Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
TO THE NORTH POLE.

ana wait for change, but left the sledges and
other things behind. On July 6 they rejoined
their baggage and went on their way inward
after leaving deposit of provisions sufficient
for week. Next morning. az they we're cross
ing little lake with a thick covering of ice,
1laiSaards sledge went through. 1t was re-
covered. but MaiGaard states that the amount
OF water which his baggage took up made the
load at least hundred weight heavier than be-
fore. and it was only with difficulty that he
could now drag it.
During the greater part Of the journey the
temperature was below freezing point, and the
snow consequently in good condition for the
use Of ski. On the night of July IL the ther-
mometer even sank as low as deg. F. GA deg
! o. On July .. however, there had been an
unpleasant change in the weather. as a wind
from the southeast caused the temperature to
rise from q deg. Z. TO 46 deg. T., and made the
snow wet and sticky. There seems to have
been a typical 'fohn" wind blowing over the
finland ice" On July IL another deposit of
provisions and other things was left behind, q
height of 5000 feet having now been reached.
On July IS the elevation was 1875 feet, and
the distance from the edge of the ice according
to longitude reckoued by Poary. about a
hundred miles Here the two travellers we're
delayed by a snow storm till July 49, when the
weather cleared sufficiently to allow of an OBJ
scrvation being taken at midday. In the even
Ing they turned back, and. as they now had the
wind behind them, they dashed the two sledges
together and rugged up a vessel with alpen-
stocks for a mast a tarpaulin for q sail, and
ski with an ak attached to serve as a rudder
On this craft they sailed, according to Mai
guards calculations, some twenty-seven miles
the first night thirty-two the second and fifty
four the third. while after this they were
Obliged TO take to hauling again on account of
the rOughness of the ice On the morning of
July "A they were once more at their camping
place by the ford, after having spent twenty
three days III all upon the ice.
he ira
exception of the first part, very level through
out. and more 30 even than that which Nor
denskiold had traversed in 1888. There were
not many crevasses, and for the greater part of
the way the surface was covered with layer of
dry snow, into which, a. the extreme point
which they reached. Peary could drive his staff
six feet deep This state of things must have
made progression very much easier than usual.
Seldom has such aventuresome Journey been
undertaken with similar plans or under less
cost. Lieut.. Peary has calculated to a nicely
the necessities of such trip. and has wrought
out his preparations with the exactness Of one
sure Of his ground, but yet quite aware of its
dangers he VIII spend at least eighteen months
in the north, although the trip itself. from the
starting point on Greenland's shores TO the
northern limit, will not probably take more
than few weeks. 1t must be remembered that
In this trip are no vessels to be ice-bound, no
small boats TO be swamped. no large party to
consume food without result none OF the dam
gers of the ever-shifting ice-pack and foe into
which so many of the arctic explorers have
been carried. This party is to travel upon
what Is practically dry land, although 1t is
really dry snow, free, SO it is expected, from
poels of water and other distractions The
explorers are to travel on foot across the wilder
ness, drawing behind them their light sleliges
packed with provisions Lieut.. Peary has given
a brief but comprehensive outline Of his plan
II the following statement;
The party, numbering six, to be landed by
a whaler III June or early in July at Whale
sound Remainder of season to be spent in
putting up winter quarters in Whale sound
laying in a store of meat, collecting. making
reconnolssances of the inland ice, aud, if the
season be favorable, establishing an advance
depot of supplies near the southern angle of
Humboldt glacier.
The winter to be occupied in making and fit
ting sledges, clothing and travelling equipment
and In snow-shOe and skier practice, for
which the head of Whale sound is well adapted
In the spring four or five of the party will
start over the inland ice to Humboldt glacier
with full sledges, leaving one or two persons in
charge of the house.
so on from Humboldt glacier to the head of
Petermann Fjord.
Here second depot will be established and
two Others OF the party with full siedges will
push on, tina others returning with light sledges
TO Whale sound.
The advance party will push on from Peter
mann FJord to the head Of Sherard Osborn
fJord' establish depot there, thence to the
heal OF belong Fjord, establish q depot
thence to the northern terminus of Greenland
This point reached and determined the ad-
vance party Will retrace its steps to Whale
SOUND, taking up the various depots, and take
the hrst opportunity to return home