The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-08

salt as she came alongside the pier. But
this did not lessen curiosity at all, for
steam whalers rarely come this way. The
stout build, the double planking of the
hull down by the water and ice line, and
above all the two ''crows' nests" one on
each of the two forward masts, were
each objects of much scrutiny and COM
ment. The crows nests are really large
barrels fastened securely to the mast
heads, and intended for the stations of
ice. 1t was apparent the moment the
Falcon came alongside that she was an
unusually chartered craft. The long ears
of the little burros, or 1.-THE little jack
asses as the crowd preferred to call
them, were contentedly wagging as they
chewed the fodder on the deck. The
Arctic dogs were barking and pulling at
their ropes, and decks and houses were
piled with launches, life boats, kyacks,
and other paraphernalia for exploration.
The boat was soon open for inspection,
fee of twenty-five cents being charged.
The money so collected goes to the expe-
dition fund. Many ladies were in the
crowd of visitors, which numbered
during the day about fifteen hundred
people.
The Reception and Banquet
rendered Lieutenant Peary and his COM
panions at the Preble House last evening
by the city government was brilliant
affair. The arrangements were in charge
of the committee; Aldermen Strout and
Guptill. and Councilmen Webb, Cousens
and Howell. Nearly hundred promi-
nent citizens assembled, and in the social
hour before the dinner were presented to
Mr.. Peary and his associates. Mr.. Peary
was in excellent spirits, and charmed
greatly by his readiness and enthusiasm
in conversing on his journey. He hopes
to explore those islands which he saw
| lying to the northward when he stood on
| the farthest coast of Greenland. The
North Pole itself is only about four hun
| dred miles beyond this point, and should
the land of those islands extend to the
geographical point termed the pole, Mr..
Peary thinks he shall endeavor to reach
it. Nearly every one presented to the
explorer had some question to ask about
the Northland, and Mr.. Peary's full and
comprehensive replies would make a
very interesting book. The young Nor
weigian Astrup, Peary's most valued as
sistant on the last journey, was also a
| very entertaining talker. He has spent
the summer lecturing in Norway; and
says that he intends to make Arctic ex-
ploration his life work.
The dinner was deliberately gotten up
in honor of the occasion. The table was
decorated with flowers and ferns. In
front of Alderman Guptill, who presided
in Mr.. Bakers absence, was floral rep
resentation of the Falcon done in ferns,
roses, daisies and geraniums.
On Mr.. Guptilils right hand sat Lieu
tenant Peary, and at his left Hon.
Thomas B. Reed. The other guests at
the tables were:
w. G. Chapman, Geo. E. Macgowan,
| James c. Kent, W. L. Lefavor,
| r. S. Laughlin, j. A. MCGOWAN. Argus
j. F. Boyle, Boston ". Il. Gay.
Herald, j. w. York,
| Chas F. Roberts, W. II. Brownson,
| c. w. I. Cooling, VIM. 0. Fox,
H. w. Gage, Edwin l.. Dyer,
| Geo. N. SeiderS, VIM. N. Prince,
| C. H. Randall, M. n. Rich.
| Harry o. Smith, Samuel A. True,
| A. c. Kinds, Geo. H. Owen,
| Albert B. Hall. DR.. j. w. Whidden.