Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05
PLAN FOR PEARY'S RESCUE.
What 10 Said by One Who Has Been Over
the Same Ground.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
After reading an article in your paper OF this
date concerning Lieut. Peary. now at Whale
sound. west coast of Greenland, and posi-
bility of a relief expedition for his rescue next
year. / wish to say that DIR. Hughes Of the Phila-
delphia Press is right in every particular. Lieut..
Peary is in a bad way. / said when he lectured
here in Washington that if he lived to get
through to the western edge Of the Greenland
continent that he would find his work
only begun. A retreat from his position
even now is fraught with fearful dan
gers, and his brave little wife can
never stand it. Life in whale-boat retreat
across Melville bay is a terror to hardy seaman.
let alone dehcately raised woman was with
Capt Robert Pike in 1883 during the retreat
from Cape Sabine TO Upernavick- He says that
il is impossible. He said the same IN 1855 IL
Ii had been left to him we, no doubt, would,
like Greely's men. have persisted.
But a game man never despairs and Lieut..
Peary is a dead game man, and the only thing
likely to dishearten him will be the presence of
his wife She Will be days at a time III an open
boat during the retreat, exposed to fearful
cold, hunger, &c. His men. being unac-
customed to handling boat In sea way, will
find a job ahead of them that will terrify all
but the stoutest hearted of them winter in
their present position Is enough to try their
nerve, and If thew travel any north they Will
be short Of provisions and possibly men next
spring.
know what they will experience in an en-
forced retreat south. 1 was through It-and
now 1 beg of you have patience with me for a
moment II an expedition leaves next spring,
for Gods sake let it be an American one, Off
GERS and men; let il be entirely American.
Lieut. Darlington, if called upon. can tell why
i speak as do. He can tell you what Pike and
his crew Of Newfoundlandersd did in our expedi-
Non in 1883.
Let the next expedition be commanded by
the gsmest seaman l ever saw step over boat 5
gunwale. L speak Of Lieut. j. c. Colwell,
United States navy, who saved US men in 1883,
and who was the first man in Greelys camp in
1854 He knows every inch of the Greenland
coast from .'Cpernayick to the Humboldt
Glacier. He can live where an Esquimo or
Huski will perish ard can 60 straight TO Peary s
camp, for passed the spot on our way to
Cape Athol. If Colwell goes you can depend
on Peary being found; if Pike or any of his
countrymen it will be toss of a cent For if
Peary tries to accomplish his task of reaching
the north coast OF Greenland the rescuers will
have TO look for him there, not in Whale sound.
Peary, il forced TO retreat will be compelled 10
attempt the crossing of Melville bay 1t took
us eight days from Cape York to Cpernavick.
just think Of a refined, delicate woman IL an
open boat for 800 miles Of sea, living In the
stern sheets of a boat for days. They have
from Cape Barry to Cape York over 200 miles
Of barren and ice-bound coast to traverse.
not a landing place at times for fifty miles, one
immense glacier; no game; no fuel; to lay on
the rocks exposed to storms of sleet- 1t makes
nv blood run cold now to think of it. From
the Ritowik Glacier Face to .Conical Rock is
fifty miles of pull, and If SO unfortunate as to
get among the running ice in a fog their
chances are small indeed. Mrs. Peary would
die of disgust If among the Cape York Huskies
for one week have seen hardened seeler
throw up when seeing them eat
viii give myself. and few dollars, too, if
IN American crew of seamen are sent next
spring under Lieut.. J. T. Colwell, now on the
Boston.
Lieut.. Colwell. besides having myself could
GET all the men he wanted right here and old
whalemen at that, men who have been over the
same road Peary will be compelled to travel.
Let them be Americans, though.
JoHS kESSEY. Executive Mansion.
Washington, ID. C., Sept 3, 1891.