The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, February 02, 1910, Image 10
{The Conquest
*' *
* -'
By Dr. FREDERICK A. COOK
J Copyright, 1909, by the N;w York
t? Herald Company, Registered In
jj Canada In Accordance With Copy
rijht Act. Copyright In MexJ
ico Under Laws of the Republic
of Mexico. All Rights Reserved
OVER the newlj":- discovered coast !
lines was \vrttten Bradley Land,
in houor of John R. Bradley. :
the benefactor of the expedition.
As we passed north of this land
there was nothiug substantial upon j
which to fix the eye.
There was at no time a perfectly
clear horizon, but the weather was j
good enough to permit frequent nautl- :
cal observations. The course was lined j
on uninteresting blank sheets, but
> there were elusive signs of land fre- ;
Iquent enough to keep up an exploring |
enthusiasm.
Thus day after day tlie marches '
were forced, the incidents and the po- I
sitious were recorded, but the adven- |
tures were promptly forgotten in the !
mental bleach of the next day's effort.
The night of April 7 was made notable
by the swing of the sun at midnight.
For a number of nights it made grim
faces at us in its setting. A teasing
! mist, drawn as a curtain over the
northern sea at midnight, had given
' curious advantages for celestial staging;
settling into this haze, we were
unable to determine sharply the ad-j
vent of the midnight sun, but here was !
a spectacular play which interested us
Immensely.
Now the great bulk was drawn out !
egg shaped, with horizontal lines
drawn through It. Again jr was pressed
iuto a basiu with flaming tires, '
burning behiud a curtain of frosts;
blue at other times, it appeared like a
huge vase, aud it required very little i
Imagination to see purple and violet I
flowers.
The change was often like magic,;
but the last display was invariably a
face?distorted faces of men or ani-!
mals were made to suit our faDcy.
I We bad therefore followed the sun's
northward advance?from its first peep
at midday above the south ice of the |
*v rH0 **rrv von* h*/*aiq co. ^
1 THBOUGH NAB
polar gateway to its sweep of the
northern lee at midnight. From the
- - - I
enu or tne poiar nigui iuie iu rcmu-i
ary to the first of the double days and
midnight suns we bad forced a trail
through darkness, blood hardening
temperature and over leg breaking ir-j
regularities of an unknown world of.
ice to an area 200 miles from the pole.'
The Midnight Sun.
Now we had the sun unmistakably .
at miduight, and its new glory was'
quite au incentive to our life of shivers.
Observatious oil April 8 placed
camp at latitude 80 degrees 30 inin-'
utes, longitude 94 degrees 2 minutes.
In spite of what seemed like long
marches we had advanced only 100
miles in nine days. Much of our hard
work was lost in circuitous twists
around troublesome pressure lines and
iiign, irregular neius ui vwj uju n.c.
The drift ice was tlirowiug us to the
east with suffieieut force to give us
some anxiety, but with eyes closed to
danger and hardships the double days
of fatigue aud glitter quickly followed
one another.
The temperature, ranging between'
36 and 4G degrees below zero F., kept
persistently near the freezing point of
mercury, and, though the perpetual
sun gave light and color to the cheerless
wastes, we were not impressed
with any appreciable sense of warmth.
Indeed, the sunbeams seemed to make
the frost of the air pierce with a more
1 painful sting.
There was a weird play of orgies,
seemingly most impressive at this
time?clouds of steam rose from the
frozen seas. In marching over the
golden glitter snow scaius tne race,
while the nose is bleached with frost.
The sun rose into zones of fire and set
Into burning fields of ice. but with
pain we breathe the chill of death.
In camp a grip of the kuife left paiuful
burns from cold metal. To the
frozen finger the water was hot. With
wine spirits the fire was lighted, while
oil delighted the stomach. In dreams
heaven was hot. the other place was
cold. All nature was false. We seemed
to be Hearing the chilled flame of a
new hades. In our hard life there
was nothing genuinely warm. The
congenial appearances were all deception,
but death offered only cold com- I
fort. There was no advantage In sul- j
olde. ;
WARRENTON iOC/LS.
The weatherhas been so very disagree- \
able this week our citizens have been un-;
able to accomplish much except diminish j
the size of the wood pile to a very appre- i
ciable extent.
The Warren ton School is again en-'
deavoring to impress the "young idea, j
The "ideas" have increased somewhat in \
number; there beipg nine new pupils to
join their ranks since Christinas.
