The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-16
Hugh Lee, the Lieutenant Himself and
a CoIored Servant Left at Bowdoin
Bay, Where They Will Stay a Year.
O AND COLD WEATHER
Played Havoc with the Outfit and
Purposes of the Explorers.
Score or More of Dogs Frozen Into Solid
Blocks-Mrs. Peary's Baby Born in
September, of Last Year.

ST. JOHNS, n. F., Sept. 1.-THE steam
er Falcon. Capt Henry Bartlett, returned
here this afternoon, bringing back the
whole personnel OF the Peary expedition OF
last year, except Lieutenant Peary HIM
self, Hugh Lee. a companion, and Matthew
Henson, a colored servant, all of whom re-
main at Bowdoin bay for another year,
hoping to accomplish the work Of the ex-
petition which is still left unfulhlled.
The story Of the expedition is very thrill
ing. The first incident of note was the
birth OF Mrs. Peary's baby on Sept. II. 1893,
a month after the Falcon left last year.
During the month of October last frightful
storms swept over Falcon harbor, smashing
the naphtha. launch and washing away
large quantities of oil intended for use in
Illuminating and heating purposes.
The various scientific observations were
pursued all winter. The meteorological
observations were most successful. These
were taken by Mr.. Baldwin. On March 6
last the expedition started across Green
land TO Independence bay. the furthest
point north reached by Lieutenant Peary on
his previous journey. The eight men,
Lieutenant Peary. Entrekin, Astrup. DR..
Vincent, Lee. Davidson, Baldwin and
Clarke, with twelve sledges and ninety-two
dog. met with frightful weather almost
from the time of starting. After a week
DR.. Vincent was so used up that he had
to return.
The storms reached their worst point
during the equinoctial gales on March 20.
The party was then in camp about fifty
miles from Anniversary Lodge. in a tenn
porary house at the head of Bowdoin bay.
The thermometer dropped to ifty-fve and
GfxfU IAura0G hcI0w ~ o.6 o.oaf-ol 80
for several days, while a gale blowing
about seventy miles an hour buffetted the
party. DR.. Davidson and Lee were both
badly frost-bitten. and Astrup. the Nor
wegian, Lieutenant Peary's chief depend
ence, gave out from hardship. The dogs
persisted in great numbers and froze into
solid blocks.
After the storm was over the whole
party returned TO Anniversary Lodge,
where they left three sick men, together
with plenty OF supplies TO form o base Of
operations h four healthy ones-Lieu-
tenant Peary, Entrekin, Clarke and Bald
win-started again and continued onward
for fourteen days. But the logs continued
to die, and those left were unable to drag
the sledges and provisions. The party was
so by exposure and the time oc-
cupied IN travelling was 50 long as to rem
x II lluRDSclDlc 10 TEACH luuCDtlutDCo
bay in time to accomplish anything. Con-
eequently, Lieutenant Peary decided 10
abandon the attempt to cross Greenland
and returned to headquarters, which were
reached ON April 20. The party was absent
about forty-five days and only got 100 miles
away. II started with ninety-two dogs and
returned with only twenty-Six after having
abandoned all the sledges on the way. 1t
covered only a quarter of the distance
twenty miles in any day. The members
OF the party claimed that their experience
In the e~quinoctial gales was worse than
that or any previous arctic explorers. All
had very narrow escapes from being frozen
10 death Davidson was sick for four
months after his experience. Entrekin had
both his feet badly frostbitten.
After the party regained health other ex-
plorations in the neighborhood were organ
,ze1. Assr@p maze a a survey or tae uhex-
and charted 100 miles of IL. He had a ma
tive crew OF FIVE men to help him. Lieu
tenan. Peary and his wife made a sledge
journey to Olrike bay, 100 miles distant.
Ent-ekin and DR.. Vincent started to try
and reach Kanes winter quarters at LIT
tleton island. but the ice broke up, COM
pelling them to return.
The auxiliary expedition which sailed
from here on July 7. on board the steamer
Falcon. met with very much ice and the
steamer was seriously hampered in her
operations. she had extreme difficulty in
makiks her way through the ice foes and
only sighted Bowdoin bay on July %. Then
an ice pack. three miles wide, prevented
communications with the shore until Aug.
VI. ana the Sleamc- only anClOreQ IN Eal-
con harbor on Aug. 20. She found all the
Peary party In good health and spirits and
glad of the opportunity to return home.
While going north the Falcon searched
Carey Islands, Cape Faraday and Clarence
head. but found no traces Of the long miss
ing Swedish explorers. Bjorling and Kali
stenius, who sailed from here I'm June, 1892.
In the little schooner Ripple. Their death
is now regarded as certain. The Falcon Sc
cured some relics on Carey islands and
buried & skeleton supposed to be thar OF a
sailor. The Falcon started on her return
trip on Aug. 26.
Lieutenant Peary decided to remain an
other year IN the north and try to cross
Greenland next year. Lee and Henson
agreed TO remain with him. Lieutenant
Peary accompanied the Falcon as far south
as Cape York. where he had discovered a
magnificent iron meteorite. He hoped to
put IL ON board the ship and send IT to
the United States, but he found that the ice
blocking the shore made IL impossible to
get 10 land and. therefore. gave up the
attempt.