Evening star., 1926-01-24
IARRIS & EN tNc

within approximately 10 miles OF the
point directly under the North Star,
which would he the Pole Anywhere
within 10 miles of this point. il is
said, would be as close as could be
determined without rather compli-
Gated observations which would be
practically impossible for an explorer
to make.
Word of Dead Man.
The exploit OF AmundSen rests upon
absolutely undisputable founda tons.
however-the word OF a dead man.
who probably was a more competent
scientific observer than the Nor
WeEidn himself.
The story, perhaps the most dra-
matte in the history OF polar expIora-
ton, bears repeating.
Capt. Robert Falcon Scott Of the
British navy after establishing a
base at MacNurrah Sound on the
Antarctic continent. with four Eng
Esh companions made a s,edge dash
for the South Pole, establishing
caches OF food along the way They
encountered bad weather and hard
ship from the start and their exploit
in finally completing the longest
sledge journey In history. 1912 miles,
TO the point on the earth exactly un-
ranked as one of the supreme tri-
umphs in exploration.
Almost at the point where their OBJ
seryations told them the Pole would
be located they found a tent set up
over which floated the flag OF Norway
Inside was a letter signed by Amund-
sen to King Haakon OF Norway, TO
be carried back by those who should
next arrive at the Pole. The date set
In the letter was five weeks before the
coming of Scott.
Played Game Square
The Briton accepted his i'll fortune
with sto!cism and played the game
square. He remained for several davs
on the ground and located what he
believed to be the actual Pole about a
half mile from Amundsen's tent Con
sidering the difficulties OF observation,
the Norwegian had located the boreal
center with remarkable accuracy,
Scott set up the British flag and
started back. II was hearthrea king
journey. Storms engulfed the little
party. All the way they suffered from
hunger and exposure. Two of the
men died. Scott and the two others
continued, battling every step of the
way and with supplies giving out fast
AIOS IASLIA NliAi4S ditS III -ptdlIllS lIIeI
food caches.
1t appeared. however, that they
would triumph. They had almost
enc rged from the Antarctic Cont
1ent. They were within II miles of
one OF their food caches and less than
l55 miles from the main base at Mac
Murrah Bay, where comparative com
fort awaited them. They had two
days food supply left.
Caught in Blizzard
At this point they were caught in
blizzard. They could not even get
to the food cache.
There they all died. Their bodies
were recovered later by a relief ex-
pedition. Scott had kept his diary up
to the very day of his death. His
word established beyond dispute the
claim Of Amundsen against any claim
that could be set up for himself.
The other figure in this contro-
versy, DR.. Cook, now in a Federal
prison for an oil swindle, appears
certain TO remain one of the enig-
mas Of the history of exploration.
Whether or not Cook discovered the
Pole, the consensus of opinion seems
70 be that he underwent privations
such as seldom have fallen to the lot
of an Arctic explorer who has re-
turned alive. Among those most
ready to vouch for this is Comdr.
Macmillan himself
Speaking here last Summer, Mac.
MILAN said that Cook had a rightful