It is reported that the -..eacner of the '
above inentipned school left us Thursday
before Christmas ostensibly for his home
in Troy. It is further reported that he;
did Dot arrive at his horn.: J Tuesday in
the Christmas. Now if you ?isk me where
be-went and what be was doing I would
of lie Pole!
*
*
North of Bradley Land. I
* Amazing Sensations of *
* Dr. Cook and His Two i
* Companions J*
* [NINTH ARTICLE] 4
*
-l- ?j? $? *! 4* *1* *f
We should have enjoyed this curious
experience, but with endless bodily
discomforts, combined in aching muscles
and an overbearing languor, there
could be 110 real joys from the glories
of nature. The pleasure was reserved
for a later retrospect.
We now changed our working hours
from day to night, beginning usually
at 10 and ending at 7. The big marches
and prolonged hours of travel with
which fortune favored us earlier were
no longer possible. Weather condl
uous were more iuj))uruiui iu ut-icimining
the day's run than the hands
of the chronometers.
When the storms threatened tbe
start was delayed, and in strong blows
the march was shortened, but in oue
way or another we usually found a
few hours in each turn of the dial during
which a march could be forced between
winds. It mattered little whether
we traveled night or day?all hours
and all days were alike to us?for w?
had no accustomed time of rest, uc
Sundays, no holiday, no landmarks or
mileposts to pass. To advance aud expend
the energy accumulated during
one sleep at the cost of our pound oi
pemmicnn was the oue sole aim in
life.
The observations of April 11 gave
latitude ST degrees 20 minutes, longl
tude 95 minutes 19 seconds. The pack
disturbance of Bradley Laud was les*
and less noted in the northward movement.
The fields became heavier, larger
and less crevassed. Fewer troublesome
old floes and less crushed new
Ice were encountered. With the Improved
conditions the fire of a racing
spirit came for a brief spell.
Passing Highest Reach.
We had now passed the highest
reaches of all our predecessors and
had gained the inspiration of the far
thest north for ourselves. . The time
[SEN'S SOUND.
was at hand, however, to consider sen
ously the necessity of an early return
Nearly half of the food allowance
had been used. In the long marchet
supplies had been more liberally used
than anticipated, and now our doje
teams were much reduced in numbers
A hard necessity had forced the cruel
law of the survival of the fittest, foi
the less useful dogs were fed to tht
steady working survivors. Owing t<
the food limits aud the advancing season
we could not prudently continue
the outward march a fortnight longer.
We had dragged ourselves 300 miles
over the polar sea in twenty-four days,
Including delays and detours, this gave
an average of nearly thirteen miles
daily ou an air line in our course
There remained an unknown line oi
160 miles before our ambitions could
ho cnti?fiori The same averace ad
vance which we had made on the pack
would take us to the pole in thirteen
days. There were food and fuel enougt
to risk this adventure.
Work and Observations.
In the diary of the succeeding days
doings there appear numerous tabu
lations of work and observations. It
the new cracks the thickness of th(
ice was measured. The water was ex
amined for life. The technical detail:
for the mnkiug and breaking of Jc<
were studied, and some attention was
given to the altitude of uplifted ant
submerged irregularities.
Atmospheric, surface water and ic<
temperatures were taken, the barome
ter was noted, the cloud formations
weather conditions and ice drifts wen
tabulated. There was a eoutinuou:
routine of work which does not appeal
here. It belongs to the specific detail:
of the history of the exploration
which will appear in the later publica
tion of scientific data.
This work, like the effort of the foo1
in the daily drive of duty, becam<
more or less automatic and does no
at any time enter as ar. active part o
the story. As we now run along ovei
seemingly endless fields of Ice tin
physical appearances come under i
careful scrutiny. 1 watched daily foi
possible slgus of dangerous failure ii
strength, for serious disability nov
meant a fatal termination.
A disabled man could ueither con
tinue nor return, but every examina
tion gave another reason to push In
aetly as instructed but we trust it will b
accepted.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie McNeil have move<
into their new home. They were ver
pleasantly situated before, living witi
their father, but nothing is so pleasant ai
a home of your own. Life then begins it
I TU Ki,.r?o cnrtr.
IVCWilfV. lilC ^WIl^O V'l bliu Mil UO OVV Jl
sweeter, tho sky clearer, and the sui
brighter. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil will bi
glad to receive their friends in their nev
home, and we dare say they will meet yoi
with a smile you had not noticed l>efbre
May their days be many and may thei:
cup overflow.
