The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-04
MORNING. MARCH L. 1896

a katak and he would return home in
that. AS Mr.. Nerhoef, II was said. was
| not very EXPERT in the management of
the native boat. and as it was not con-
sidered safe TO traverse Mccormick Bay
| in that kind of boat, instead of COM
plying with his wish. MIR. Gibson. on
Tuesday. August 16, with Mr.. Bryant
boat Faith and went after him.
MADE A FRUITLESS SEARCH.
A furious storm ragged for two days
and fears Were entertained for the
safety both of the Peary and Gibson
exploring parties Both returned how
ever Messrs. Gibson and Bryant thor
oughly exhausted after a fruitless
search for Verehoeff. 1t had been ex-
pected that on August II the belong
ings of Lieutenant Peary and the mem-
bers of the North Greenland expedi-
tion would be on board the Kite. ready
for departure from Mccormick Bay
homeward, but Verhoeff's continued
and mysterious absence compelled the
abandonment of the intention.
The party was now seriously alarmed
for his safety, since Messrs Bryant and
Gibson, with the aid Of three E.skimos.
had not been able to find any traces
of him in the place where he was sup
posed to be. A systematic search was
begun at once and continued almost
without intermission for seven days
and nights. In this hunt the Peary
party. the relief expedition. such of
the crew of the Kite as could be spared,
and nine Eskimos participated.
For six days not the slightest trace
of the missing man was found. The
explorers were divided into three parties
on the first day, under Lieutenant
Peary, Dr. Cook and Professor He'll
prin. The Kite went to Robinson Bay
and then steamed slowly down the
coast, her steam whistle blowing at
short intervals. The little parties COW
cred a tract OF territory fully five miles
wide and ten miles long, without learn
ing anything of the young mineralogist.
From Lieutenant Peary We're learned
the circumstances under which Ner-
hoeff started on his supposedly fatal
journey in Inglefield Gulf. He asked
permission to go to the Fire Glacier
Valley on a two days hunt for miner
ais. Knowing that he trip proposed
was safe and short one. Lieutenant
Peary consented, provided he would
promise to return ut the time stated.
Verhoeff then started. taking with him
three pounds of pemmican. a revolver
with fifty cartridges. his geological
hatchet and u bag. He returned to
then started off again.
ANOTHER SEARCH MADE
The anxiety of his safety now became
greater than ever, and plans were per-
fected for another systematic search.
Taking twelve Eskimos Lieutenant
Peary again entered the Fire Glacier
Valley, and extended the entire party
and Eskimos In a. straight line clear
across the valley from side to side,
and advanced with them. step by step,
along it's entire length and over the ice
cap and table land to Robinson Bay.
The searching party found marks of
VerhOeff's footsteps In the sand and
snow, but they were lost near a gorge.
He was then given up for dead but
only after the most conscientious search
had been made for him.
Verhoeff's family have never believed
him dead. Rev. DR.. Keigwin, pastor
of the West Presbyterian church. at
Wilmington, Del, insists that 1t Is his
nephew that has discovered the pole,
and, after crossing it, returned by way
Of Siberia. Living with the Eskimos
In polar fashion, feeding on blubber and
raw meat, building for himself houses
Of ice, 1t is easy to conceive Of him
making his way in four years time
across the arctic wastes and returning
on the other side Of the world. II it
really be that it is Verhoeff, and not
Nansen, who is the dscoverer of the
north pole, the news may not be mat
ter of surprise to the world.