Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-03-19


our whole outfit, which on the depot
trips was found to be too clumsy and
solid for the smooth surface OF the
Barrier. Besides this, as much scien-
tific work as possible was done. and
some astonishing meteorological cbser
vations were taken.
Open Water All Winter.
There was very little snow, aid
there was open water close by through
out the winter. For the same reason
higher temperature had been expected,
but it remained very low.
In five months there were observed
temperatures between minus so and
60 degrees celsius (58 and rs degrees
below zero Fahrenheit). the lowest
temperature on the 18th of August
being minus So degrees celsius. It
was then calm. On the LIST of August
the temperature was minus SIS degrees
celsius, and there were six meters of
wind. The mean temperature for the
year was minus 26 degrees celsius
GAS below zero Fahrenheit.)
/ had expected hurricane after hurri-
cane, but observed only two moderate
storms and many excellent auroras-
australian-in all directions.
The sanitary conditions were of the
best al the winter and when the sun
returneL on the oath of August it met
the men sound In mind and body ready
to set about the task that had to be
solved
Already, the day before, we had
brought our sledges to the starting
place for our search toward the south
Only in the beginning of September
did the temperature rise to such an
extent that there was any question of
setting out then.
The First Start for the Pole.
On the Sth of September, eight men,
with seven sledges, ninety dogs. and
provisions for four months, started.
The ground was perfect The temper
ature was not bad. The next day it
appeared that we had started too carly,
as the temperature of the following
days fell and kept steadily between
minus so and 60 celsius (58 degrees
and 76 degrees below zero Fahren-
heit). Personally we did not suffer at
all from the cold. Our good furs pro-
tected u5 But with ouf dogs 1t was
a different matter. 1t could easily be
seen that they shrunk from day to
day, and we understood pretty soon
that they could not stand the long run
to our depot at 80 degrees south.
Only in the middle of October spring
came / earnest. Seals and birds ap-
peared. The temperature was steady
between 20 and 80 celsius (6S de-
grees and Sc degrees Fahrenheit.)
The original plan that all Of us
should go toward the south had been
changed. Five men had to do this
work, while the other three were to
start for the east and visit King Ed
ward VII. Land.
This last mentioned trip was not
included in our program, but, owing 70
the fac. that the English had not
reached 1t, at least this summer, as
was their intention, we agreed that
the best thing to do was also tc make
this trip.
On October 90 the southern party
started-flve men, four sledges, fifty
two dogs. and provisions for four
Notwithstanding in excellent order.
The Journey to the Pole.
We had made up our minds to take
the first part of the trip as easily as
possible, in order to give ourselves
and the dogs a rational training, and
on the 23d we made our depot in so
degrees south. We went right ahead.
In spite of the dense fog. an error
of two to three kilGmeters happened
once in awhile, but we were caught
by the flag msrks, and found these on
our way without difficulty.
Having rested and fed the dogs on
all the seal meat they were able to
eat, we started again on the 26th. with
the temperature steadily between
minus 20 and so celsius CA degrees and
% degrees below zero Fahrenheit)
From the start 1t was the intention
not to drive more than 80 kilometers
a day, but 1t appeared that this was
too little for our strocg. willing ami
mails. At so degrees south we began
to build snow cairns of mans height,
in order to have marks on cur return
trip. On the 31st We reached the depot
at 81 degrees. and stopped one day.
and fed the dogs on as much pemmi-
can as they wanted
We reached the depot at So degrees
on the 5th of November, where the
dogs for the last time got all they
wanted TO eat On the 9Th. southwark
again. with a daily march of so kilo-
meters.
In order TO tighten our heavy
sledges We established depots at each
degree OF south latitude.
Like a Pleasure Trip.
The trip from So TO 50 degrees, be-
came pleasure trip-excellent
ground. fine sledging. and an even
temperature. Everything went like q
dance.
On the ninth We sighted South Vic
toria land and the continuation of the
mountain range which Sir Ernest
Shackleton mentioned in his chart as
running toward the southeast from
the Beardmore glacier, and on the
same day We reached IS degrees and
established here depot No. 4. On the
eleventh we made the interesting dis
covery that the Ross Barrier termi-
mated in a blight toward the south