There has been considerable sickness ii
our community but we are glad that mos
of tho sick are convalescing.
Gary Cheatham Is again up. She ha(
pneumonia and we feared the fight ml,.
' man endurance to the limit of the
| strain of every fiber and cell. The
hard work which followed, under an
occasional burst of burning sunbeams,
brought intense thirst.
Soup a Luxury.
Forcing the habit of the camel, we
managed to take enough water before
starting to beep sufficient liquid in the
reins for the day's march, but it was
difficult to await the melting of the ice
at camping time.
In two sittings?evening and morning?each
took an average of three
quarts of water daily. This included
the tea and also the luxury of an occasional
soup. There was wnter about
everywhere in heaps, but it was in
| crystals, and before the thirst could
be quenched several ounces of precious
fuel, which had been carried
! thousands of miles, must be used. And
1 still this water, so expensive and so
1 necessary to us. ultimately became (he
I greatest bane fo comfort. It escaped
1, through the pores of the skin, saturated
the boots, formed a band of Ice
under the knee and a belt of frost
about the waist, while the face was
, nearly always incased in a mask of
j icicles from the breath?a necessary
| pnrt of our hard lot in life, and we
. learned to take the torture pbiloso|
phioally. "From ice it comes, to Ice
j it goes." like the other elements of
.the body, when the pood preacher pronounces
the last words "from dust to
ust."
From the eighty-seventh to the
eighty-eighth parallel we passed for
two days over old ice without pressure
1 lines or hummocks. There was no dis
f cernlble line of demarcation for the
' fields, and It was quite impossible tc
determine if we were on land or sen
Ice. The barometer indicated no ele
vation, but the ice had the hard, waving
surface of glacial ice. with only
1 superficial crevasses. The water obtained
from this was not salty, but all
! of the upper surface of the ice of the
polar sea makes similar water. The
; nautical observations did not seem tc
! indicate a drift, but nevertheless the
' combined tabulations do not warranl
the positive assertion of either land 01
' sea for this area.
An Air Line Course.
, This Ice gave a cheering prospect. A
plain of purple aud blue ran in easy
undulations to the limits of vision
. without the usual barriers of uplifted
I blocks. Over it a direct air line course
was possible. Progrt , however, was
, quite as difficult as over the irregular
pack. The snow war crusted witb
large crystals. An increased friction
reduced the speed, while the surface,
too hard for snowshoes, was also toe
weak to give a secure footing. The
loneliness, the monotony, the hardship
of steady, unrelieved travel were now
keenly felt.
It is not often that man's horsepower
is put to the test as ours was. We
were compelled to develop a working
energy to the limit of animal capacity
Day after day we had pushed along
at the same steady pace over plains oi
frost and through a mental desert.
As the eye opened at the eud of an
icy slumber the fire was lighted little
by little, the stomach was filled witL
liquids and solids, mostly cold?euougl:
to last for the day, for there could be
no halt or waste of fuel for midday
feeding. We next got into harness
and paced off the day's pull under the
lash of duty. We worked until staud
lng became impossible?longer in lighl
winds, shorter in strong winds, but al
ways until the feet became numb and
heavy.
Then came the arduous task of build
ing a snow house. In this the eyes, uc
. longer able to wink, closed, but soon
the empty stomach complained, and il
i was filled up again?not with things
I that pleased the palate, only hard fuel
; to feed the inner fires, while the eai
. sought the soft side of ice to dispe
I fatigue; no pleasure in mental recre
atiou, nothing to arouse the soul fron
1 its Icy inclosure.
> To eat, to sleep, to press one fool
ahead of the other, was our steady vo
' cation, like tbe horse to tue can
but we bud not bis advantage of ai
> agreeable climate and a comfortable
stable at night.
Where Madness Sits.
Words and pictures cannot adequate
i Iy describe tbe maddeniug inPueuct
J of this sameness of polar glitter, com
bined with bitter wiuds, extreme coiu
. and an overworked body. To me thert
' was always the Inspiration of antiei
! pation ot the outcome of ultimate success,
but for my youug savage com
pauious it was a torment almost be
, yond endurauce. Their weariness was
made evident by a lax use of the whif
and an indifferent urging of the dogs
| They were, however, brave and faith
' ful to the bitter end, seldom allowing
' selfish ambitions or uncontrollable
' passions seriously to interfere with th(
I main effort of the expedition.
