Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-21
Mr.. PEARY'S DETACHMENT
Much Mystery Surrounds His Relief From
Duty at New York.
Speculation as to Whether He Pro-
poses to Again Make a Trip TO
the Frozen North.

Tie case of Civil Engineer Robert r.
Peary, the arctic explorer, is exciting con-
siderable gossip in naval circles A few
days ago he was detached from duty at
the New York navy yard and placed on
waiting orders. Ordinarily such action is
reflection on an officer unless IL is taken
at his own request. Mr.. Peary was as
signed to duty at the New York navy yard
last November, and consequently when
relieved had been on active service less
IMAM 1--WE months. During his service GER
tain frauds were practiced by the con-
tractors for the construction of a cause.
Wey in Wallabout bay by the use of an
inferior quality of bolts. 1t is said that
the frauds were discovered by Mr. Peary.
AT any rate, the work was suspended in
order. II Is said. to get authority from
congress for d change in The plan of the
causeway.
Surrounded by Mystery.
The sudden detachment of Civil Engineer
feary was surrounded with an unusual
amount of mystery, and 1t is said that no
one but Secretary Herbert himself knows
the reason therefor IL is only fair to Mr.
feary' however. TO say that he was re-
lieved at his own request, and not be-
cause of the alleged fraudulent work in
his department Still. no one seems able
oIcers after such an exceedingly short
term OF service, especially in view of the
TACT that he has already been unemployed
Ior longer period. comparatively than
PROBABLY any other officer of the navy
he has been in the navy all told about
fourteen years. during which period he
mas been unemployed Chat is, so far as
.Iie navy Is concerned) six years and five
months. Most of this time has been spent
IN private work in connection with tho
exploration OF the arctic region He wac
gwen leave of absence to enable him TO
prosecute this work, with correspondingly
reduced pay.
Plans for the Future
There is much speculation in regard to
MI Peary's plans for the future, and IL is
a question whether the department has
other work for him or whether he is to be
granted leave OF absence again so that he
may make another trip to the frozen north
The question having become the subject of
newspaper disc ussion, Mr. Peary took oc
casion 10 make a public statement TO the
enect that he had neither funds nor pIans
lor ahother polar expedition. Notwith-
standing this statement with regard to a
polar expedition" the belief still preyafis
mat he contemplates another trip 10 the
north.
What n Friend Says.
1t is possible" said a friend of his to a
reporter, that Mr.. Peary will devote his
period of waiting orders to a lecture tour
to recoup himself for various heavy ex-
penditures made during his arctic EXPERT
ences or as a result of them 1t is also
possible that be may join an expedition to
Southern Greenland. well within the limits
OF the whalers. where Peary discovered the
largest meteorite ever known. The party
dug around the object, but II was too large
10 be conveyed to the ship, which could not
be brought near enough to admit of its be-
ing taken aboard without extra means of
lifting the interesting specimen. The Phil
adelphta Academy of Sciences is DESTROYS
OF obtaining the meteorite, and | under
stand that institution is willing to fit out
an expedition TO bring II to this country"