The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-09-28
.THE PEARY EXPEDITION
Dissatisfaction Among the Men
Who Have Just Returned,
THE LEADERS AUTOoRAT1o RULE.
w. T. Swain Declares That Lieutenant
Peary Did Not Act as a Gentleman
Among Gentlemen Meager Food
supply-No Place for a Woman.

|
Among Gentlemen-A Meager Food
suppiy--No Place for a Woman,
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2s.-Since the re-
| turning of the peary expedition from
North Greenland on Tuesday last there
have been stories of dissatisfaction on the
part of the members concerning Peary's
conduct of the enterprise and the quality
and the quantity of food he compelled
them to eat. A universal reticence has,
however, been observed in consequence of
the ironclad agreement by which Peary
bound them to silence before the expedi-
ton started The interview had with
Mrs. Peary in Washington, in which she
| said she was at a loss to understand the
complaints, has caused much discussion
here, and yesterday afternoon the mem
bers Of the party held a conference at the
Bingham House to consider the advisa-
bility of making a statement of their rea-
sons for dissatisfaction
The conference was held behind closed
doors and lasted several hours At its
conclusion the members declined to state
what had been decided upon further than
that it was not their intention to make
answer to Mrs. Peary's statements at this
time The party has not yet disbanded,
however, and further consultation may
be held
w. T. Swain, who was one of the party,
was less reticent than the others Indeed,
he expressed his dissatisfaction In no un-
certain language. To a reporter Mr..
Swain said
1--WE are under no contract with Peary
as regards dissatisfaction with his man
agement. The only agreement that exists
was made 10y us on board ship while we
were returning to Philadelphia. We then
agreed that we would say nothing unless
Mrs. Peary opened her lips.
This l see she did. consider myself
at perfect liberty to speak As for my
contract with Peary, it has been broken
by him repeatedly during the course of
the expedition
"He agreed that we were to be treated
as gentlemen, for one thing. can say
that Lieutenant Peary himself certainly
did not act as gentleman among gem
tlemen, Mrs. Peary, see, has something
to say abost the food. Let me give you
our menu during the last two months of
our stay, while we waited for the relief
party. This menu was the result of
Peary's arrangements, and was due to in
sufficient provisioning in the beginning
breakfast: Cornmeal mush, sprinzled
by Peary with sugar and a sparing hand;
bacon with all the fat fried out; an occas-
ional spoonful of Boston beans out of
can; coffee.
Lunch: Boiled seal meat, tasting like
stale mutton favored with coal oil; corn
bread; tea.
TDinner Reindeer meat-when we could
gat it, seal meat when we couldn't; beans
occasionally and-don't omit this-one-
half a slice of white bread; coffee.
son Sunday evening, as u special treat
we had for desert one can of tomatoes
among the party.
"What Peary and his wife had we don't
know They lived apart, and not one of
us was ever during the whole time, in
vited to their quarters.
"Peary treated us to a lot Of red tape
and autocratic rule that had serious CON
sequences sometimes. l am lame on ac-
count of it. He would order some Of us
to 90 on a seveuty-fve mile sledge jour
ney to procure food for his dogs, and only
; give us an hours warning, when half a
day could have been accorded The hour
did not suffice to dry our fur stockings,
and we ran the risk of frozen feet. My
toe, which lanes me, was frozen in just
that way.
"And one thing can add-no Arctic
expedition can ever succeed which takes a
! woman along to hammer it. ~