' On the morning of April 13 a strait
of agitating torment reached a break
lug point. For days there had been ?
i steady cutting wind from the west
which drove despair to its lowesi
reaches. The west again blackened
i to reuew its soul despairiug blast. Th(
3 sun was screened with ugly vapors
r and the path was as cheerless as the
5 arctic night.
No torment could be worse than thai
never ceasing rush of icy air. Ahwe
lah bent over his sled and refused tc
1 move. Ills uogs lurneu uuu luuseu iu
* quiringly. I walked cvev and stooc
1 by bis side. Etukishuk came near and
r stood motionless, staring blankly at the
r southern skies. Large tears fell froir
s Ahwelah's eyes and piled a little frosl
1 of sadness in the bine of his own shad
r ow for several minutes. Not a word
J was uttered, but I knew that eacb fell
7 that the time bad come to free tbe fet
ters of human passions. Slowly Ahwe
' lah said, "Uuue sinig pa?oo-ah-toni?
* i-o-doria ("It is well to die?beyond If
" impossible").
:|
0 provo too groat for her frail body, but w
, are indeed glad to know she won oul
\ Gary, your friends were much concerne
f about you, we heard one who is about vo
J age and in your school aek concerning
? you. We have never seen the child with
J more solemn expression than when sh
* whispered, "Is Gary going to get up?"
^ Mrs. Campbell has been very low wih
3 double pneumonia for more than a week
v It is distressing to have any member c
1 the family sick, but when the mother c
' five young children sees the little ones an
r hoars their distressing cry and is unabl
to minister unto their wants we think th
* limit of human endurance is not far awaj
c We extend to Mr. Campbell our heart-fel
. sympathy and we hope the future wi!
? kring days in which the sunshine will die
ilhe Conquest
11
V
| * By Dr. FREDERICK A. COOK \
' ^ r/inuMi<ki 19(19. Iiv (he New York ! i
i t ""KJ
| * Herald Company, Registered In >'
* Canada In Accordance With Copy- .
right Act. Copyright In Mex- | [
J ico Under Laws of the Republic j i
<i> of Mexico. All Rights Reserved '
I
THE observations of April 14 gave
latitude 88 degrees 21 minutes, ^
longitude 95 degrees 52 minutes. ,
We were but 100 miles from the
pole, but there was nothing to relieve
1 the mental strain the icy despair.
The wind came with the same satanic
cut from the west.
With teeth set and newly sharpened ,
resolutions, we set out for that last 100
miles. Some dogs had gone into the
stomachs of their hungry companions,
but there still remained a sufficient',
pull of well tried brute force for each ;
sled, and. though their noisy vigor had
been lost in the long drag, they still
IbB
... ; cotrm*m mtit just:: * .,, ;
DB. COOK ON BOABD THE HANS SQEDB.
broke the frigid silence with an occasional
outburst. A little fresh enthusiasm
from the drivers was quickly followed
by canine activity.
We were in good trim .to cover distance
economically. The sledges were
light; our bodies were thin. All the
muscles had shriveled, but the dogs
retained much of their strength. Thus
stripped for the last lap, one horizon
after another was lifted.
In the forced effort which followed
we were frequently overheated. The
temperature was steady at 44 degrees
below zero F., but perspiration came
with ease and a certain amount of
pleasure. Later, however, there followed
a train of suffering for many
days. The delight of the birdskin
shirt was changed for the chill of the
wet blanket. The mittens, the boots
and the fur stockings became quite
useless until dried out.
Furs Soon Dried.
Fortunately, at this time the sun
was warm enough to dry the furs in
about three days i( lashed to the sunI
ny side of the sled. In these last days
wp felt more keenly the nanes of per
spiration than in all our earlier ad,
ventures.
i The amber colored goggles were persistently
used, and they afforded a
. protection to the eyes which was quite
I a revelation, but In spite of every pre.
caution our distorted, frozen, burned
I and withered faces lined a map of the
hardships en route.
, We were curious looking savages.
The perpetual glitter Induced a squint
which distorted the face In a remarkable
manner. The strong light reflected
from the crystal surface threw the
j muscles about the eye Into a state of
, chronic contraction. The pupil was
reduced to a mere pinhole.
There was no end of trouble at hand
In endeavoring to keep the windows
of the soul open, and all of the effect
> was run together In a set expression
of hardship and wrinkles which should
[ be called the boreal squint.
Neoring the Pole.
This boreal squint Is a part of the
russet bronze physiognomy which falls
to the lot of every arctic explorer. The
early winds, with a piercing tempera'
ture, start a flush of scarlet, while
' frequent frostbites leave figures In
black. Later the burning sun browns
the skin; subsequently strong winds
; sop the moisture, harden the skin and
f leave open fissures.
