The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-10-29
A WOMAN IN THE ARCTICS
Adventures Of Mrs. Peary Among
the Esquimaux.
A Brief Account. of the Trip of the Only
White Woman Who Has Ever
yentured So Far
North.

corning her adventurous trip:
We saw the first herd of deer on Sep
TENDER and got three at the head of
Mccormick bay, where we went to start
the party to place depot on Humboldt
Glacier. His party, consisting of As
trup, Gibson and Verhoeff, were baffled
by storms and returned in four days.
Astrup and Gibson started again on
September 90 and made about thirty
miles, but were forced back on account
of deep, soft snow. During one of our
hunting trips we had narrow escape
from drowning by having our boat
crushed by a herd of angry walruses,
many of which were wounded by us,
but we killed seven and escaped with
out scratch.
The winter, although we had hun
dred days of darkness with temperature
ranging from thirty to fifty degrees
below zero, passed pleasantly. Every
day we took long walks on snow shoes,
and often l INDUCED in a sledge ride,
drawn by one of my Newfoundland
and one Esquimau dog, and yet cannot
boast of a single frost bite.
We received numerous visits from the
natives, all of whom were bright, mer-
ry, willing creatures, anxious to please.
They enjoyed our coffee and biscuit,
but cared little for sweets. The women
were especially interesting to me, and
many hours were spent in watching
them at their work.
Mr.. Peary, with Astrup and Dr. Cook
went on the ice cap on February IA to
watch IA c11r, ric 60. 49, 40
following we had the most terrible wind
and rainstorm 1 ever witnessed. For
time l feared our house, which we
called Red Cliff, would be washed away,
but we were not seriously damaged. |
The party on the ice Jared still worse
and We're glad to get back to Red Cliff |
On April IS, there being constant day |
light, Mr.. Peary took me with him on a |
tour of Whale sound aud Inglefeld
gulf. We travelled by night and slept
by day. Our sledges, sixteen and fif-
teen feet long, were drawn by thirteen
fine Esquimau dogs. Our driver, a
native, handled the team as only
native can. We slept without shelter,
and our bed was the snow after pulling
ourselves into deerslin bag, which was
fastened tightly about the neck
We repeatedly made forty miles in
single march, and it was a fine sight to
see those thirteen beauties, with heads
up and tails waving over their backs.
dashing over the ice. We visited all
the settlements and once [ was in
weighed into spending the night in one
of their snow igloos, but declined all
further invitations. We returned to
Red Cliff at the end of week and the
inland ice party at once began prepare
tons to leave
Mr.. Peary left on May 8, no one re-
at Red Cliff but Mr.. Verhoeff
and myself. Matt returned on May 8,
and on June 8 the supporting party, {
DR.. Cook and Gibson, returned. They
parted from Mr.. Peary and Ast1ap at
humboldt Glacier; whence the latter
continued on their way north. BY this 7
ime many Esquimaux had pitched
heir tents around Red Cliff, and the e
ettlement had the appearance of a a
furnishing village. During the summer
'arious hunting and exploring trips n
we're made, and on July II | pitched my
ent at the side of McCornicl's bay, ex-
'ecting to remain there until the re- n
urn of Mr.. Peary.
Although the angalSoks of the tribe :,
ad told me that they had been in :,
ormed during their seance that Peary :,
yould never return, at five o'clock on r.
he morning of July "a 1 heard pc =,
uliar noise outside of my tent, and on r.
alling out in Esquimau: "Who is =,
here?" was answered that ship had =
Ome, and black head was thrust into
ne tent and bundle of letters handed ~
lie. ~
The Kite had come and my mail had n,
cen sent me. The following day I 90
as visited by Prof. Heilprin, and the ~,
ny following 1 returned to Red Cliff. e.
n August l again went to the head -.
the bay, this time on the Kite, and ra'
! August Prof. Heilprin antBa party r
# to make reconnaissance Of the in
nd ice, and at three o'clock on the
orning of August 6, while lying in my w,
INK, heard shouts from the return HI
G party, and in few minutes quick, W,
IN step on the deck, which l recog- ga,
zed as my husbands. vo
The next instant he was before me. r.,
hen felt God had, indeed, been good on
me. Good news from home and me
:. Peary returned in health and safety, We,
ter an absence of ninety-three days, fail
ring which time he Travelled over Ter
irteen hundred miles over this inland Wi
. So far everything had gone as we Tn
d hoped. we
While we were packing all our be- inc
lgings on the Kite Mr. Verhoeff went a y
two days geological trip to a bro
ghboring settlement. Failing to re- dor
n at the end of this time, the party ticc
rted after him, but to their horror vii
md no trace of him For six days in :
, entire Peary party except Matt and fist
self, Prof. Heilprin's whole party, and
crew OF Uhe Alte ana nine Lsqul- sou
u az Joiheu III Uhe search Oh the MOI
VI uay Iney douna some numerals and
his foofetpr,S 10 a 10 ,-Sra or,1 ,v;o1yaJ