Personal insights and impressions from people who were eye witnesses to events as they unfolded are what much of recorded history is based upon. It has been my experience that unless each instance can be independently verified, it must be treated with a certain amount of skepticism. In order to paint an accurate picture of an historical event and to withstand the scrutiny of serious researchers and of our peers, we must attempt to follow at least two basic tenants of research. Depending upon the era, there are quite often more than one newspaper account of sensational incidents. It has been my experience that the first accounts are usually the most sketchy or inaccurate.
Subsequent accounts are generally more accurate and contain more details.
If we are lucky, we may be able to find all of these and more. Ask twelve posse members who the leader of the posse was and you may get twelve different answers. And don't forget that racism and prejudice often tainted the perceptions of some people. The deeds and roles that members of minorities may have played in certain events may have been overshadowed, or in some cases, completely ignored by their Caucasian brethren. Robert E. Perry reached the north pole in 1909.