! The hard work and reduced nourishment
contract the muscles, dispel the
1 fat and leave the skin to shrivel up in
' folds. The imprint of the goggles, the
1 set expression of hard lines and the
mental blank of the environment have
I romnvpd all snirltual animation. We
1 have the color and the lines of old
f russet apples and would easily pass
> for prehistoric progenitors of man.
In the enforced effort to spread out!
the stiffened legs over the last reaches
t there was no longer sufficient energy
' at camping times to erect a snow shel)
ter. The silk tent was then pressed
" into use.
1 Though the temperature was still
1 very low when ths sun was high, its
i congenial rays pierced the silk fabric
1 and rested softly on our brows closed
' in heavy slumber. In strong winds It
' was still necessary to erect a shelter'
ing wall to shield the tent.
Optical Illusions.
Signs of land were still seen every
, day, but tbey were deceptive optical 11,
lusions and a mere verdict of fancy.1
It seemed that something must hap-,
l1
I
Eel any and all clouds that may gather on ]
is horizon. i
? There is always trouble in the world,but
> it nni4oinlv Hn(iB nnh sApm Pnimllv rilfifHh '
u uted, for some of us seem to have much 1
rr more than our share.
a Mr. Jos Ferguoson had a fall a few days
e ago from which he received internal inju- i
ries. We hear he is improving satisfactorily '
t Little Frank Ferpueson has been very 1
: sick, but we understand he is also doing i
a6 well as could be expected i
Speed Fergueson has been up and down i
cj for the past four months. We understand *
e it will be necessary for him to go to
e Atlanta for further treatment. We trust :
r his trip will prove entirely satisfactory. :
{ Prof. K. B. Cheatham came over from
[l Donalds for a short stay last week.
. Mr. M. M. Hall passed through Friday on
of the Pole 1
>
>
The Pole at Last?Amid *
Singing of Eskimos and t
Howling of Dogs Explor
# Das/ikac "R!ri Nail *' *
I VA AWCIVIiVV A *%?MMm ^
(TENTH ARTICLE] *
4> < 4? + < i> 4? ?> 4* + ?fr <
pen, some line must cross our horizon,
to mark the important area into which
we were pressing.
When the sun was low the eye ran
aver moving plains in brilliant waves
3f color to dancing horizons. The mirages
turned things topsy turvy. Inverted
lands and queer objects ever
rose and fell in shrouds of mystery,
but all of this was due to the atmospheric
magic of the midnight sun.
With a lucky series of daily astronomical
observations our position was
now accurp^^j fixed for each stage of
progress. As we neared the pole the
Imagination quickened, and a restless,
almost hysteric excitement came over
us. The boys fancied they saw beaver
and seals, and 1 bad a new land under
observation frequently, but with a
change in the direction of light or an
altered trend in our temperament the
horizon cleared and we became eager
only to push farther into the mystery.
From the eighty-eighth to the eightyninth
the ice was in very large fields
and the surface was less Irregular, but
in other respects it was about the
same as below the eighty-seventh. We
noticed here also an extension of the
range of vision. We seemed to see
longer distances and the ice along the
horizon bad a less angular outline.
The color of the sky and the Ice also
charged to deeper purple blues. We
had no way of checking these Impressions
by other observations. The
eagerness to find something unusual
may have fired the imagination but
BiDce the earth is flattened at the pole
perhaps a widened horizon should be
detected.
At 8 o'clock on the morning of April
19 we camped on a picturesque old
field with convenient hummocks, to
which we could easily rise for the frequent
outlook which we now maintained.
The tent was pitched. The dogs
were silenced by blocks of pemmican.
In us new enthusiasm was aroused by
a liberal pot of pea soup and a few
chips of frozen meat, and then we
bathed in life giving sunbfeams. screened
from the piercing air by silk
strands. It was a beautiful day, and
had our sense of appreciation uot been
blunted by accumulated fatigue we
would have greatly enjoyed the play
of light and color in the ever changing
scene 01 Bpuriiie.
The Eskimos were soon lost in a
profound sleep, the only comfort In
their hard lives, but I remained awake,
as had been my habit on succeeding
days, to get nautical observations. The
longitude calculations lined us ut 94
degrees 3 minutes. At noon the sun's
altitude was carefully set ou the sextant,
and the latitude quickly reduced
gave 89 degrees 31 minutes?twentynine
miles from the pole.
