The Cordova daily times., 1921-07-30
SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1921.
COURAGEOUS AMUNDsEN
(Nome Nugget


 The enforced return of Captain Raold Amundsen after second futile effort to get started on his contemplated journey across the north polar area discoses in forcible manner the uncertain character of Arctic exploration, Twice in three ycars the famous explorer has strivcn to force his ship into the massy reaches of the Northern ice pack sufficiently far to achieve his purpose of drifting across the polar basin to the other side of the world and each time he has failed to even approximate the nee cssary cnd of penetrating the vast ice barrier which lies across the terrestrial dome The first failure was a,crbcd to contrary currents combined with inability to find an opening in the ice of sufficient depth To permit the cNpIor atiou ship Maud to achieve material hradway toward the poIc Although failing in his prim ary purpose, Captain Amuudscu's struggic against adverse conditions was not devoid of a certain amount of success, as he succeeded in traVrrouL the Northwest Passage and also won the signal distinction of being the first man in history to cncirclc the globe above the Arctic circle. The last attempt, however, has brought the daring explorer little rccompcnse for the trials and hardshps encountered dur ing the past winter at Cape Serge.
 The three years of futile struggle against in- surmountabIc odds, combined with an accident such as that of last winter which rendered the Maud almost useless through the loss of her propeIIor, would probably have brought com. pete Encouragement to the avarage man After undergoing such disappointment as AmundScn has endured, to say nothing of th"| vicisstudcs and dangers involved in such d journey, few would not be willing to forego further perIs and prvations, especially if like Amundsen they had already won full need of the world s Iaures. Amndsen is doubtless keenly disappointed by the failure of his plans but the damtIess courage which carried him over the untracked wilderness surrounding the southern pole and throghu the barriers of the Northeast and Northwest Passage has not for saken the hardy Norsemen and he plans to try again. Time has whitened his locks and the glamor of ife's sunset ightens the horizon of his future. The world has loaded him with hon OTIS and his name will remain forever on the an nals of human fame for what he has already dared and done. Most men would be content to rest upon their laurels To Ammdsen, how ever, acton Is the breath of being and diversity and disappointment represent no more than an urge to continue endeavOr and he will try again to attain the goal of his mighty ambition Nome sympthizcs with him in his present diff ficulty and deeply regrets the misfortune that has bcfaIIcn him, for to most of us at least he IS an old friend in whose trials and disappoint- ment we feel deeply personal interest and in whose successes and achievements we find an abiding qualification and pride. And we hope with all our hearts that when he again goes forth into the northern wids it will be to find the goal for which he has so dauntlessly strven during the past three years of thwarted en- deavor.