The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-22
BY ROALp AMUNDsEN.

'"os Sompany-An rights re-
served. Published by special ar.
ransements
Hobart. Tasmania, March 8.-On
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 quantity Of pro-
visions OF about 5000 kilos. One
thousand six hundred kilos, including
LOO kilos OF seal meat, were cached
in so degrees. 700 kllos in 81 degrees
and 500 kilos In 81 degrees south
latitude.
AS no landmarks were to be seen,
these depots were marked with flags.
seven k!lometers on each side In the
easterly and westerly directions.
The ground and the state OF the
barrier were OF the best, and speci.
ally well adapted to driving with
dogs. On February Is. we had thus
travelled about 100 kilometers. The
weight OF the sledges was 800 kilos,
and the number OF dogs was six for
each sledge. The surface OF the bar
rier was smooth and fine with no sas-
trugi. The crevlces were very local
and were found dangerous In only
two places. For the rest-long,
smooth undulations.
Tho weather was excellent, calm or
light breeze. The lowest tempera-
ture on these depot trips was minus
IS celsius or centigrade. (49 degrees
below zero, Fahrenheir. 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 pride
and delight We heard that her smart
captain had succeeded In sailing her
furthest south and there hosting the
colors OF his country-a glorious mo-
ment for him and his comrades-the
furthest north and the furthest south
good old Fran.
The highest south latitude attained
was rs degrees IL minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival OF winter We had
5000 kilos OF seal meat in the depots,
enough for ourselves and 10 dogs.
Eight dog houses. a combination Of
tents and snow huts, were built
Having cared for the dogs the turn
came 10 use our solid little hut. II
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 a bril-
liant light and kept the temperature
up 10 90 degrees celsius (6S degrees
Fahrenhei) throughout the winter
and our excellent ventilation system
gave us all the air We wanted.
In direct communication with the
hut and dug-out on the Barrier were
work shops. packing rooms. cellars
for provisions, coal, wood and oil. a
plain bath. n 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 return 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 scien-
tiic work as possible was done, and
some astonishing meteorological OBJ
servations 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 Il remained very low
In Ave months there were observed
temperatures between minus so and
60 degrees celsius (5S and 76 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit), the lowest
temperature on the 18th OF August
being minus SO degrees celsius. II
was then calm. On the LIST OF August
the temperature was ilinuc IS de-
grees celsius, and there were six NEE
tiers OF wind. The mean temperature
for the year was minus &c degrees
celsius GAS below zero Fahrenheit.)
| had expected hurricane after hur-
ricane. but I observed only two mod
crate storms and many excellent
auroras-australian-i all directions.
The sanitary conditions were OF
the best oil the winter and when the
sun returned on The cath OF August
Il met tho men sound in mind and