The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-27
xOsEPNINR DIRBITsH PEARY.

Dixon and Common Councilman V. G.
Smith, the United Press reporter and
others left Walnut street wharf. In
cluded in the party on both tugs were q
number of relatives of the explorers.
Rev. A. n. Keigwin, of Wilmington,
Del, and H. e. Elliot, of Louisville,
were the onlv members of the party who
had relatives III the original Peary expe-
dition. The former Is the uncle and the
latter the cousin of young Verhoeff. the
only member of the expedition who did
not return. Also included in the party
were several vino accompanied the orig
inal expedition.
The Kite was first sighted by the
Graham off Tinicum Island about go
o'clock. She was gaily decorated with
flags OF every nation, and as the tug
drew near the first person distinguished
on the Al tic vessel was Professor
Heilprin, of the academy of natural
sciences. the leader OF the relief expedi-
ton. Lieutenant Peary was afterward
seen wavins his hat, and beside him
stood his wife. The welcoming party
cheered heartily and the tug was soon
made fast to the steamer.
The first to greet them were Lieutan-
ant and Mrs. Peary. The latter was at
tired in black silk and wore a pretty
bonnet. Her bronzed face was wreathed
when handed a huge bouquet of rOseS.
She looked anything but ike a wOmal
who had spent winter in the fields Of
Greenland. although her tanned features
were in striking contrast to her fair face.
which sInilingly acknowledged tie
plaudits of the throng at the Academy
of Music when a reception was given
prior to the departure.
The United Press reporter was the
L - 7
Peary.
Was your expedition a success %
was asked.
Il think so,~ replied the lieutenant
with a vigorous grasp of the hand. l
accomplished all l set out to do.
@'Do you believe you discovered the
northern coast of Greenland?"
'i1 believe so without doubt was
the reply.
VerhoefT-s Disappearance.
How about the loss of Verhoeff ~
THAT is a matter which 1 referred TO
in my dispatches from st. Johns. Until
l see his relatives 1 shSil say nothing
more
At this iuncture Lieutenant Peary
was approached by Rev. Mr.. Kegwin
and II. D. Elliott, the uncle and cousin
of Verhoeff. To them he said, after
few words of greeting: 81 will tell you
all know later At present 1 can only
say this: Verhoeff left camp to go ten
miles He took with him a Colts re-
volver, fifty rounds of ammunition, a
compass, an ak, heavy suit of clothes
and provisions for five days.
After being away for one day he re-
turned and left word that if he was not
back in four days we were not to look
for him. Ee did not come back and our
search failed to find anything of him,
except what would leave to think that
he had fallen into an ice erevasse.
"a significant fact is that he asked
four Of the party if they thought l
would allow him to remain behind
alone They said Mo-
Thank God" exclaimed Verhoeffs
uncle '|He is alive. am sure of it"
Elliott Verhoeff's cousin also expressed
his belief that Verhoef was alive and
would turn MP all right.
The other members OF the expedition
refused TO be interviewedon the subject.
saying that IL had been agreed that all
such information should be given out
only by Lieutenant Peary.
It IS learned that John Verhoeff, Of
Louisyillcc: me. botanist. was. last seen