Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
rI,HERE IS ONE PROBLEM IN GEoG.


NORTH AS POSSIBLE ON sLEDGEs.
YI'HERE rs ONE PROBLEM IN GEoG-
rsphy that always puzzles the school boy
beyond measure, and that is what and where ia
the northern end Of that triangular piece of
territory sticking down from the arctic regions
into the Atlantic ocean. dubbed BY that WON
Gerfllly odd name of Greenland. This problem
does nos abate in its difficulty rs the student Of
geography grows in age and wisdom, and it is
today seemingly as far from a solution as ever.
The northernmost limit Of human researches in
Greenland still remains where it was fifty years
agO-sone hundreds of miles south OF the pole
and with nothing TO indicate that the vast
peninsula does not extend as far north as the
pole itself This state OF ignorance is not due
at all TO the lack of human enterprise in the
matter. but rather to apparent determine
ton on the part of the fates that human eyes
shall peer no further north than a certain lati-
tude. which Las been gradually defined to be
somewhat neal the eighty-third parallel
PATH TO THE POLE
Greenland. then. offers one advantage at
least as a path for arctic explorers. in that
there is no known limit to its soiidity in the
direction of the pole. and there is therefore the
SNti-EitStAb tA4stt ~ ell
tirely TO the top Of the earth, as it has been
expressed. Bet there is another advantage
based on the Que just pointed out. that Lieut.
Peary. civil engineer OF the navy. thinks IL
going 70 prove TO be the ultimate means of
reaching the pole. at least of getting into the
open sea that Is supposed to exist Immediately
around hat theoretical point on the earth
surface. Lieut.. PSary. who will lecture next
Friday night On the subjec; OF Greenland and
its advantage as a foot path to the pole, is a
thorough entl usiast the subject of arctic
explorations. but with quite as much reason in
him rs zeal, a combination not altogether COM
mon among delivers into the unknown Of tie
frozen zone.
In 1856 he and one companion climbed the
glacier face at Disco bay and travelled over a
hundred miles into the interior of Greenland
IN order to determine the nIture of the terri
tory. The story of their trip is well told by
Prof. FTidtiof Nansen in his work on The
First Crossing of Greenland" This expedition,
which gives the title to the work. was under
taken il 1883 couple of hundred miles farther
south than Peary route and took the explorer
entirely across the peninsula from the east
side to the coast.
Prof Nanser, thus describes Peary's trip into
the interior:
The last expedition TO the finland Ice pre-
ylous 10 1sse, was that of Robert PeaTy of the
United States navy and Christian Maigaard. a
Danish official in the Greenland service. which
was undertaken in 1856.
PeGTy speaks Of the journey preliminary
reconnaissance. 1t was originally intended TO
make Use of sledges and dogs, but the Esqui-
mauN who had been retained for the purpose
deserted the travellers at the eleventh hour and
took the dogs and sledl,es with them. The two
Europeans were therefore compelled to proceed
on foot and alone. For the 1irst few DAYS, in
deed, they had the help Of one man and one
woman. but neither Of these could be per-
shaded to do much more than set their feet,
upon the ice.
The starting point was the head of Pakitsok-
ford or perhaps / should more correctly say
HOrdlekfJOrd, in latitude So 80 y. This was
the very ford where Whymper had made his
attempt and where the Norwegian geologist
Holland had also been upon the ice.
The actual ascent Of the ice began on June
q. The provisions. which were calculated to
last thirty days, and the rest of the equipment
were hauled on two ''nino-foos sledges. thirreer
inches wide. made Of hickory, steel and hide,
On a modified Hudson bay pattern, and weigh
ING complete twenty-three pounds each" One
pair II ''skI' and one pair OF Indian snowshoes
each were taken, ard these seem to have BEE
IN ire quent Tie. There was no tent but a
shelter vas made Of tarpaulin and the two
sledses- Travelling was done by night and
sleeping by day. and for a time, while the sta1e
Of the sEOw permitted II, Snow huts were built
every dssy.
On The evening Of July 2, vixen the two had
already been weather bourC for two DAYS. they
CetegutlueL return ID the camn by tho fiord