Evening star., 1912-03-10

also appear exclusively In this
ncwspapeP.
Copyright. 1872. by the New York Times. Copy
right resarved.l
HOBART Tasmania, March 9.-Bring-
ing Capt. Raold Amundsen and his crew
from their successful expedition to the
south pole. the Fran arrived at Hobart
Thursday morning. quite unheralded.
karly in the morning the oarkentine
was signaled as having entered Derwent.
She was first thought to be the local
barkcntine Iris. from Adelaide. but it was
presently signaled that it was the Fran,
from the Bay of Whales in Rose sea.
The vessel came up under steam. flying
the Norwegian flag, and was boarded by
the harbor master and the health officer.
The Fran came close to the end of the
pier. then put about and went into
handy bay little below the city and
quite outside the harbor. When the ves-
sci was seen from ashore to be heading
toward the bay four local newspaper men
hired launch and started out. Halfway
to the ship they passed the harbor mas
ter's launch, with Capt Amundsen
aboard, and were hailed by a shout, No
body allowed on board" so they turned
back.
The harbormaster's launch won the
race 10 shore. Amundsen sprang into q
cab. dashed to the Norwegian consurs Of
flee here, got his correspondence and
locked himself In a ROOM When he came
out TWO hours later he went directly to a
telegraph Office and dispatched some
CabIegrams
On the steps of the post ONCE he was
waylaid by reporters, but said he could
give no information at present as he was
bt,fl n htrf hn
porters as soon as possible.
No One Allowed Aboard.
The reporters took a launch and went
off TO the vessel, but found it impossible
to get aboard. Requests for a rope or a
ladder brought smiles to the faces Of the
crew. Some of the crew at first protested
ignorance of English, but finally answered
the persistent inquiries and said they
could tell nothing.
The most innocent questions regarding
the vessel and the voyage failed to elicit
an answer. To the question. What was
the speed of the vessel? The reply was,
What do you want to know that for?'
The captain. who Is the only member OF
the expedition who has been ashore up
to the present time evaded the reporters
till late in the afternoon. He was found
in his hotel at last, but absolutely de-
clined to enter into details of his move
mentS in the Antarctic. resolutely avoid
ing the subject of the pole or anything
tending in that direction. He said the ex-
pedtion used dogs and that these proved
most valuable. but he would not speak
the subject of Antarctic travelling.
After little consideration he decided
not to give the date that the Fran left
the Bay of Whales for Hobart. He men,
toned that during his absence from his
ship January ID. he met the Japanese ex-
potion.
i suppose. said one of the interview
ers. when you got so near the south pole
as Capt. Horn. on the way to Bering
straits. YOU felt you must have dash
southwark"
Capt. Amundsen answered: Don't
bring the pole into it, Say that I felt
! must have a voyage to the Antarctic
regions"
In Good Health.
More than this Capt. Amundsen would
not say. He seemed pleased with the re-
suits OF the expedition, and In good
health and spirits. although without any
superfiuous flesh. The health officer found
the crew all healthy. the men being
evidently well fed and cared for. The
ship was clean and In good condition out
side. and spick and span inside. Nobody
but the harbormaster and the health Of
fcer was allowed on board.
Amundsen was busy preparing and
dispatching cablegrams during the day
and evening Of Friday. He Is said to
have dispatched $3.50 worth OF cable
grams to the London Chronicle He
was besieSed during the day by thu
newspapermen, but declined to make
any statement. He characterized the
report about Capt. Scott as nonsense
and said that he know nothing about
Scott's movements.
After 10 o'clock in the evening, wher
cablegram came from London. Am
undsen was sought at the hotel. bu,
il was found that he had gone to bed
and left strict orders not to be disturbed
by newspaper men on any account, as h'
had nothing more for them
Left to Sleep in Peace.
The manager Of the hotel was persuaded
after much difficulty to take the messas'
to Amundsen. The only answer vouch
safed was: II can confirm nothing" H.
was therefore left to sleep in peace.
Nobody was allowed aboard the shiy
during the day except the chief quaran
tine officer. who inspected the dogs Oh
reaching the vessel the officer was re
fused admission. and only by virtue OF hi
M official position was he able to get aboard
He reported the crew as close-mouthed q
ever. Everything on board struck him O.
very clean and In good order, and tn
dogs. he said. were splendid animals an,
we'll cared for.
Amundsen and his officers were invite
TO a dance in the town hall Friday night
but, needless to say, did not accept
Amundsen was again besieged by re
porters this morning; He said he haa
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