Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-12
LIEUT.. PEARY SAFE.
Return Of His Exploring Party From Green
land to Newfoundland.

land to Newfoundland.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO THE MINERALoarsT, JOHN
yERHoEFF-How THE TIME WAS PASSED IN
THE FROZEN NoRrH-THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
NOTIFIED OF THE LATEST AMERICAN ACHIEVE
KENT.
special to the Philadelphia Press from
st. Johns, N. F., says that the Kite arrived
there yesterday afternoon from north Green
land, from whence ii sailed on August "a. On
board are the entire Peary relief party expedi-
ton in good health, with Lieut.. Peary and Mrs.
Peary and party, except Mr.. verhoeff, who. 1t
is believed lost his life shortly after the return
Of Peary from the inland ice by falling into the
crevasse of a glacier at the head Of Robertson's
bay, body Of water adjoining Mccormick
bay, while on an expedition of his own to
neighboring Eskimo settlement.
This conclusion was only reached, notwith-
standing that his body was not found. after
many days of persistent aud minute search,
and until abundant traces of his having gone
on the glacier and none of his having crossed i.
were discovered.
As he did not return at the appointed time
search was instantly organized by the Peary
party, the relief party and nine Eskimo. to
whom Lieut. Peary offered large rewards in
case they should find the missing man. For
week an anxious search was carried on day and
night Mr.. Verhoeffs foot prints, leading up
to a glacier, were found in the snow and mud
at the glaciers edge. Near them was little
heap of stones that he had evidently piled up to
take home with him on his return. A piece Of
string and bit of paper bearing the letter "V,"
from The outside Of a corned beef tin. lay near
the stones. but of Mr.. VerhoeA nothing has
been seen nor has careful scrutiny detected any
evidence that he left the huge ice crevasses. 1t
Is practically certain that he slipped into one
of them and persisted.
With the exception of this disaster the Peary
party suffered no serious mishaps. and, indeed,
few serious privations. Tney had plenty of food
in the fall. They killed ffty-three reindeer,
enough to keep them supplied with fresh meat
throughout the winter. They had p enty of
companionship, for they were constantly enter
ta!ning Eskimos. who came in relays during the
whole year to visit them. making and testing
sledges and clothing for the inland ice journey,
and in taking scientific observations. Scurvy
had not come near them nor any other disease
except light form of grip in the epring.
Though Overtaken just at its close by sad
catastrophe the north Greenland expedition
has nevertheless been the most successful of all
ventures to the far north. Lieut.. Peary spent
comfortable winter with his companions at
he'd Cliff House. as he named his headquarters.
On May Z he started north, accompanied
throughout his journey by Eivind Astrup and
as far AS the Humboldt glacier by DR.. Cook and
Langdon Gibson. He marched north, and
passing the ends of Peterman and Sherard
Osborn fords he reached and determined the
north boundary Of the mainland Of Greenland
RetracIng their steps on August by happy
coincidence they were met about seven miles in
from the beginning of the ice cap b. the relief
expedition, which was out on a Reconnaissance
Among the members Of the party one
suffered much from the cold. Among those
who have been entirely free from frost bites is
Mrs. Peary. She passed the winter quietly
experimenting the cooking and occasionally
helping in the preparation of the skin clothing.
During Lieut.. Pearys recovery from the
fracture of his leg in July, last year. and dur
ing his attack of the grip she nursed him de-
votedly. 1t is probable that but for her pres
ence at his bedside certain most important pre-
liminary excursions of the waters in the neigh
borhood of Mccormick bay and on the inland
ice must have been given up.
LAST FALLS WORK.
The Peary party has made collections and
valuable scientific observations in meteorology,
ethnology and ornithology In August boat
journey was made around Murchison sound and
tie first Eskimo was brought to Red Cliff House
from Northumberland Island. On September
Astrup Gibson and Verhoeff went for five DAYS
reconnaissance on the island ice. and on Sep
TENDER % Astrup and Gibson again started for
a seven DAYS exploration tour over the ice cap.
On September 80 Lieut.. Peary discarded mis-
crutches. After November 3 all outdoor work
stopped by the cold The house was easily
heated, however, in spite Of temperature that
once sank to SO below zero.
THE WORK OF LAST SPRING.
The full daily allowance of coal was never
burned. Two tons of coal was left when spring
came this year. The sun returning on Feb
ruary Is was greeted by Lieut.. Peary. Mr..
Astrup and DIR. Cook from the inland ice,
whittier they had gone for the purpose Of
catching his first day.
At once the process of removing provisions
to the spot selected Tor the final ascent to the
inland ice began, and on April 20 the first load
was carried up the ascent. On May Lieut..
Peary had set forth with his three companions.
seven sleds, twenty dogs and plenty of canned
beans pea soup. pemmican and tea. DR.. Cook
and Langdon Gibson returned on June with
the news that following the plans previously
laid down the party had proceeded to the
Humboldt glacier. five dogs had died on the
way and three s]edges had been abandoned as
unsuited to the work.
The party had reached the Humboldt glacier,
about thirty miles inland, on May 81 There
they had halted to readjust loads and putev
thing in efficient condition for the final journey
to the north According to the original plans four
men were to have gone with the leader as for
as the Humboldt glacier and two of them were
to have accompanied him throughout the whole
journey. but John Nerhoeff remained at Red
Cliff House to keep up his meteorological OBJ
servations. in which he was much interested,
and Matt Henson was disabled by o frozen
heel
PEAEYs LAST TRIP.
Not deeming it safe to send one man alone
back over the 1870 miles Of snow that lag be-
tween the Humboldt glacier and Mccormick
bay. Lieut. Peary determined that only Astrup
should go forward With him, and selecting
three sledges and thirteen dogs, together with
ninety days provisions, he marched. Cook and
Gibson left with one sledge and two dogs and
returned safely to Mccormick bay.
ARRIVAL OF THE KITE.
1t was but seven weeks later, on July q. when
the Kite entered Mccormick bay, finding Mr..
Gibson, DIR. Cook and Mr.. Verhoeff and Mrs.
Poary encamped with Matt Henson at the head
Of Mccormick bay, waiting for Lieut.. Pearys
return.
LIEUT.. PEARY's TRIP.
Lieut.. Robert E. Peary and his party sailed
from New York on the little steam brigantine
Kite at o'clock pm. June 6, 1891. Lieut..
Peary's object was to investigate the far north.
rs he believed he could prove Greenland is a
continent and that he would find an open sea
near the north pole. Accompanying him were
his wife, young woman of this city, and the
only one of her sex in the party, and number
of scientists and others, among whom were:
Prof. Angelo Heilprin, Prof. benjamin Sharp
and Prof. j. +. Holt, biologists; DR.. W. E.