The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-16
POLE DISCOVERY
STORY GRAPHIC
Captain. Amundsen Tells of
Crossing the Mystic Bar
rier and Final Dash.

captain ROAD Amltndsen, who will
lecture on the discovery of the South
foie IN this city April %. gives a very
aph and gripping of the
last dash for the pole in his two vol
story just OF the press. The pole
was reached on December Ia. 1911.
story of the last march is thus
told: ''"'
On January IA, 1911. a day earlier
IMAM they had expected. the Voyagers
arrived at h Ross Barrier, where
their troubles were supposed to be-
gin. -
The Mystic Barrier.
The mystic Barrier! All accounts
without exception from the days of
Ross to the present time had spoken
OF mis- remarkable, natural formation
with ~apprehensive awe. 1t was as
though one could always read between
the lines the same sentence. Hush, be
quiet! The mystic Barrier!'
"One. two, three and q little jump,
and the Barrier was surrounded! We
looked at each other and smiled: prob
ably the same thought was in the
minds Of all OF us. !The monster had
terry, n terror something Of its force:
the incomprehensible> was becoming
quite easy to understand.
without striking a blow we had
entered into u kingdom. The Bar
rier was at this spot about twenty feet
high and the junction between it and
the sea ice was completely filled up
with driven snow. so that the ascent
took the form of a little. gentle SLOPE"
flled-in-bottom. an*ideal site was
found for the dog camp and a basin
further on offered every advantage for
the setting up of the hut and the es-
Enlistment of the winter home.
There was teeming life on the ice.
Wherever We turned we saw great
herds of seals-Weddells and crab
eaters. The great sea-lopard. which
we had seen occasionally on the foes.
was not to be found here. During our
whole stay in the Bay Of Whales we
did not see a single specimen of it.
Nor did we ever see the Ross seal.
Penguins had not shown themselves
particularly often. only a few here and
there; but we appreciated them all
the more. The few we saw were al
most all Adele penguins. While we
were at work making the ship fast,
a flock Of them suddenly shot up out
of the water. and on to the ice. They
looked about them in surprise for q
moment; men and ships do not come
their way every day. But 1t seemed
as IL their establishment soon gave way
to a desire to see what was happen
ing"
About this time there was a good
deal Of laughter in the party. It came
heartily when the first sledge expedi-
ton set out over the Barrier, Captain
Amundsen leading the way. Says the
author:
Triumph Fades.
with a flourish and a crack of the
whip we set off. l glanced at the ship.
Yes. as I thought. all our comrades
were standing in a row, admiring the
fine start. I am not quite sure that I
did not hold my head rather high and
look round with a certain air of tri-
umpll. II I did so it was foolish Of
me. I ought to have waited; the de-
feat would I'VE been easier to bear.
For defeat 1t was. and a signal one.
1.-THE dogs had spent half a year in
lying about and eating and drinking.
and had got the impression that they
would nev have anything else to do.
Not one OF them appeared to undep-
stand that a new era of toll had be-
gun. After moving forward a few
yards, they all sat down. as though
at a word of command, and stared ut
each other. The most undisguised as
constituent could be read in their
faces. When at last We had succeeded.
with another dose Of the whip. in maxi
ing them understand that we really
asked them to work. instead Of doing
as they were told they few at each
other in a furious scrtmmage.
! Heaven help me! What work we