At the South Pole

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 5

At the South Pole

A Vast Ice Plain.

Gapt Amundsen's Wonderful Feat.

Interesting Discoveries.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.

Received 10, 5.5 p.m. London, March 9. The Daily Chronicle has received advice from Hobart that iCaptain Amundsen started his dash for the Pole on September 8. This was too early, the temperature falling to between minus 50 and 60 degrees (centigrade), and ,the party returned, the dogs suffering badly. Captain Amundsen, with four others, made a fresh start on September 20. Blizzards spoilt the pleasure of the trip between the 82nd and 83rd degrees. He passed Shackleton's " furthest south " on December 8, and reached his destination on the 14th, with all hands in good health. He planted the flag and named the spot "King Haakon VII. Plateau." He took minute hourly observations for three days, and then started homewards on the 17th. The party averaged 25 kilometres daily going, and 26 on the return. [A kilometre is fiveeighths of a mile.] Captain Amundsen, determined the fextent and character of the Ross Barrier, and also discovered the connection between South Victoria Land and probably King Edward Land, with their continuation in mighty mountains southwest, stretching in all probability across the continent. Story of the Dash. Received 10, 5.5 p.m. London, March 9. The Chronicle has again surpassed its rivals in the matter of Polar exploration. It secured a great scoop in Dr. Nansen's story of his Polar expedition in 1896, and it publishes to-day an exclusive account of Captain Amundsen's, telegraphed from Hobart. Between February 10 and April 11 Captain Amundsen established depots in the 81st and 82nd deg. The surface of the barrier was smooth and finely adapted for dog driving.. There were no sastrugi, only local crevasses, none of which were dangerous, excepting two. The weather also was excellent, with light breezes alternated by calm.

Work at the Base. After fixing the depots, he returned to his base, finding that * the Fram had departed, after sailing farthest south, nasnely 78.41 degrees. Before the arrival of winter, Captain Amundsen had stored 60,000 kilos of seal meat (60 tons). He had also built his winter quarters, wherein the Lux lamp furnished light and also maintained the temperature of the quarters at 68 deg. Fahrenheit. He spent the four months of winter changing his outfit, which he found too clumsy. Astonishing Meteorological Observations. On the trip to establish the depot he obtained astonishing; meteorological observations. There were only two moderate, storms, and the water remained open throughout the winter. The Journey South. On September 8 Captain Amundsen commenced the journey south. He was, however, forced to rieturn, owing to the eontinuous fall; of the temperature affecting the »{logs, several of which died. ■ji Spring Came in Earnest and 1 about the middle of October a party of five, with four sledges and 52 dogs, and supplied with four months' provisions, started south. A party of three went eastward to explore King Edward Land. Cairns as Guides. The southern party erected cairns at intervals in order to serve as guides on the return. The 82nd degree was reached on November 5. Here the dogs got their last full meal, and were rested for three days. Everything went like a dance. They covered 50 kilometres daily, establishing depots at every degree, and reached the 83rd degree on the 9th. Investigating Ross Barrier. The party investigated Ross Barrier, and arrived at the 85th degree on November 17. On leav- . ing they marched due south, jttie place where the land*

Capt Scott's Discoveries Confirmed

and the barrier connected. There were a few big crevasses, indicating the limits of the barrier. The Head Depot. Here Captain Amundsen established his head depot, and with sixty days' provisions commenced the accent of the barrier, which was most imposing, with summits ranging from 2000 to 15,000 feet from the ground. It, however, rose in easy slopes, which the dogs negotiated without any difficulty. A few steep glaciers were encountered, where the going was hard, and they were forced to make long detours, owing to the Big Crevasses. On the first day they climbed 2000 ft, and camped the second day at a height of 4500 feet. Nest day they descended by a glacier which divided the coast mountains from the mountains further south. A Long Ascent. Then was commenced the longest ascent, a glacier which was much broken, narrowed between two mountains 15,000 feet high. '=•- On the fourth day from the Barrier they reached A Vast Plateau and camped at an altitude of 10,600 feet. Here they were compelled to kill 24 dogs, retaining 18 for the dash south. Bad weather delayed the departure for four days, and the party were unable to start till November 25. | Furious Blizzards and dense snowdrifts were encountered, and their faces were .badly frozen. ! Gradually descending, they passed the 86th degree, and mo-' : mentarily saw . A Mighty Mountain shine through the snowdrift. Captain Amundsen established a depot at the foot of the Devil's Glacier, where there were many towering peaks, beautifully illuminated by the bright sun. The Devil's Glacier was negotiated in three days, and was quitted on December 3.

Onward the ice plateau resembled

A Frozen Sea. It sounded hollow to the tread and one man and two dogs fell through. The party reached the greatest altitude, 10,750 ft., on December 6, in 87.40 degrees. From 88.25 degrees the plateau gradually sloped downwards, and after five days' easy travelling The Goal was Sighted on the afternoon of December 14 in a beautiful light and with a south-east breeze blowing, and the temperature minus 23 degrees Celsius (centigrade). The ground also was perfect. At three o'clock all gathered round the silken flag on A Vast Plain, which was alike in all directions, mile after mile. During the night they circled the camp, and for three days took a series of careful observations of the position of the Pole, as close as it was humanly possible with sextant and artificial horizon. A little tent was erected on the precise spot, and surmounted with the Norwegian flag and the Frajn's pennant. He named the place "Polheim." The distance from the Pole to the winter camp was 1400 kilometres. The return was accomplished under favorable conditions, the party reaching their base on January 25 with two sledges and 11 dogs. The entire length of the newly discovered mountains, which they named Queen Maud Ranges, is 850 kilometres. The expedition to King Edward's Land confirmed Captain Scott's discoveries. AMUNDSEN IGNORANT OF SOOTT'S MOVEMENTS. Hobart, March 9. Denying the responsibility of the rumor that Captain Seott reached the Pole. Captain Amundsen declared that he knows nothing of Captain Scott's movements. Captain Amundsen still refuses to be drawn in reference to his own achievements. He told the secretary of Dr. Mawson's expedition that the weatherconditions in the Antarctic would be" favorable for Dr. observations.!

REJOICINGS IN CHRISITANA. Christiana, March 8. King Haakon, the Government and the Geographical Society have telegraphed ' congratulations to Captain Amundsen. The city is beflagged. SHACKLETON ON SCOTT'S PROSPECTS. A HOPEFUL VIEW. London, March 8. Sir E. Rhackleton, speaking at the Mansion Ho'ise, said that very likely Captain Scott had also reached the Pole. DR. COOK'S OPINION. New York, March 8. Professor Osborne, head of the Museum of Natural History, expresses his belief that Captain Amundsen would not claim to have reached the Pole unless he was actually there. Dr. Cook declares/that it is extremely probable that both men reached the Pole almost at the same time. CAPTAIN SCOTT'S EQUIPMENT. MR. KIXSEY CONFIDENT. Wellington, Last Night. In an interview, Mr. J. J. Kinsey, New Zealand representative for Captain Scott's expedition, expressed the conviction that Captain Scott reached the Pole before Captain Amundsen. Mail for man, and equipment for equipment, Captain Scott's was the better' party, and Captain Scott had great experience on the ice. If Captain Scott reached the Pole it was not at all likely that he would return 'immediately, because he was determined to complete the exploration programme he had mapped out. Captain Amundsen might have found i another glacier, giving access to the Polar plateaus east of the Beardmore glacier.