Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-10-11

AASSoooAAViJ'
Back at home the folks after
weeks cold snap are impatient foc
the spring. For you there is always
ice and after the days work with
every nerve in our body aching with
fatigue, you have yet your ice-hut to
build. Yield to that compelling de-
sire to sleep but for an instant and
you'd lie down never to wake again.
Under these and often worse condi-
tons you plod on with the accumu-
lated WEAKNESS of the days in con-
slant peril and anxiety with no sure
knowledge of reaching anything else
but death. For what is your goal?
A question mark.
Yes, Arctic exploration is perhaps
the most difficult task man can at
tempt. 1t calls for the utmost III
physical endurance, courage, and de-
termination. 1t is at least as danger
Gus as war, and more uncomfort-
able.
On that first voyage to the polar
regions, Henson tasted of every hard
ship and danger that had fallen to
the lot of the explorer, save death.
But in 1893 he was back with Peary,
and again in 1895, 81, '99, and every
other expedition until the Pole was
reached
He says: 1.-THE memory of the win
ter and summer of 1894 and 1895
will never leave me :. the recollec-
tions of the long race with death
across the $50 miles of the ice-cap Of
North Greenland in 1895 with Com
mander Peary and Hugh Lee, are
still the most vivid"
On to the Pole
On July 6, 1908, after Is months
of preparation, the expedition leaves
Long Island Sound, NY, on the
Roosevelt.
1t is body of fine, strong, up
standing men, all athletes and giants
in the pink of condition. They have
been specially picked and the white
race has nothing finer to offer in the
matter of physique.
There is George Borup, breaker Of
athletic records; also Captain Bart
lett, himself a polar veteran; Prof.
Mcmillan; Prof. Marvin; Henson,
the only colored person, is small
man in comparison but he is as tough
as rubber. He had led the simple life
and has trained for the task. Above
all, he has the practical experience.
He is AZ.
He, as was said, is second in COM
mand. The bulk of the most neces-
sary work and all those finer details
and trifles, which might make or
mar the expedition, had been left to
his care.
Among these are the making of the
sledges, which is very, very impor-
tant Henson has designed a Sledge
which is superior to that of the Es-
kimos who have been making them
perhaps for centuries. 1t is now to
be seen in the American Museum of
Natural History, New York City.
All has been so well executed that
the Commander is Immediately
pleased.
Death, One by One
At last the Arctic is reached and
the wedding out process begins. Men,
bers of the party begin to yield I'M
der the strain. The first to go is
Prof. Mcmillan, good-natured
giant, "the life of the funeral"
George Borup, the athlete, three Es-
kimos, and 16 dogs follow. After them
goes DR.. Goodsell, who is no longer
fit to travel; Prof Marvin dies and
is buried
The pick of the pick go on cut
ting through the ice and snow and
climbing over mountains, advancing
and retreating to advance, fighting
their way against the terrific forces
Of Nature over paths untrodden by
human foot, and undergoing each day
punishment such as no prize-fighter
is called on to endure. At last the
survivors reach SO degrees north, the
furthest point reached by man after
more than 1000 years.
1t is 2 degrees to the Pole-132
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