The evening times., 1895-09-25

Gen, A. W. Greely. the arctic explorer,
who was absent from Washington when the
news of Lieut. Peary's3 arrival was re-
ceived. has returned to this city with his
family. To a Times reporter who asked
him how lie regarded the various expedi-
tions of Lieut.. Peary. Gen. GreeIy replied:
THAT is somewhat difficult question
to answer. II may not be satisfactory to
some people to say that the energy, courage
and perseverance of Lieut.. Peary have re-
suited in some OF the most brilliant geo.
grap phic feats of late years.
His Journey over the Greenland ice-cap
far surpassed In extent and discoveries the
journeys of Nordenskiold and Nanscn upon
tire inland ice from 800 to ,0oO miles TO
the south From geographical stand
point the most important result has been
the location Of the extren,e coast line OF
northeast Greenland.
.'Peary's efforts. single -ha nded, have
done more TO oatIise the coast than the en-
tire efforts of European travellers for a
century past. He bas reached point
more than 200 miles above the extreme
| north reached by the German explorers
| in 1870, thus extending northward the
east coast of Greenland more than two
degrees OF latitude.
His discovery OF Independence Bay
| Increases the longitude of East Greenland
about fifteen degrees and thus tends to
prove that the extreme North Greenland
coast is very narrow. while Lock wood Land
70 the north of Greenland Is OF limited
extent
GREAT SCIENTIFIC RESULTS.
what are the main scientific benefits
derived from the expedition :.
The most important is the enabling of
experienced American biologists to study
on the spot the glacial conditions of
Cape York region The application of
photography to this work has enabled
Chamberlain and others to do more ex-
tensive and important WORK in a few weeks
many months, :.
The outcome of Chamberlains studies
must be of considerable importance from a
geological stanipoint.- From a STANDPOINT
Of physical geography, it is OF very great
interest to know that far the greater part
of North Greenland is covered with an ice
cap thousands OF feet in thickness"
what do you think Of the adverse csiti-
cisms Of Pcary's work.
There Is a large class of people who
see no good in anything unless 1t is
strictly utilitArian. Some complain of
the squandcring of tens of thousands of
dollars on afhietics, baseball, football,
etc, while still others see nothing but
bitterness arising from horse racing and
yachting contests,
II am one If the men who believe that
every contest With nature or with man
that arises from an honest and fair effort
TO succeed should be encouraged in this
critical period uf modern civilization. These
contests. efforts and journeys mean self
denial. application and pubiicspiritedness,
which must inure to the welfare If the
community.
..Peary.s efforts have bc,p entirely at
private expense. save the very small pay
allowed him while an leave of absence. l,
at least am proud that his success has been
so lar beyond the much-iaGded Journeys
OF Nansen. Nordenskiold and others who
deservediy stand so high in European csti-
nation"
AS TO HIS LECTURES.
But 1t is alleged that explorers use
their sufferings and mis;ortunes for incra-
tive purposes IN the lecture PLATFORM?
That certainly has never beea an Ameri-
can failing. Despite most fIattering Of
fers, neither Kane, Melville nor myself
have ever earned a dOliir in that way.
Hayes and Peary have both Iectured, but
solely that they might put every do,liar
Thus raised into the wnrk OF exploration
that they had so mach at heart"
'Do you approve OF Peary's methods
and plan of Arctic work."
Each man." replied Gen. Greely. earn
esuy. has his individual meth Cd OF
work. and the best test is success. have
al ways approved OF Peary's methods as
regards the ice-cap travel, of which l pre-
dicted his brilliant success in 1891.
Son each occasion 1 have clearly out
lined in advance what was possible under
his methods. They are admirably suited
to inward ice travel, but cannot be very
successful for travel over the sea or along
the coast"
as it true that his methods show the
future of Arctic success depends on the
use of very small parties?"
Ion the contrary, they emphasize the
extreme danger of such operations with
very few men. Moreover, his limitations
nearly proved fatal to his party in 1892,
duu stlsO III Jiiis sCdi- w tth ho iNsOiNS PoAey
TO offer succor, and with his provisions
exhausted at Independence Bay. he would
have persisted but for the presence of un-
certain game in one case, and the avoidance
OF any serious accident In the other. A small
party must always do the brilliant work,
but IT must be supported by u more ex-
teusive party under competent leader
DID NOT BEAT LOCKWOOD.
as it true thdt Peary's explorations eK-
tended fartiser North than Lockwood's, of
your own expedition"
The DcrthinS OF Luckwped and Brain
ard in 1859 has neither been exceIled nor
even approached by any subsequent ex-
plorer The fact that Peary reached the
most northesly point ever attained on the
east coast of Greenland has led TO this mis-
apprehension --s+
"Pcary's RsTthing is a hundred miles
to the south Of Lockwood, but never
tilciess,. Peary's success in crossing moth
ern Greenland gives him a place and stand
ing among ARCTIC explorers that will
stand through years to come. II ono Amer
ican failed to beat another in this Arctic
work, il is, at least gratifying that he has
at least surpassed all his European prede-
cessors on the east Greenland coast. Peary
too has done this york at minimum ex-
pense, the cost of his last expedition being
practically that on the Lady Franklin Bay
expedition in 1881.
.'Pcary's return safely without help
under such conditions is in marked con-
irastl with the, situation of the sledge
parties of the Mares expedition. Three of
them, under competent leaders. with two
ships Us a base of operations. broke down
in the field 60 absolutely that must ulti-
ap,atcly have perished to q man had not
assistance from, their reserve ships been