THE REAL ROALD AMUNDSEN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 252, 24 April 1912, Page 6

THE REAL ROALD AMUNDSEN

HOW HE LOOKS AND TALKS. By Telegraph—Press Associatios. Auckland. Monday. Captain Roald Amundsen arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Maheno yesterday. In appearance lie scarcely realises the popular idea of an explorer. Lithe and sinewy in figure, he does not suggest any reserve power of exceptional physical endurance. His stay in the Dominion will be very brief, for he is obliged to leave by the Remuera for Beunos Ayres. In the course of conversation with an Auckland pressman the topie naturally veered round, to the recent Polar dash. "Yes, but there is not much that I can say," said the captain, his benevolentlooking features meanwhile lighting with that slow smile of his. One wonders how much of mental reservation there lies behind it. The first impression which one gathers upon meeting the explorer is one almost of astonishment. Where is the fierce-eyed, hard-bitten, brawny-limbed conqueror of Nature's most hostile fortI ress? The famous Norwegian, though fairly broad of shoulder, and well set up I enough, conveys a sense of almost wellj to-do benevolence—a man of about I middle age, blessed with pretty robust health, and indulging in a quiet desire to travel round places and see things comfortably It is only, when one more closely inspects him, and notices the occasional glint in the plain blue eyes that one suspects Captain Amundsen in tourist tweeds and C—itain Amundsen in Polar furs to be vvo personalities, both kindly by nature and interesting, but difficult to recognise, in casual glances, as the one and iiidivisably same. Although the explorer modestly denies having much to say, the thaw of conversation releases sufficient to arouse a distinct feeling of enmity for the clock on the part of his listener. The superiority of dogs and of skis for Polar exploration work was broached. "Ah, yes," he declares involuntarily, "there can be no question about the value of dogs. I cannot understand anyone choosing horses in preference. They are so light, they do noli sink into the soft snow, and they require comparatively little to eat. Their energy, too, is exhaustless. We could not keep up with our dogs—4hey were so willing. You see the immense value in Being able to conserve all your energy instead of having to use it in hauling sledges. You surmount difficulties that, to worn-out men, seem unsurmountable, and your spirits remain buoyant. That is a very great thing down in the Antarctic, you | know,' and he smiled reminiacently. S "Yes, and the skis! Wit'll them you j can cross crevasses with impunity where i men in heavy boots would labor with ■ danger. All Polar explorers should be J expert ski-men. In Norway we put skis 011 our horses in the .winter, and it is' astonishing how quickly they become used to them. I notice that the leading ponies wore skis in Captain Scott's expedition, and I think they should have all worn them." Thereafter the captain declined to be led on to further discussion of the British expedition beyond expressing the conviction that Captain Scott would have 110 difficulty in reaching the Pole. What about the awful silences of the I Antarctic, which are said to affect one's sleep? He 6miled again. "Silence, yes, but I love it. I am used to it. I cannot imagine how_ it could prevent one from sleeping. I think, indeed, it is what you call exa<*1 geration." ° ' In speaking of the two routes—the ' one he chose and that by way of the ' Beardmore Glacier taken by Captain Scott the Norwegian discoverer was re- > ticent in making comparisons. "When I ; am in Christchurch I shall talk the route* over with the members of Capl tain Scott's expedition, but if the time occupied in climbing the Beardmore , Glacier proves to be what I have been told, I begin to wonder if mine was i the easier route. We were fortunate . in not meeting any very great bliz- ; zards but I suspect that our dogs and r knowledge of using skis had much to do with the rapid progress which we I were able to make." , _ Captain Amundsen lectured on his , journey to the South Pole to a great r audience in the Town Hall to-night. The explorer had a most enthusiastic reception, and was welcomed by the Governor on behalf of the country and the city of I Auckland.