My heart jumped for joy. and the
unconscious commotion which I was
creating awakened Etukishuk. I tolc
him that in two average marches we
would reach the "tigi shu" (the big
nail).
Ahwelah was awakened with a kick,
and together they went out to a hummock
and through glasses sought for
a mark to locate so important a placc
as the terrestrial axis. If but one
sleep beyond it must be seen.
I tried to explain that the pole was
not visible to the eye; that its position
was located only by a repeated use oi
the various instrumeuts. This entirely
satisfied their curiosity, and they bursl
out in hurrahs of joy. - For two hours
they chanted and danced the passions
of wild life.
Sleep Is Impossible.
It was the first real sign of pleasure
or rational emotion which they had
shown for several weeks. For some
time I had entertained the fear that
we no longer possessed the strength tc
return to land, but the unbridled flow
of vigor dispelled that idea.
More sleep was quite Impossible. We
brewed an extra pot of tea, prepared a
favorite broth of pemmican, dug up i
surprise of fancy biscuits and filled ur
on good things to the limit of the al
lowance for our final feast days. The
dogs, which had joined the chorus ol
gladness, were given an extra lump ol
pemmican. A few hours more wer<
agreeably spent in the tent, and then
we started with a new spirit for the
uttermost north.
We were excnea to a iever ucm
Tde feet were light on this run. Evei
the dogs caught the infectious entbusi
asm and rushed along at a pace whlcl
made it difficult for me to keep a suffi
cient advance to set a good course
The horizon was still searched foi
something to mark the approachinj.
boreal center, but nothing unusual was
seen. It was the same expanse ol
moTing seas of ice on which we hac
lived for 500 miles.
But, looking through gladdened eyes
the scene assumed a new glory. Then
were plains of gold fenced in purplt
walls, with gilded crests. It was oni
of the few days on the stormy pact
when all nature smiled with cheerinf
lights.
From my position a few hundred
yards ahead of the sleds I could noi
resist the temptation to turn frequentlv
to see the movement of the dog trail'
with its new fire. In this directior
the color scheme was reversed. Tbi
icy walls were in gold and burning col
horse of which he is justly proud. He con
aidftrs our roads somewhat ideal.
Mr. Geo. Wilson's friends will be gladtc
know he is on his feet again after havinp
been in the grip of thegripp for more thai
o> week.
Mr. and. Mrs. H. T. Cheatham left foi
their home in Palistlne, Texas Mondaj
We would have taken Henry very mucr
to task had he brought back a lady lest
fair, less charming, and with less grace
and ease of manner than the one he hat
chosen for his "better half." But in oiu
opinion he has shown good judgment hf
has done well, and again we would com
mend him to the serious consideration ol
young bachelors. Go thou and do like
wise?but don't go to Texas. We have
maids here fully as fair as any in the Lon<
' ore, while the plains represented every
shade of purple aud blue.
At ths North Pole.
' Through this sea of color the dogs
came with a spirited tread, iioses down,
tails up and shoulders braced to the
straps like chariot horses. The young
i Eskimos, chanting songs of love, came
I with easy step. The long whip was
: swung with a brisk crack, acid all over
there rose a cloud of frosted brentb.
Camp was pitched early in the morning
of April 20. The sun was northeast;
the pack glowed in tones of lilac;
the normal westerly air of shivers
j brushed our frosty faces. Tho surprising
burst of enthusiasm had been
nursed to its limits, and under it a long
march was made over average ice
with the usual result of overbearing
fatigue. Too tired and sleepy to wait
for a cup of tea. melted snows were
poured down and the pemmican was
pounded with the ax to ease the task
of the jaws. The eyes closed before
the meal was finished, and the world
tttoo lncf tn 11a fnr nirrhf hnnrc fT1iia
"UO JVU V IV UO i V4 UVU?w< A 14V
observation gave latitude 89 degrees
48.5 minutes, longitude 94 degrees 52
mlnntes.
With the boys singing and the doga
howling we started off after midnight
on April 21. The dogs looked large
and noble as they came along that
day, while Etuklshuk and Ahwelah,
though thin and rnpged, had a dignity
as heroes of the greatest human battle
which bnd ever been fought with
remarkable success.
We were all lifted to the paradise ol
winners as we stepped over the snowi
of a destiny for which we had risked
life and willingly suffered the tortures
of an icy hell.
The ice under us seemed almost sacred.
