TO THE POLE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 5

TO THE POLE.

SHACKLETON'S DASH. SCOTT'S SOUTHERN LOUT EXCEEDED. MACNE.TIC POLE LOCATED. MT. EREBUS CLIMBED IN A BLIZZARD. (11l TEt.EGISAI-II — I-lIE3S ASSOCIATION—coi'YKianT.i (Rec. March 2-1, 10.55 p.m.) London, March 24. Her Majesty the Queen, through tho London "Daily Hail," heartily congratulates Lieutenant Shackloton, commander of tho expedition to tho Antarctic, on his great achievement. In ln's cablegram to tho "Daily Mail," announcing the results of tho expedition, Lieutenant Shackloton states that Lieutenant J. B. Adams (meteorologist and inagncticianl, Sir Philip Brocklehurst (surveyor), Professor T. W. David (geologist), Dr. Forbes Mackay (surgeon and surveyor), Dr. E. Marshall (surgeon and magnotician), and Mr. G. E. Marson (artist), left Capo Royd on March 5, to ascend Mt. Erebus. Thoy climbed tho mountain on March 7, 1908, carrying tho necessary equipment on their baclcs. They reached an altitude of 9500 feet, the thermometer recording 50 degrees below freezing point. They mado their way up Mt. Erebus in tho midst of a violent blizzard, which lasted fully thirty hours. They reached the old crater on March 9. Here thoy found some unique fumarolcs, or smoko holes, and tho crater was filled with felspar crystals, pumice, and sulphur. Tho party reached tho summit of tho mountain, on March 10. Hero they found an active crater, half a mile- in diameter and 800 feet deep. Out of this crater volumes of steam and sulphurous gas were issuing, rising 2000 feet high.

After making a collection of specimens, the party glissaded down tho mountain, and reached Capo Royd on March 11. Meteorological observations were taken until the end of tho expedition. Expeditions and Natural History. (Roc. March 24, 11.55 p.m.) , London, March 24. Mr. Murray, tho biologist, found nbundant microscopic life, rotifera, etc., in tho freshwater lakes near Cape Royd, also ringed penguins, lichens, and mosses. • Mr. jMarson, tho artist, mado records of tho aurora australis displays, which were exceedingly brilliant throughout tho winter, mostly in tho cast, seldom in tho direction of tho Magnetic Pole, racing cascades of luminescenco darting across the heavens. Many and full records wero obtained of currents and tides, by which tho expedition will bo able to gaugo detailed work of physics. Professor David considers that tho Antarctic bergs aro mostly snowbergs. Fossil radiolaria wero found in glacial boulders. Much marine dredging was dono during the winter, shafts being sunk in tho layers of ico. Biological winter studies were continued. Kinomatograph records wero obtained of natural history. Tho lowest temperature recorded was 72 degrees below freezing point. » "Sledging on August 12, Mr. Armytago, Professor David, and I examined tho Great Ico Barrier, tho surfaco showing 89 degrees of frost. Wo returned to Capo Royd on September 19.

"Lieutenant Adams, Mr. Joyce, Dr. Marshall, Mr. Marson, and I re-started, on tho 22nd, and placed, 124 miles south of tho Discovery's winter quarters, a depot for our southern journey." • Union Jack Hoisted on Magnetic Polo. Lieutenant Shacklekm further states that Professor David reports that tho northern party, consisting of Mr. Marson, Dr. Mackay, and himself started on October o over a difficult routo, and, after many hardships, reached, on January 16, tho Magnetic Polo (latitude- 72 degrees 25 minutes, longitude--154), and hoisted tho Union Jack. The Discovery's Record Beaten. (Reo. March 25, 0.10 a.m.) London, March 24. Lieutenant Shaclcleton went on to say:— "The blizzard held us up for a week, tho lowest reading being 88 degrees of frost. The barrier surfaco was found impracticable for tho motor sledge, but tho Arrol Johnston motor proved useful over sea ice in laying depots .ind covering a distanco aggregating 400 miles.

■ "Tho southern party, consisting of Lieut. Adams, Dr. Marshall, Wild, and I, with four ponies, and a supporting party, namely, Sir Philip Brocklchurst, Mr. Ernest Joyce, Mr. G. 15. Marson, Mr. B. Armytago, "and Mr. R. Priestly, loft Capo Royd oil October 29. Wo loft tho hut at Point Third with 91 days' provisions, but wero detained at White Island by a blizzard for four days. Tho supporting party returned on November 7. Adams's pony was nearly lost, owing to the bad light, in tho ice crevasses.

