was planted.
Captain Amundsen says the pole is
situated on vast plateau, which
stretches away in either direction for
miles and miles.
The explorer whose name will go
down through the centuries to come
for his contribution to the worlds
greatest discoveries. has given the
story Of his journey to the world in
his characteristic simple and unas
Stunning way, and that story seems to
have been generally accepted as the
unauthorized truth.
The last stages of the journey
seem to have been the most difficult,
barring the last days, for the explor-
ers. The real dash for the pole be-
gan on February 10, 1911, when the
party began to work its way south
establishing food depots on the way
For four months from April % the
party did not see the sun, but this
winter season seems not to have
caused any great hardship, except to
the dogs, while the time was profit.
ably spent in some astonishing met.
geological observations. There was
very little snow, and there was open
water by the camp of the exploring
party throughout the winter.
A start was made from the winter
home on September 8, but encounter
Ing severe weather, the thermometer
showing 76 degrees below zero, Cap
tain Amundsen ordered return to
their winter hut to wait for spring
weather, which did not come until the
middle of October.
On October 20, five men of the par
| ty started on the final dash for the
pole, having four sledges, fifty-two
dogs and provisions for four months.
The trip must indeed have been a
| trying one, even for men used to such
hardships, Caches of food were made
at different points along the route
taken, to be used on the return jour.
ney, in case the explorers should ever
return. .... ..
Over mountains and glaciers, across
Ice covered stretches of water, where
the ice creaked and groaned and
threatened to at any moment engull
| hn tn x
across plains, the intrepid explorers
patiently plodded, until on December
S camp was established at the point
farthest south visited by Lieutenant
Shackelton. From there on to the
pole the task seems to have been com
paratively easy, being mostly down
hill pull for the dog teams.
On December >, Ia at 3 p. m. they
halted, having by the reckoning'
made, arrived at the goal for which
many brave and hardy explorers hat
searched in vain.
Then, according to Captain Amund
sen, all of the party gathered around
the colors-a beautiful silk flag-al
hands taking hold of it and planting
1t.
Three days were spent in that vi
entity, and numerous observation
were taken and reckonings made, tn
explorers having thoroughly Statistic,
themselves that the south pole had a
last been visited by man. ~
On December II there was fastene
to the ground little tent which ha
been taken along, a Norwegian fla
and the Fran pendant on the top of il
The Norwegian home at the sout
pole was christened "Polheim."
Then began the return trip on tn
18th. and the return seems to hav
been much easier than when the me
were searching for the pole.
The Fran, conveying the victoriou
explorers, left the Bay of Whales o
January 80. and after a long yoyag
against contrary winds, arrived 8
Hobart.