The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-23
LIEUTENANT PHARY AND WIFE


Aug. 3, Lieutenant Peary, Hugh j. Lee
and their colored servant, Matt Henson.
were found waiting for 1t. The party had
only 10 days before returned from theii
great overland expedition, which had
proven a comparative failure. Lieutenant
Peary and the other two started late an
March and made their way TO Independ
ence bay, which Is the most northerly
point of Greenland, which he had reached
on his previous expedition. Independence
bay was reached early in June.
All three of those who participated In
the journey were greatly reduced from
the lack of food, and were obliged to
abandon tho attempt to make further
progress. In this respect their years
work was but repetition of last years
failure, although the weather experienced
was much more favorable this year than
last.
The Kite experienced splendid weather
In the north, and started out TO explore
the west side Of Smith sound, after pick.
ing up Lieutenant Peary and his com.
panions, and discovered many new har.
bors. She traversed the whole coast, visit
ing Jones sound, Cape Sabine and Little
ton island.
July II for Peary's headquarters in Ingle-
field gulf, Greenland. On board tho
steamer were company of scientists,
under the direction OF Emil Diebitch q
brother OF Mrs Peary. AT the time OF
sailing hope was expressed that the party
would be back to st. Johns by the end OF
September, and the arrival OF the steamer
justifes the expectation.
A Fruitless Mission.
Lieutenant Peary and his companions
Of the Greenland expedition have but little
TO say In regard TO their experiences. Tho
overland expedition to Independence bay,
II Is learned, was not only not as salts
factory as has been anticipated, but came
very near TO resulting fatally TO Peary and
the other two. They started late in March
on this journey, and after reaching Inde-
pendence bay were unable to proceed more
than few miles along the coast, just be-
yond their former stopping place. They
reached the top of a mountain, and were
unable to proceed further on account OF
the precipitous nature of the descent.
During the trip an unexpected contin-
gency arose, owing TO the fact that Lieut.
enant Peary was unable TO locate his
cache OF last year, and was compelled to
continue his journey without the food
supplies which he had reckoned ON. The
three men. Peary, Lee and Henson, went
at once on short rations, outstanding rs
much food as possible, but before many
DAYS their suffering became intense, and
Leo broke down altogether. The strain
had been SO great on him that Ii became
necessary to place him on sledge, which
the other two drew. His sickness gave
further cause for alarm, because OF the
fact that the adequate medical supplies
were not on hand, and II was feared, dur
ing the first stages, that he would die
from exhaustion. But he rallied eventu
ally.
All three owe their lives to tho shooting
of eight musk oxen, but during the
journey they had TO sacrifice the weaker
dogs and feed the flesh 10 the others, for IL
was necessary to sustain some of the AMI
mails as long as possible to enable their
supplies and instruments to be brough,
along. Out of 40 dogs which started only
one returned alive, and all five sledgc:
were abandoned during the two days just
prior to the return Of the party to Ami
versary lodge.
Their safe return they looked upon n:
almost n miracle, as during those last two
days hardly partacle Of food passed the
mouths Of any OF the men, and the strug
gle to reach their homes was one of ever
increasing suffering. When the relief ex
pedition reached Anniversary lodge, the
Peary party were showing marked evi
dences of their terrible experiences.