THE SOUTH POLE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10580, 11 March 1912, Page 5

THE SOUTH POLE

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.)

CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN'S DASH

DETAILS OF THE VOYAGE.

(Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) ■ LONDON. March 9. The Chronicle, in a special message from iHobart, .states that Captain Amundsen started his dash for the South Pole on {September Bth, but was too early, the temperature falling to between minus fifty and sixty degrees fCelcius (the Swedish thermometer). The consequence was that the party returned, as the dogs were suffering. • Captain Amundsen, with four others, made a start on the 20th, hut blizzards interfered with the pleasure of the trip between the 82nd and 83rd degrees. They passed Lieut. Shackleton's "furthest South" register on December Bth; and readied their destination on.December 14th, all bands being well.

A flag was planted, and the spot was named King Haakon the Seventh Plateau." Minute and hourly observations ■were made, and the homeward journey was commenced on the 17th. .

The party averaged. 25 kilometres daily in going, and 26 kilometres in returning. Captain Amundsen determined the extent and character of the Ross Barrier, and also discovered connection with South Victoria Land—probably King Edward Land—with their continuation in mighty mountains in the south-west, stretching in all probability across the Continent.

A NEWSPAPti. "SCOOP/'.

The Chronicle again surpassed its rivals in the matter of Polar exploration. It secured a great scoop in iNansen's story of the Polar expedition in 1896, and it published to-day an exclusive record of Captain Am.undseh's expedition (telegraphed from Hobarr).

THE DETAILS.

Between 11th the record', shows that Captain Amundsen, established depots. .•: —* On February 18th;'-between the-81 si and'B2nd degrees, the surface of the 'Barrierjvas_ smooth and fine, and adapted to '. There 1 were no sa'strugi," "only lo'caT crevasses, none of which were dangerous except two. The weather was excellent, the •breezes being light and calm. After fixing the. depots, the party returned to their base, finding that the Tram had departed after sailing the "farthest south," namely 78.41 degrees. Before the arrival /of the wnter the party had stored 60,000 kilos of real meat, built winter quarters, where a "Lux" lamp furnished the light.

The temperature maintained was 68 Fahrenheit. Four months of the winter were '.spent in changing the outfit, which was found too clumsy.

THE Dbt*<OT TRIP.

;;■ On the depot trip the party obtained astonishing meteorological observations. "" There was little snow, the tempera- ' ture ranging from 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. | Many excellent Aurora were wit- • nessed, and only two moderate storms were experienced. ! The water remained open throughout the winter. On September Bth the journey to the South was commenced, but the party was forced,to return, owing to the continuous fall of the temperature ■ affecting the dogs, several of which died.

DASH FOR THE POLE. Spring came in earnest in the middle of October, when -. a party with five four-sledges, fifty-two dogs, and four months' provisions, • started for the South Pole. A party of three went eastward to explore King Edward Land. The southern party erected cairns at intervals, to ser.e as guides on the return. -They reached the 82nd degree on November oth. Here the dogs got their last full meal, and rested for three days. ' Everything went like a dance. They covered fifty kilometres daily, establishing depots at every degree. The party reached the 83rd degree on November 9th, and investigated Ross Barrier. They arrived at the 85th degree on the 17th, and marched dxie south, reaching a place where the -land and barrier were connected, a feiv * big crevasses indicating the limits of the barrier; Here they established their head depot, with sixty days' provisions. They commenced the ascent of the barrier, which was most imposing, the summit ranging from 2000 ft to ■lsooft. from the ground. , It rose, however, in easy slopes, and the dogs