Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-12
GREAT EXPLORER
RECEIVES WARM
GREETING HERE
Captain Road Amundsen of
South Pole Fame, Pays Visit
to Augustana College.
CHEERED BY STUDENTS
Is Made Sad by knowledge Of the
Fate Of Captain seott-speaks
in Davenport Tonight.

Captain ROAD Amundsen, the Nor
wegian explorer, who discovered the
south pole Just one month before the
iL-fated expedition Of Lieutenant Scott
reached the same point. was given a
rousing reception at Augustana col
lege this morning In addition TO the
student body a large audience had
gathered in the college chapel to bid
welcome to the distinguished explorer
and scientist. The chapel itself had
been fttingly decorated for the occa-
sion, with an immense American flag
as background. fanked on each side
by a Norwegian and Swedish flag In
the center was a miniature Viking
ship.
The college band played Hail TO
the Victor" as Captain Amundsen en-
tered the building escorted by Presi-
dent Andreen and a committee from
the Trinity Mems club of Davenport,
under whose auspices Amundsen viii
lecture tonight The entire assembly
arose and applauded as the conquer
or OF the south polar regions entered
the chapel
Tn introducing Captain Amundsen,
DR.. Andrceu referred to the former
ieats OF valOr Of the ancient Vikings
iu their voyages TO distant lands.
There IS one Viking" said DR.. An
dreen. who has gone farther from the
land OF the north than any other liv-
ing persons, and that man we have
gathered 10 honor today"
John Nicholson. representing the
student body, also addressed Captain
AmuEdseu, bidding him welcome. after
which the Wennerberg male chorus
sang Grieg's famous masterpiece,
Thanksgiving"
Captain Amundsen responded brief
lv. limiting his remarks because of
mis- lecture tonight Il want to thank
you al for The warm and kindly sym
pathy which you have shown me to-
day" he said. IL am not a speech
maker, not in Norwegian, let alone
iu English, and therefore / ask you
tU excuse me. However, / shall al
ways remember this day as one Of the
most pleasant Ia my life thank
you for the words of welcome and for
tHo beautiful song YOU have sung.
AGAIN I wish to say that | have APP
preciaJed 1t very much indeed"
SPEAKS or TOLAR TRIPS.
Tile distinguished Norwegian explor-
en-, who was racing TO the southern
axis al the same time as Captain Scott
md planted the flag of his fatherland
there q month before the men of the
British expedition arrived, believes
that something worse than scurvy OF
starvation will be found accountable
for the toll of lives that was paid By
the Scott expedition.
Back Of the meager facts that have
como concerning the climax TO Captain
SCOTS expedition to the south pole
there must be some sinister tragedy,
says Captain ROAD Amurdsen.
I'VE shall have TO wait until the
Terra Nova brings back the survivor,
to tell MS the full story Of and the
meaning of it all" he said
t>E OF PONIES MISTAKE.
Captain Amundsen believes that tn,
fundamental mistake IN the British
plans was IN using ponies instead o
dogs 90 negotiate the distance between
the glacier where they left their shil
and the pole.
"Tho ponies were lost" De said, 70
the single reason that when a pom!
fo'l down crevasse e was impossi
bic 10 lift it out With dogs # is dif
fereut When the ponies were al
gone the terrific labor OF pulling th
sIods doyolved upon the men.
Whom the food supply ran low III,
task was beyond human power an,
human endurance. The strain was To-
terrific aud something had 10 snap
"ClIy those who know the frozei
fields ut ice can realize what the los