"On November 13 wo reached tho depot, which had boon established 'in September in latitude 79 degrees 33 minutes, longitudo 10S. Wo took on our ponies maize and provisions, and, having reduced our rations, travelled south along the 168 th meridian.

"Wc found high ridges covered with snow, alternating with soft snow, in which the pomes often sank to their bellies. In latitude 81 degrees 4 minutes wo shot oiio of tho'ponies, and made a depot of oil, biscuit, and pony moat, Tho remainder of the latter we carried to eke out our dried rations. ■

"On November 26 wo reached the Discovery's southernmost latitude, and encountered soft snow in largo undulations. Two ponies went snow-blind and were shot. Wo made our next depot in latitude 82 degrees -15 minutes longitudo 170." '

[It will bo soon from tho abrupt termination of tho cable- messngo that tho story of jiicntcntint Shnckloloii's dash for tho Pole is not complete. Tho point reached where tho narrative closes is a short distance further south than that reached by tho Scott expedition in 1902, and is over 500 miles from tho Polo.]

WAITING FOR THE NIMROD. SHOULD IMOACH LYTTKLTON THIS Af'TKRNOON. (11l TEl,EGK.\l'll—r«i:ss .USOCIATIO'f.) Ghrlstohurcli, March 21. A. private telegram wn.s . sent to the lighthouse-keeper at Capo Saunders this morning, inquiring if the Nimrod had been sighted, and a reply was received about midday n.s follows:— Nimrod seen at six a.m., 20 miles east. Several members of Parliament intend to go to Lytteltou should the Nimrod come in to port at a reasonable hour. Great interest is being taken in Christchurch and Lytteltou at the prospective 'arrival of the Nimrod to-morrow. Judging by the telegram from Capo Saunders, the little vessel is making good progress. From Half Moon Ray to Cape Saunders is, roughly, about 140 miles, and us

tlio rosso] loft Stewart Island at 11 a.m. yesterday, sho must have- covered tlio distance iu about nineteen hours. From Capo Saunders to Lyttelton is 100 miles, so that if the, Nimrod maintains tlio samo speed throughout to-day and to-night, it should bring her off Lyttelton Heads to-morrow morning. No arrangements for a formal reception of tlio expedition hsivo boon made, but tlio Lyttelton Harbour Jioard's lug, with members of the board and tlio members of tlio I'hilosophical institute, will go out to meet tlio Nimrod. Mr. J. J. Kinscy lias received the following telegram from tlio I'rimo Minister: "Much regret it will not be possible for any Minister to bo present at tlio reception to Lieutenant Shackleton and his officers to-morrow. An important mooting of Cabinet iu Wellington prevents anyone getting away just now." Mr. Kinscy states that in the light of a telegram which bo receiver] from Lieutenant Shackleton yesterday, he does not aiitieipato that the Nimrod will arrivo at Lyttelton beforo to-morrow afternoon. In tlio telegram which he received, Lieutenant Shackleton advised Mr. Kinscy to expect the Nimrod on Thursday afternoon. • Dr. JTpbam, Port Health Officer, Lyttelton, lias received instructions from '• tlio Chief Health Officer, Dr. Mason, to the effect that no ono is to bo allowed on board the Nimrod until ho has interviewed tlio ship's doctor, and has granted pratique.

ALL WELL. (lIY TEr.EUnAPrt—PRESS association— copyright.) ... „ Sydney, March 24. Mrs. David, wife of Professor David, one of the scientists on the exploration ship Nimrod, has received a cable from her husband, reporting that all is well aboard tho iNimrod. THE MACNETIG POLE. Sir James Ross nearly attained the South Magnetic Pole (of vertical dip) in a voyago mado in 1839-43, its position was indicated as being probably 731d0g. south, and 147} deg. east. The samo explorer reached tho iNortli Magnetic Polo in 1831, when tho position of vertical dip was observed to bo 70 dog. smin. north and 96deg. west. It was anticipated by Lieutenant Sb'acklcton that if the journey to tho Magnetic Polo were undertaken, a party would be sent out with dogs to draw the sledges. This, he said, would bo absolutely now ground, not mi clu< v' 1 in tll ° work of fonncr expeditions. I lie distance from winter quarters to tho Magnetic Pole was only about 200 miles, and it would bo an easy enough undertaking if they got over tho mountains. The 'journey, however, would depend on tho funds at tho party s disposal.