Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05

Return Of Members Of the West 0rssnla.,
Expedition.

Return Of Members Of the West 0rssnland
Expedition.
The mem beers Of the vest Greenland expedi-
ton that travelled with Lieut.. Peary part Of
the way into the frozen north returned to
Philadelphia yesterday, and all with one accord
agree that unless relief expedition shall be
sent out and prove successful, which latter Is
by no means certain. Lieut. Peary and his
party OF Greenland voyagers will find nsmeless
graves In the ice deserts that surround the
north pole.
There were eight in the company that landed
at Baltimore at 8 O'Clock yesterday morning
from the steamship Nova scotian, from st.
Johns. N. b. They were sent by the Academy
OF Natural Sciences to investigate the geology,
botany and biology of western Greenland.
These were the members: Prof. Benjamin
Sharp and Prof. j. r. Holt. BIOLOGISTS; Prof.
Angelo Heilprin, geologist; DR.. W. Z. Hughes,
ornithologist; DIR. ". Burk, botanist; Mr.. Men
eel. entomologist; DR.. Robert n. Kelly, surgeon,
and Fraser Ashhurst
DIR. Kelly yesterday afternoon outlined the
story OF the west Greenland expedition. THE
expedition" he said, was entirely distinct from
Lieut.. Peary's He went intending to push to
the farthestpoint north yetreached by man. We
went merely to study the west coast Of Green
land and bring back specimens. We were ex-
ceedingly successful but every member of our
party. believe, considers the fate Of Peary
and the seven companions he now has most
hazardous. To make the situation plain he is
now about 600 miles north Of Upernsvik. the
Danish town which trading vessels reach about
once year.
His idea when we left him was to push sew
eral hundred miles northward toward the
pole, and to get back to Cpernavik again by
August next. In the first place, north of
Cpernavik stretches Melville bay. which has
always baffied navigators. We in our little
barkentine, the Kite. were for three weeks
packed In the ice of the bay, and had given
up all hopes of getting through. when 1t finally
opened up. But We brought back the Kite
with us, and Peary will have to depend on his
whale boat to get him south. The boat
weighs about 800 pounds. He will have ton
or so OF freight to carry, and with only six
men and his wife to manage 1t it is safe to
say the party will never get back. through
Melville bay.
The leutenant's party is made up of good,
hearty fellows, but they are men almost with
out exception who have never experienced
arctic life. They must all depend on Peary,
and should anything happen to him don't
know what will become of them. A relief ex-
petition alone can bring Peary and his party
back, ard the success OF such expedition
even Is dubious. The Academy Of Natural
Sciences was not the prime mover in Peary's
trip, and it will not, think, back a relief
party. Still, the fact that there is a woman
there VIII arouse public sympathy and lead
people at home, If anything will, to supply
funds for a relief expedition
APPREHENsIvE FOR PEARY.
The Philadelphia Press today speaking of
the arrival in that city Of the members of the
scientific expedition, says: In spite of the ex-
hllaration inherent in their experience among
strange people and strange sights, and in SPITE
OF the delight that is part of an expedition that
mas been great success, gloom hung over
some Of the party owing to the uncertainties,
nd no nhah 10 a
hkely disasters that await the members of Lieut..
Pearys north Greenland expedition.
Prof. Angelo Heilprin. the leader of the party,
took. however, most CHEEKY view of the situa-
tlcn. de declared his belief that Lieut.. Peary
was provided with sufficient food and fuel un-
til next summer urged :he necessity Of a relief
expedition, and pronounced the scientific re-
sults OF the expedition altogether satisfactory.
He said:
II have seen none of the newspaper reports
IN regard to Lieut.. Peary, but am told they
Represent him in danger. He and his whole
party are safe. He told me that he had six
teen months OF provisions. An opinion Of the
steward OF the Kite that he had insufficient sup
plies may have started different impression.
Lieut.. Peary wanted ten tons of coal and he
got seven. This is an ample supply. He has,
besides, kerosene oil and alcohol. The captain
OF the Kite assured me that Lieut.. Peary had
all the fuel he needed. He has plenty OF lime
juice and refused the offer OF more. The party
"ANA ASA AO'AiA'b Wills
RELIEF PARTY TO BE ORGANIZED.
"But after Lieut.. Peary has completed his
work of exploration he ought not to be asked
to make the boat trip to Upernavik. As he
said he would not ask for relief party, but he
will accept one. One will be organized. and
there will be difficulty in raising the
amount particularly after all that has been
accomplished by this expedition. The sum
needed is not large and it can be raised.
harD Yay
about Lieut.. Peary. He has a difficult task be-
fore him. He may find the ice cap open to his
advance, and he may find it cut up by crevasses
and hords. No one can tell. But he is per-
fectly safe until he returns to Mccormick bay
from his trip. Then he will be in danger un-
less a vessel is there ready to bring him home.
and he is at a perfectly accessible point, which
can be reached with certainty every year"
The other members OF the party who were
seen yesterday agree with Prof. Heilprin that
relief expedition is most necessary feature of
the north Greenland expedition. Among those
who recounted their never-to- be forgotten ex-
periences were DR.. Benjamin Sharp the 20
ologist OF the expedition, and Dr.W. Z. Hughes,
tine Ornithclogist, who, as the correspondent of
the Press. has given such graphic accounts of
the expedition.
THE LIEUTENANrs SITUATION.
They took a somewhat less sanguine view of
the matter and went into the subject in great
that Mrs. Peary was not taken into account
when the food supply for the bleak winter was
gotten together, and who in the necessary econ
omv of service Ill the expedition counts not only
for naught, but acts as 80 much dead weight.
Mrs. Pearys going was early looked upon as a
mistake. and rather curiously it was through
her, though indirectly. her husband broke his
leg, and it was through this same accident she
remained in north Greenland with the party
instead of coming back with the Heilprin party.
If Lieut.. Peary had been landed in good condi-
ton with dogs, winter clothing, plenty Of sup
plies, fuel and in perfect physical health Mrs.
Peary would have returned as she was expected
to do by her family; but when instead. without
dogs, without a complete supply of winter
clothing, without guides and without even
knives. forks and spoons (these were left in the
Kite hold by an oversight, he wa. carried on
shore in a litter, weak and helpless the wife
would not desert him.
MIR. FOSTERS FINANCIAL TALKS.
Sc, ~ x~f r.