The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-25
PEARY's EXPEDITION.
the Explorers Mother pIscredIts the
Sensational Reports.

Yesterdays papers contained a sensational
despatch from st. Johns, Newfoundland.
announcing that the Arctic steamer Kite,
had arrived from Greenland with most un
favorable news from the Peary expedition.
Last evening representative Of the PRESS
saw Mrs. Peary, Lieutenant Peary's moth
or, who Is at Cape Elizabeth for the summer.
Mrs. Peary said that she received yesterday
despatch from Professor Helllnin, at st.
Johns N. f., announcing that her son was
well and In good spirits. Mrs. Peary gave
no credit to the sensational press despatch
from Newfoundland.
This despatch stated that the Kite after
proceeding up along the west coast OF Green
land, through Bafin's Bay, had met much
Ice In Melville Bay. which is the northern
portion Of Bafiin's Bay, and just south of
that narrow sound or channel which leads
up into the unknown polar sea. The des-
patch says that the Kite struggled three
weeks In the Ice In Melville Bay, making
only 100 miles Of progress In that time. 1t
further says that during this time Lieuten-
ant Peary's leg was broken by the iron tiller
of the wheel, (which was flung back suddenly
by the rudder striking Ice. 1t was a clean
break Of the right leg, Just below the knee.
and everything looked favorable for a rapid
recovery. This accident Is alleged to have
occurred July 11th. On July 23d the Kite
had worked Its way up to the latitude where
Lieutenant Peary expected to be landed;
but as Whale Sound was found filed with
Ice and inaccessible the landing was made
at Mccormick Bay, In Murcheson Sound
This point Is In latitude 770 43 seconds, long
itude 700 IS seconds, or about as far towards
the pole as the jeanette got on her voyage on
the other side.
This point is on the mainland Of Green
land, about GOO miles from the northern shore
OF which Peary expects TO explore. The de-
spatch says that house was erected on the
slope Of mountain 1900 feet high. with gla-
ciers coming down the mountain all about 1t.
Lieutenant Peary is alleged to have been
carried ashore on stretcher; but the ply
slcian Of the party thought the leg would be
as well as ever In three months and therefore
need not interfere with the expedition. Mrs.
Peary, who Is said TO have contemplated re-
turning on the Kite, decided to remain with
her husband. The despatch further says;
well and steamed south.
Lieut.. Peary wished 10 impress upon his
friends In the United States that the accident
to his leg was Of small account. This fall
the members OF his party .swill explore tue
Humboldt glacier. Mrs Peary. perhaps, goIng
along and next April or May he and two
others will go north to find the northern ter
minus Of Greenland.
Lieut.. Peary relies on. his whaleboats to
get back to Danish Greenland, distance OF
600 miles, after the work Is done next year.
1t Is the unanimous opinion Of the Kites cap
tain and officers and the academy party that
he cannot do this with his force, and that to
attempt 1t would be folly. IL, therefore, a
relief expedition Is not sent next year the
outfit will be In a bad way.
The real trophy Of the entire expedition
was secured on Disco Land, In the shape Of
300-pound meteorite. Three small frag-
ments Of meteorltes were found there by
N0rdenskj0ld In 1875, and the Swedish gov
ernment fitted out snip to bring them back.
An American institution made big offer
for one, but this was declined. The German
government was TO send an expedition next
year to look for more.
All explorations south Of GOdhaven on the
return journey were prevented by heavy
weather and scarcity of coal. So much coal
was used up In fighting the Ice that Peary
VIII possibly be left with only seven tons for
cooking anc heating.
Mccormick bay Is q gloomy spot at best.
even with the sun high above the horizon "A
hours day, as when the Kite was there
With the sun out of sight, the high hills on
all sides will make the prospect indeed DARK
and hideous. 1t seems fitted only for the
winter home for bears and white whales,
which abound.
Professor HeillnIn found the altitude OF
the Ice cap near the camp "a. 900 feet, and
the party must take sledges and supplies up
the glacier to this height before beginning
the trip.
II the party is detained on the Ice cap
lew weeks there will be danger OF starving
as no food can be obtained after the start.
The Danish officials In Greenland consider
the presence OF Mrs. Peary on the expedl-
tion most unwise. 1t Is possible that but for
the accident to her husband she would have
returned on the Kite.
Lieutenant Peary, II not relieved. will
start home at the beginning Of August, as he
Is not proyisioned for a second winter.
1t will be seen that the despatch hardly
agrees with the Information that Mrs. Pesry
has received. Probably the despatch Is sem
sational and much exaggerated. The fact
that Peary Is remaining with his wife and
all their party shows that they consider
themselves all right for the expedition. Yet
1t hardly seems that the story Of the broken
leg could be an invention wholly. As for
the terrors coDiured up In relation to gla
clers and starvation, they are nothing that
Lieutenant Peary has not experienced be-
fore and discounted In advance.