When the pedometer registered
fourteen and a half miles we camped
and calmly went to sleep, feeling thai
we were turning on the earth's axis.
The observations, however, gave 8?
degrees 59 minutes 45 seconds. We
therefore had the pole, or the exact
spot where it should be. within sight.
We advanced the fifteen seconds
made supplementary observations
pitched the tent, built a snow igloc
and prepared to make ourselves com
fortable for a stay long enough for tw<
rounds of observations.
Our position was thus doubly assur
ed, and a necessary day of rest was
gained. Etuklshuk and Ahwelah en
joyed the day in quiet repose, but 1
slept very little. My goal was reach
ed; the ambition of my life had beet
fulfilled. How could I sleep awaj
such overwhelming moments of ela
tion?
The Dream Realized.
At last we had reached the borea
center. The dream of nations had beec
realized. The race of centuries was
ours. The flag was pinned to the cov
eted pole. The year was 1908, the daj
April 21.
The sun indicated local noon, bul
time was a negative problem, for hen
all meridians meet. "With a step it was
possible to go from one part of th<
globe to the opposite side?from th<
1 hour of midnight to that of midday
Here there are but one day and on<
night in each year. The latitude was
AO decrees, the temperature ?38.7, th<
atmospheric pressure 29.83. North
i5^*
- % ;
. . i^a.||v'
fel'
' THE HANS EGEDE, WBtCH CABRIED DB
| COOK TO DBNMABK.
east and west bad vanished. It waj
south in every direction, but the com
' pass, pointing to the magnetic pole
was as useful as ever.
Though overjoyed with the succesi
* of the conquest our spirits began t<
1 change on the next day after all th
1 observations had been taken and th?
1 local conditions were studied. A sensi
of intense loneliness came with a care
' ful scrutiny of the horizon. What i
' - ' - ? nm
Cheerless spot I0 uuve uruuocu iuc am
bitlon of man for so many ages! End
1 iess fields of purple snows! No life, n<
1 land, no spot, to relieve the monotonj
( of frost! We were the only pulsatinj
creatures in a dead world of ice.
1 On April 23, 1908, Dr. Cook begai
the long return march. With fai
1 weather, good ice and the inspiratioi
of the home run long distances wer<
at first quickly covered.
Willi a good deal of anxiety Cool
watched the daily reduction of th<
J food supply. It now became eviden
: that the crucial stage of the campalgi
' was to be transferred from the tukinf
of the pole to a final battle for lif<
against famine and frost. Early ir
Tuiv further southward progress be
wuv
came impossible, aJd in quest of foot
he crossed the Firth of Devon iuti
' Jones sound. On Feb. 18, 1909, th<
r start was made for Annootok. With t
newly prepared equipment the Green
1 land shores were reached on April 15
Here Dr. Cook was greeted by Harrj
Whitney and anxious Eskiipo friends
1 To facilitate an early return he moved
1 southward to the Danish settlemeni
' and reached Upernavik on May 21
1909.
Ga. are visiting: Mrs. Cades parents.
Miss Louise Allen entertained Monday
> evening in honor of Miss Lois Wilson o
r Abbeville.
i Mr. Paul Wilson has l>een doing som<
sowing this week in Montery for his father
r
| Without an Enemy.
Heaven help the man who imagines hi
can dodpe enemies by trving to please
every every body? If sueli an individua
ever succeeded we should be <?!ad of itnot
that we believe in a man going througl
the world trying to find beams to knocl
und thump his poor head against, disputinj
a right to their opinion; so h*ve
! don't fall into the errorcof' euppodH^^I
! will respect you less for
respect you more for turning rBHWB
every Jay to match the colorortSH^EH
your colors in spits;,of
storm or sitashiitei'lfcoste ufe
and Ureeolute tw.Smes tisdAtrdde
wind and shuffle, ana twist, th&vJ^^H
honest, manly independence to
-ground.
(J
(i JQ8teffi,L "T'^j
1 I'Tfll ' VM
663^5^^ nHS
I am in the marble so&grenfte^^H
necs. I represent Owenj Bretf'flH
ble Company, of GreenwoodpJKij^HS
down ^"p^nolne
uot cost you a cent. .
