The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-24
HOME FROM THE NORTH.
The Steamship Kite Arrives at
Philadelphia. ..
OVATION TO PEARY AND PARTY.

The Expedition Returns After an
Eminentiy Successful Trip-FossiI
Mammals, Botanical and Minera
Specimens Peculiar to the Frozen
Region Brought Home. -
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24.-The little
whaling steamship Kite, with Lieuten-
ant Peary's exploring party and the
Peary relief party on board, arrived at
her dock in this city at noon yesterday.
A large crowd had assembled and tho
arrival of the steamer was greeted with
much cheering .... .
AS already reported in the dispatches
sent by members of the two parties
from st. Johns, N F., both expeditions
have been eminently successful, making
exceptionally favorable passages, with
out sickness or storm of any kind
Lieutenant Robert L. Pearv. the ex-
plorer, and Professor Angelo Heilprin,
commander of the relief party, expressed
their satisfaction with the results which
have been achieved to crowds of their
friends, fellow scientists of the Philadel-
phia academy and representatives of the
newspapers, many of whom steamed
down the Delaware in tugs to meet the
returning explorers.
A Clean Bill of Health.
The staunch little whaling steamship
Kite, Captain Pike commanding, which
has safely weathered Arctic seas twice in
the last two years, was detained over
night at the breakwater by federal quar-
antine officials. Yesterday morning at
an early hour she was allowed to pro-
coed, having a clean bill of health. She
arrived at the Lazaretto at $50, and
after an hours examination by the port
physician steamed up to her dock at tho
foot of Christian street. A continual
ovation from steam whistles and bells on
every craft in the harbor greeted the
Kite.
1t was half past II o'clock when the
dock was reached and an anxious
thrOng of waiting relatives and friends
of the members of both parties at once
swai1ned over the decks. A reception
committee from the academy was al
ready aboard, having met the Kite some
distance below the city. AS soon as the
vessel was male fast those on the wharf
We're permitted to go aboard Every
body knew everybody for the next few
minutes and all the members of the ex-
petition were holding impromptu recep-
tions.
Scattered over the deck, in different
parts Of the ship, were skins Of animals,
the antlers of reindeers, and up under
the bow We're seven genuine Esquimaux
dogs, which will be given to the Zoolog-
ical Gardens here in the city There
were also brought large number of
birds and bear. Fossil mammals,
1Aiv AL
of other things peculiar to that region of
the country are to he found in the collec-
tion that makes it invaluable.
Verhoeff Thought to BE Alive.
Miss Verhoeff, sister of John M.
Verhoeff, who failed to return with his
fellow explorers, being reported dead,
accompanied the reception committee
with her aunt and uncle. They discredit
the theory that the missing mineralogist
was accidentally killed and firmly be-
ieve that he is even now exploring tho
interior of Greenland, having voluntarily
remained behind.
Lieutenant Peary, himself, refuses to
say anything concerning Verhoetf's dis
appearance beyond what has already
been mentioned in the dispatches. He
denies, however, that differences existed
between himself and the independent
but ambitious Kentuckian Other mem
bers express ignorance of any trouble
between the two men, or of Verhoeif's
intention to explore for himself.
William Il. Meehan, the botanist of
the relief party, said that the search for
the mineralogist occupied seven days,
aud that every member of both expedi-
tions, nine Esquimaux and the ships
crew were engaged in it. Traces of Ner-
hoef had been found ON the sixth day,
near number of large crevasses, into
which there was every reason to belive
that he had fallen.
Later in the day Miss Verhoeff had an
extended interview with Lieutenant
Peaiy at his hotel The whole matter
was gone over, and the lieutenant said
that il Verhoett We're alive he would have
sufficient provisions to last him all winter.
The members of the expedition dis
persed as rapidly as possible to their
homes. In few days Lieutenant Peary
will leave for Washington. after which
he will return and make his report to
the Academy of Natural Sciences.