THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14019, 26 March 1909, Page 5

THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS.

RETURN OF THE EXPLORERS. SHACKLETON'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. TWO DEGREES FROM THE POLE IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. ■<" PLANTING THE UNION JACK. .-'-.■■■ By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. • -' >, '. " , ' :!: - i i London, March 24. - : In the second instalment of his narrative in the Daily Mail of the British Antarctic expedition, Lieutenant Shackleton, describing his dash for the Pole, says:—" Steering south-south-east from the depot made in latitude 82deg. 45m., longitude 170, and after shooting v the ; snow-blind ponies, we approached a high range of mountains not discovered by any previous expedition, running in a south-. easterly direction. ' "■ "On December 2 we found that the barrier, influenced by the ridges of snow and ice, had turned in towards the land. I * DIFFICULT CLIMB UP A GLACIER. " Continuing our journey, we discovered, in the south-west, a huge glacier 120 miles long by 40 miles across. On the sth of the 1 month- we started, in latitude 83deg. 33m., longitude I72deg. W., / to ascend the glacier, the surface of which was so broken by ere-/ vasses that every step had to be carefully tested, and we spent the . whole day fighting our way a distance of 600 yds up the glacier. ." Our one pony disappeared into a crevasse owing to the swingletree snapping, but we saved the load. We were now compelled to haul everything ourselves, each man of the party hauling 2501b up the glacier slopes. Slowly we made our way southward, and on December 8 discovered another new range of mountains, lying to the south-south-west of our course. "Again and again members of the party fell through' the treacherous surface' of the glacier into crevasses, but by. the aid of the Alpine ropes with which we were bound together, rescues were ' , effected on each occasion. < " By the 18th of the month we had reached an altitude of 6800 ft, and here, in latitude 85deg., we made another depot, ; in which we left everything except our food, instruments, and equipment. GREAT P.OLAR PLATEAU. " With rations reduced to 20oz daily, we entered upon the • last i stage of our journey, and, continuing to mount. steadily, reached on* ; Boxing Day the edge of the Polar plateau, 10,000 ft above ■■■ the sea level. >' -'"""V " During our climb we experienced many hardships, owing to the intense cold, the rarefied air of the , highlands, and the lack of sufficient food. ; >. .' " ■. " We made the final depot on the edge of the plateau, and. took with us one tent, utilising the poles of the second; tent as guiding marks for our return. The surface of the plateau we found to be very soft. While journeying southwards over the-plateau* we encountered a blizzard, which .-lasted for 60 hours, all of us , suffering frequent frostbites during the continuance of the siorm. r FARTHEST SOUTH. When it ended we left the camp, and on January 9 reached latitude 88deg. 23m. south, longitude 162 west, the most southerly point hitherto reached. Here we hoisted the' Union Jack, presented • s- to the expedition by Queen Alexandra. No mountains were visible, ■ the pluin stretching south as far as the eye could reach. " The South Pole doubtless lies on this great plateau, 10,000 to 11,000 feet above the level of the sea. "Having hoisted the British flag, and taken all possible observations, we set out on our return journey, and further severe hardships, aggravated by dysentery, were undergone as we slowly progressed back to the ship, Dr. Marshall especially suffering. '/ . ■ " With assistance from the ship, however, we all reached the hut at Cape Royds in safety, after covering a total journey of 1708 ■ statute miles. NEW RANGES DISCOVERED. "Coal measures were found in limestone formations, and we saw upwards of a hundred mountains, ranging from 3000 ft to 12,000 ft. In eight ranges we discovered glaciers, and found and photographed signs of a former greater glaciation." Lieutenant Shackleton, judging from the 1 violent blizzard : which /!; -"' the party experienced in latitude 88deg. south, considers that if the ' theory held by many scientists is correct, that a region of perpetual /> / calm exists in the South Polar region, it is small in area, and not coincident with the geographical pole. Valuable zoological and geographical discoveries were made by Lieutenant Shackleton. Aboard the Nimrod, after encountering the pack ice, he discovered; from a position in 69deg. 47m. •/ south, longitude: : 161 deg.;// west, eleven new range coast mountains, tending south-west, then -■ west, for 45' miles beyond Cape North. . . WORLD-WIDE TRIBUTES FROM SCIENTISTS. - ' /" (Received March 26, 1 a.m.) .... — ' ■"//.'-■'"''■ "London, March 25. . World - wide tributes have been received from scientists upon , : the far-reaching importance of Lieutenant Shacklefcon's discoveries. His wife has been overwhelmed with congratulations. Captain Scott, of Antarctic' fame, interviewed on the; subject, . ;■■- commended the magnificent journey made, and the splendid, bold work accomplished