Any one wanting Monas^^B
Toombs, Blah Work or Curbing-^HH
1 be pleaded to have them ca1Vtm9|M
ALbeviNe^S. 0., or at
; Joe F. EdrataJ
The State of South CTu^HH
County of Abbeville; 49
the Court of pamon
; All that tracf?r |?arw^ofO^^^Sj
i FJV E%)8i8i
r with thebctldtogs tfae^eda;#plMM
ioe one 125'horse pofrerCBrfaftmM
and a lot of other
what is known as
Also, at tb'? ametlmj^SSM
will peH a~ lot of %boat:$fcHH^^B
first class oak loruber cofatiMMHHB
manufacture of farnit9?^*)?v^HH
s anoe on a credit ok tw^ve^ffMrn
' oured by bond of^ ,piRw3HB
mnrfornoro nt tha
. only to the plant proper,
> (traces the land, buildiir^
Tlie lumber will h*eo!d
Purchaser to p*
Master's Sale?fi|
The State of South CaroiBfl
Court of Common Pleaa?.^H
Building and Loan Associattonef^H
bevilie, Plaintiff, against Mb^l
Adams Reed, Defendaot.
By authority of a Decree of Sal^H
the Court of Common Pleas for
ville County, in eafd fcftate; iriaAB
the above stated case, I wili oflMB
-ale, at public outcry, at AbberU^H
El., S. C., on 8alesday in February
D. 1910, within the legal hoox^H
-ale the following described laiu^H
wit: All that tract or parcel of jflH
situate, lying and being In ttfeCItHI
Abbeville, Abbeville County,' in MB
Stare aforesaid, fronting on PlnoH
street One Hundred and FourdhlJH
bounded by eaid street, by side^^n
. nil K?? lo Hilo nf Tll^o T)nf?TIn
a?u u,y lauwo vi uuvj iMvn?v in
era, with a four room cottage thanH
Terms of Sale?Cash. PurchaawB
B pay for papers. R ;fl
" '' Master k.
3 Master's Sile.
J The State of Setxth CfuroHxfl
I COUFTY QFhABB6VB?^?
Court ofO?inmon
i J. L. Pruitt, Plaintiff; agaiasfc ;fl
Pruitt, Allie, L. Cliokecaje*, M
Kiltie L. Rush, Defendafltfj-J^H
3 By authority of a Decreeof 8*JmH|
r the Court of Common Pteas/qrrAj^H
7 ville County, iu said St*fcq, m?4eS
the above stated case, I will oner
-ale, at Public Outcry.-at AbbevtUeB
H., 8. C., on fialeeday inFtfbroarvvM
1 D. 1910, witbiutbe legal baurs of JH
r the following described l^tykto ffl
1 All that tract or parcel of, 'land BitaaH
J lying and being irt Abbeville C6un?
in the State aforesaid," contftits|H
t TWO (2) Acres, more or teMtp-lM
? t>ouude<i by E. L. Reid, Estate of S|
l E. H. Edwards and others, being ?B
l?!p rp.sidpiife of M,s. M&rv fktA-P^I
itt, deceased, in the town of iH
' \Vect, s. c. .
- Also, all that tract or parcel of Ian*
i in Due We.it Towosbip}
State aforesaid, containing'
I TY-TVVO (72) Acres, more or*afl
) hounded by lands of M. CiiiH
, scales, A. C. Clinkscales, G. T. IX&gifl
' aud tracts N< s. 2 and 3 of the
Estate lands, aDd known aa fasti?
I of said estate lands. ' , /jfl
Also, all that tract or parcel ofiatfl
r T\..? \\7?r,t T??lnakU
I Ll uuc ? cat iuwuouip, VWUUV/JJ
. State aforesaid, containing FIJET
I NINE (59) Acres, more or leM,.a
t bounded by lands of J, L. Prjaiti^
T. H?gan, and tracts Nos. 1 and 8
' said estate land, being tract No,
, thereof.
Also, all that tract or parcel of
adjoining tracts Nos. 1 and S.olfl
' estate lands, J. M. Bell,. J, N.'Nao
f and A. 0. ClinkscaJes, contaial
FIFTY-SEVEN and ONE-HA]
3 (57i) Acres, more or less, and knoi
' as tract No. 3 of 4?aid estate lands.
Terms of Sale?Cash. Purchaser#
pay for papers.
R. E. HILL,-,
Master A.C.. 8. Q
3 . M
1 It is a flangeroun Iblcg (o take aoonxbl^H
. Iclne rontnlutng opiate* that merely. BlS
- your cough iDBtend ol caring it. n>?B
Honey and Ttirlowi-na and care* Um MB
1 and expel* tb$ poisonous gernof,
? yenllng pneumonia and 6onramattjQ|^M