The Portland daily press., 1891-05-09
NAvrLcAITMiLEs7

The PRESS presents to Its readers this
morning, map which shows the route to be
taken by Lieutenant Robert e. Peary in his
proposed exploration Of Northern Geenland.
This latest Arctic expedition Is Of more
than usual interest to the people Of Maine.
and Of Portland In particular. Bowdoin
College and the Natural History Society, Of
Portland, have each contributed towards de-
fraying the expenses of the expedition.
Moreover. Lieutenant Peary may be claimed
as Portland boy. since he was educated In
her schools. His legal residence is In the
town Of Cape Elizabeth.
Lieutenant Peary was born In Cresson,
Pennsylvania; but at quite an early age came
to Maine with bis mother, who has been q
widow for many years. Mrs. Psary sent her
son to the Portland schools. and he gradual
ed from the High School In 1873. He went
Immediately TO Bowdoin College. and taking
the four years. course, graduated from there
In 1877. Carroll w. Morrill,. Esq, Of this
city. was a member Of the class Of TT and
one Of Peary's most intimate friends. Mr..
Morrill, says that In college young, Peary de-
voted himself to the studies of the scientific
department, and In his specialties ranked
very high. He was considerably interested
in natural history during his college course.
and Mr.. Morrill, has several birds which he
mounted. He was sociable, genial and
popular fellow among the students, athletic
and partial to sports, although not particu-
larly conspicuous for skill In base ball or
boating.
For the two years succeeding his gradna-
tion, young Peary lived In Fryeburg. where
he practised civil engineering until he per-
fected himself In his profession. He then
secured an appointment as draughtsman In
the Geodetic Survey In Washington. While
there, a vacancy occurred In the Civil Engi-
neering Corps Of the United States Navy.
The place was filed by competitive examin-
alton Of great severity. Pesry was the sue
cessful one Of a large number Of contestants.
During his term In the navy. Lieutenant
Peary has served at Key West, Newport, r.
l., Washington. and League Island Navy
Yards, and Philadelphia. where he has just
completed the construction of large dock.
During this time, he has spent two seasons
on the survey Of the Nicaragua canal, the first
year under Mr.. Menocal, and the second year
as Engineer-in-chlef. He also has found
time. In 1886. to make preliminary expedi-
tion into the interior of Greenland.
Lieutenant Peary has been married re-
Gently to Miss DeBietsch, Of Washington, the
daughter of German, man Of science and
former officer in the German army.
OF late years, he has not visited Portland
often. His mother comes here very frequent
| ly, making her home with Mr.. and Mrs. Free
man Evans, relatives who live at Cape Eliza
beth Depot. e. G. Reynolds. ESQ.,. Register
Of Probate for this county. Is one Of Lieuten-
| ant Peary's most intimate friends.
Greenland has long been a land Of great
interest to travellers and scientists, and IL Is
not at all unnatural that young officer Of
Peary's disposition should become possessed
by an ambition to solve the mystery OF Its
deserts Of Ice. 1t was in 1886 that he succeed
ed in making his first expedition. Obtain
ing leave from the Navy Department. he left
st. John, Newfoundland. on the steam
whaler Eagle,..a on the 9th Of June, 1886.
landed at Godhavn, Disco Island. By con.
sulting the accompanying map, this island
will be seen lying In large bay on the west
coast Of Greenland. From Godhavn he made
a successful but short expedition Of about
100 miles into the interior.
| Greenland is country longer than the ex
treme width Of the United States from north
to south, and its 10000 square miles Of sur
face make 1t about four times as large al
New England and the Middle States. 1t ha;
| population of about 10000. including about
800 Europeans, mostly Danes. 1t was named
"Greenland" about 900 years ago by an un
scrupulous Icelandic traveller named Eric
who gave 1t the deceptive name In order Il
fool the people Of iceland into emigrating
The old emigrants had hard time. and the
present inhabitants are not the most pleasant
ly situated of mankind. There are six or eigh
vessels with native registers, engaged In trad
ing along the coast Of the country. Thi
coast is mountainous. deeply indented will
fjords, which are walled in by high cliffs ant
ragged projections. Various expeditions
have shown that the interior Of the countr,
is covered with ice. the ground being com
pletely submerged by sea Of frozen snow
and Ice, varying In depth from few inche
In some places to mile In others. Ever
typographical feature Is completely sub
merged. Greenland Is great mountain dam
holding back a sea of Ice that Is steadily flow
ing down towards the sea. As long ago a
1928, the commandant Of proposed fort OF
the east coast attempted to 60 across Green
land. but was turned back at the very outse
by seemingly impossible desert of Ice.
In 1886. Lieutenant Peary tried this Ice an,
found the desert perfectly practicable TO
travelling. Since then. in 1883. the explore
Nansen has crossed Greenland, taking
route farther to the south. Both Of thei
expeditions demonstrate the practicablllty o
their methods.
The expedition which Lieutenant Pear.
proposes now, however, is more EXTENSIVE
than anything that has heretofore been at
tempted in the way OF land exploration II
Greenland. Disco Island. where he lsnde'
In 1886. Is many miles farther south than tn