The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-12
MRS. PEARY.

The results Of the Peary Expedition have
been made known partially by letters and
dispatches from st. Johns, New Foundland.
These tell that Lieutenant Peary has gained
for America another laurel in the field OF ex.
ploration, but his scientific records and OBJ.
servations will have to be carefully collated
and examined before the full value can be
ascertained.
The expedition consisted of Lieutenant
and Mrs. r. E. Peary. Dangdon Gi4on, E.
Astrup, DR.. F. A. Cook. Mat Henson and
Professor j. NJ. Vernoef.
Peary sailed in the KITE from New York
on June Q. arriving at DisSo on July 20.
After various Arctic trials AMI tribu!ations,
Lieutenant Peary in the meantime having
broken his leg, McCormick's Bay, in lati-
tude seventy-seven degrees forty live
minutes was reached on July 25. On July
81 Peary aud his party were put ashore and
on July 80 the Kite steamed away.
No special hardships were experienced
during the winter. although several mem
bers were afflicted with the grip.
No effects OF the siege are observable on
Mrs. Peary, who battled through the dresry
winter days with the full energy of the mails
members of the expedition.
The real exploring was done this summer.
On the Sth of May the start was made from
McCormick's Bay. Four sledges and twenty
for carrying supplies and equipment the
members Of the expedition walking. During
their traverse of nearly three months over
the most iuhospitable region Of the earth's
surface no mishap Of any kind was expert
encsd.
Most of the journey was made over an un-
broken expanse Of ice and snow which, ris-
ing IN gentle sweeps and uadulatlons, at
tanned an elevation of 1000 to 5000 feet, fall
inc off to the four points o. the compass.
Travel over this surface was much as Lieu.
tenant Peary had anticipated, easy and
devoid Of danger. From fifteen to twenty
miles were traversed daily and an average
Of nearly thirty miles during the last
days of the journey.
No traces of human life presented them
selves during the entire journey, and scarce
ly vestige OF animals excepting snow
buutings at or about the Humboldt Glacier
and sea.gulls. which fitted across the mar
row NORTH. number Of musk oxen were
observed and procured beyond the eightieth
parallel.
Immediately after the return of the Kite,
In August, 1891, it was realize that 1t
would be n .csssary to seud q relief expedi-
xion after Lieutenant Peary. Professor
Heilprin, Of the Aca ieny, determined to
head it, and on July % o. this year startea
from New York in the Miranda Tor St.
Johns, New Foundland, where the Kite was
found. In her the voyage to Nc c~ormlck
Bay was made, Mrs. Peary taken from the
winter quarters where her husband haa lete
her and Peary and his companions picked up
further down the coast. w
The only casualty to the expedition vas
the loss of Professor j. NJ. Verhoef, OF
| Louisville, KY, who while the Kite lay at
Mccormick Bay the second time. went ouT
to collect specimens, and, it is SUPPOSED, fell
into q crevasse as his tody was not re-
| covered.
Miss Verho:f, sister OF Professor YER
bo~fY who fallel to relucL VITA his fellow
ex .lorers being reported dead, acco npanleG1
! the reception committee with her aunt anu
uncle. They dscre lit the theory that the
missing mineraloaist was accidentally killed,
and firmly believe that he is even now ex-
ploring the interior Of Greenland, having
voluntarily renamed behind.