The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-03-14
EXPLORER cAskEs STORY OF
FRAN EXPEDITION IN SEARCH
OF SOUTHERN AXIS.
ATTAINED DEC. 14-17 1911
Convincing Narrative Describes New
Lands He Found, the Scientific
Aspects Of the Discovery and
Obstacles Surmounted.
Copyright, 1912, by The New York
Times Company. All rights
reserYed.l

the 10th OF February, 1911, we COM
menced to work our way toward the
south, from that day to the 18th Of
April establishing three depots,
which in all contained a quantity Of
provisions of about 5000 kilos. One
thousand six hundred kilos, including
: 4100, kilos of seal meat, were cached
in 80 degrees, 700 kilos in 81 degrees
and 800 kilos in 80 degrees south lati-
tude.
AS no landmarks were to be seen,
these depots were marked with flags,
seven kilometers on each side in the
easterly and westerly directions.
Excellent Weather.
The ground and the state of the
barrier were of the best, and special
ly well adapted to driving with dogs.
On February Is, we had thus travelled
about 100 kilometers. The weight of
the sledges was 300 kilos, and the
number of dogs was six for each
sledge. The surface OF the barrier
was smooth and fine with no sastrugi
The crevices were very local and
were found dangerous in only two
places. For the rest-long smooth
Undulations
The weather was excellent-calm
or a light breeze. The lowest tenn
perature on these depot trips was
minus as celsius or centigrade (49
degrees below zero, Fahrenheit). On
the 4th of March, on our return from
the first trip beginning on the 18th
of February. we found out that the
Fran had already left us. With price
and delight we heard that her smart
captain had succeeded in sailing her
south and there hoisting the colors Of
his country-a glorious moment for
him and his comrades-the furthest
north and the furthest south-good
old Fran.
The highest south latitude attained
was 78 degrees Al minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival of winter we had
5000 kiIos of seal meat in the depots,
enough for ourselves and 10 dogs.
Eight dog houses, combination of
tents and snow huts were built. Hav-
ing cared for the dogs the turn came
to use our solid little hut. 1t was
almost entirely covered with snow
by the middle of April. First we had
to get light and air. The Lux lamp,
which had a power of 200 standard
candles, gave us brilliant light and
kept the temperature up to 20 de-
grees celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Throughout the winter, and our ex-
Gellent ventilation system gave us all
the air we wanted.
In direct communication with the
hut and dug-out on the barrier were
workshops. packing rooms, cellars for
provisions, coal, wood and oil, a
plain bath, q steam bath and observ-
. atories. Thus we had everything
within doors II the weather should be
too cold and stormy. The sun left us
on the 22nd Of April and did not re-
turn until four months later. The
winter was spent in changing 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 scientific work
as possible was done and some as
tonishing meteorological! observations
were taken
Open Water All Winter.
There was very little snow, and
there was open water close by
throughout the winter. For the
same reason higher temperature had
been expected, but it remained very
low.
In FIVE months there were observ-
ed temperatures between minus so
and 60 degrees celsius (58 and 76 de-
grees below zero Fahrenheit), the
lowest temperature on the 18th of
August being minus SO degrees minus.
1t was then calm. On the 1st Of Au-
gust the temperature was minus So
degrees, celsius, and there were six
meters of wind. The mean tempera-
ture for the year was minus 26 de-
grees celsius GAS below zero, Fab
renheit).
had expected hurricane after hur-
ricane, bat observed only two mod
crate storms and many excellent au-
roras-auStralis in all directions. The
sanitary conditions were of the best
all the winter and when the sun re-
turned on the Gath of August he 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 march toward the
south. Only in the beginning of Sep
tember did the temperature rise to
such an extent that there was any
question of setting out.
First Start for the Pole.
on che Sth Of September eight men,
witch seven dedges, ninety dogs, and
provisions for four months started.
The ground was perfect. The tenn
perature was not bad. The next day
Il appeared that we had started too
eariv. as the temperature Of the fol
lc,&snv dave selI and was kent steady