The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-10
A TALK WITH MRS. pEARY.
She Expects to go Back to Greenland for
Her Husband Next Summer.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-Mrs. Peary,
the plucky wife of the Arctic explorer,
who arrived in Washington yesterday
and is now at her mothers home, cor
rected some impressions about the
Peary expedition to-day.
Il am at a loss to understand the
stories that are printed about the scar
city of food" she said. "There was
plenty of provisions, and only once, in
last May, when the weather was too
bad for the hunters to 60 out after deer
for two or three days, did the supply of
deer meat run QUO. Then we had seal
meat. No, it is not so bad when pro-
perly cooked, but I shouldn't like it as
steady diet. The sealers consider it
excellent, however. We had an abun-
dance Of vegetable and farinaceous food
and plenty of tea and coffee, and really
l cannot overcome my surprise at the
ridiculous stories about the shortage.
II left Lieut.. Peary with plentiful
supply OF everything. Together we
went over the food and made an in
ventory of everything, and if anything
had been needed it would have been
furnished from the ships stores before
the Falcon left. did not want TO come
back. regretted leaving very much"
"What kind of winter did you
have?n
sit was terrific. The storms were
indescribable. The loss of a portion of
our oil supply made our experience
harder than it would otherwise have
been. We lost half our oil supply, and
were compelled to put up with short
rations of fuel. This made every one
more or less miserable. aud in such q
state of nervousness, you know, a per-
son is liable to make mountains out of
little things that would not be noticed
if good spirits prevailed.
at is mistake" Mrs. Peary went
on, "to allude to my husband as a
seeker for the North Pole. His object
has been, and still is, to delineate the
north coast of Greenland.
"Will you return to your husband
next year,"
THAT depends upon tle American
people," responded the energetic wo-
man with cherry smile. My hus-
band and l have about reached the end
tions, and have expended something
over $50 900. I have made no plans yet.
If it is possible I shall fit out ship
next summer and return to Greenland" "
"The baby" she added with a bright,
motherly glance in her eyes when the
reporter inquired about Miss Marie,
twas never sick day in her life until
we reached St. Johns, and some of the
party jokingly said that civilization did
not agree with her. I am inclined to
think it was stale condensed milk and
the change of water and the warm
weather. She is getting along very
nicely now"
Mr.. Herbert L. Bridgman of Brook.
lyD, who was member of Peary Auxl'
liary Expedition, has leading article
in the the Standard Union on anony.
| nous statements purporting to be made
by some members of the Peary party
These statements are to the effect that
| the party suffered considerably from
the insutficiency OF food and fuel. Mr.
Bridgman says:
The story about the short supply ot
food is materially affected by the fact
that six months provisions for the in.
| land ice party of eight men were cached
at the end of the march, l25 miles, and
could have been recovered at any time,
had there been any real necessity to 60
after them, and by efurther fact that
in another cache near the headquarters
$500 pounds of untouched provisions
were stored. Many men in Brooklyn
| who get fresh meat at one meal day,
| do not feel called upon to complain oi
hardship or of short rations. The glass
roof of Anniversary Lodge and the
coal oil did not prove the success
which was expected. But the results
scarcely rise ABOVE the Importance ot
minor annoyances.
| The truth of the matter seems to be
that until the return of the party
baffled and disappointed, from the in
land ice, everything went we'll, anC
enthusiasm and courage were at high
tide. Subsequent to that event, when il
became obvious that the hopes of the
expedition for a brilliant success were
to q degree, frustrated, repining anC
dissatisfaction took the rot unnatura
form of com plant and criticism toward:
the leader. Lieut.. Peary's own RECORD
is the best answer to all objections. HI
has asked none of his men to go where
he has not led; has shared their ration!
from first to last; has returned every
man who wished to come in good health
and good order TO his home, and ha!
remained at his post to make another
and doubtless successful, attempt upor
the inland ice.