THE MAGNETIC POLE
Each successive evening saw us some ten miles nearer to the
Magnetic Pole, but by the 11th we had various inconveniences (to
name them mildly) to add to our difficulties. Mawson had a touch of
snow-blindness in his right eye, and both he and Mackay suffered much
through the skin of their lips peeling off, leaving the raw flesh
exposed. Mawson, particularly, experienced great difficulty every
morning in getting his mouth to open, as his lips were firmly glued
together.
The compass by this time was very sluggish, in fact the theodolite
compass would scarcely work at all. This pleased us all a good deal,
and at first we all wished more power to it; and then, recognising our
mistake, we amended the sentiment and cordially wished less power to it.
On the evening of the 12th, Mawson, after carefully analysing the
results set forth in the advance copy of the _Discovery_ Expedition
Magnetic Report, decided that, although the matter was not expressly so
stated, the Magnetic Pole instead of moving easterly, as it had done
in the interval between Sabine's observation in 1841 and the time of
the _Discovery_ expedition in 1902, was likely now to be travelling
somewhat to the north-west.
The results of dip readings taken earlier in the journey also agreed
with this decision. It would, therefore, be necessary to travel farther
in that direction than we had expected, if we were to reach our goal.
Most extremely disquieting news was this for us, as we had come almost
to the end of our provisions, after making allowance for enough to take
us back on short rations to the coast. Still, in spite of anxiety, our
overwhelming weariness enabled us to get some sleep.
At breakfast on the following morning we fully discussed our future
movements, and Mawson, having carefully reviewed his observations as
to the position of the Magnetic Pole, decided that we must travel four
more days if we were to reach it, and we resolved to go on sledging for
that time.
On that day we advanced thirteen miles, and on the next the snow
surface over which we were sledging sparkled with large reconstructed
ice crystals, about half an inch in width and one sixteenth of an inch
in thickness, which it seemed a sacrilege to break.
On the 15th about twenty minutes before true noon Mawson took magnetic
observations with the dip circle and found the angle only fifteen
minutes off the vertical, the dip being 89° 45'. Naturally we were very
much rejoiced to find that we were close to the Magnetic Pole. The
observations made by Bernacchi, during the two years of the _Discovery_
expedition sojourn at winter quarters on Ross Island, showed that the
extent of daily swing of the magnet was sometimes considerable. The
compass at a distance from the Pole pointing in a slightly varying
direction at different times of the day, indicates that the polar
centre executes a daily round of wanderings about its mean position.
Mawson considered that we were already practically at the Magnetic
Pole; and that if we waited for twenty-four hours taking constant
observations at the spot we had reached, the Pole would, probably,
during that time, come vertically beneath us. We decided, however, to
go on to the spot where Mawson concluded the approximate mean position
of the Magnetic Pole would lie. That evening the dip was 89° 48'.
From the rapid rate at which the dip had been increasing, as well
as from a comparison of Bernacchi's magnetic observations, Mawson
estimated that we were about 13 miles distant from the probable
mean position of the South Magnetic Pole. To locate, he said, the
mean position accurately it was possible that a month of continuous
observation would be necessary, but that the position he indicated was
as close as we could locate it.
Consequently we decided to make a forced march of 13 miles on the
following day to the approximate mean position of the Pole.
On Saturday, January 16, we were up at 6 A.M. and soon started, pulling
our sledge for two miles. We then depoted a lot of our heavy gear and
equipment, and having gone on for another two miles we fixed up the
legs of the dip circle, the compass moving in a horizontal plane being
useless for keeping us on our course.
Two miles farther on we fixed up the legs of the theodolite, and after
another two miles we put up our tent and had a light lunch.
Afterwards we walked five miles in the direction of the Magnetic Pole
so as to place us in the mean position calculated for it by Mawson, 72°
25′ South latitude, 155° 16′ East longitude. Mawson placed his camera
so as to focus the whole group, and in the meantime Mackay and I fixed
up the flag-pole.
Then at 3.30 P.M. we bared our heads and hoisted the Union Jack with
the words uttered by myself, in conformity with Lieutenant Shackleton's
instructions: "I hereby take possession of this area now containing the
Magnetic Pole for the British Empire."
At the same time I fired the trigger of the camera by pulling the
string which Mawson had arranged, and finally we gave three cheers for
His Majesty the King.
The temperature at the moment we hoisted the flag was exactly 0° Fahr.
It was an intense satisfaction and relief to all of us to feel that at
last, after so many days of toil and danger, we had been able to carry
out our leader's instructions, and to fulfil the wish of Sir James
Clarke Ross that the South Magnetic Pole should be actually reached, as
he had already in 1831 reached the North Magnetic Pole.
At the same time we were too utterly weary to be capable of any great
amount of exultation. I am sure the feeling that was uppermost in
all of us was one of devout and heartfelt thankfulness to the kind
Providence which had so far guided our footsteps in safety to that goal.
With a fervent "Thank God" we all did a right-about turn, and marched
as quickly as tired limbs would allow us back towards our little green
tent in the wilderness of snow. Reaching our depot a little before 10
P.M. that night, we turned into the sleeping-bag faint and weary, but
happy that a haunting load of possible failure was at last removed from
our minds.