Evening star., 1897-01-13
CONQUEST OF THE POLE.
Lieut.. Peary Lays His PInn Before the
Geographical Society,

Lieut.. Peary Laya His P1nn Before tho
Geographical Society.
Arctic exploration may be regarded as
safe. This is shown by the experience of
the last ten years." said Civil Engineer r.
r. Peary. L. S. NJ, in an address before
the American Geographical Society in New
York last night. in acknowledgment of the
Cullum gold medal.
Nothing is to be gained by numbers. in
1act' numbers are distinct danger, and
the frightful catastrophes Of previous work
are in my opinion, directly traceable to
that cause. The entire animus of the
arctic regions is against large parties.
Where three men will get along in safety
and comfort. six would merely exist on half
rat1ons. .t1,, and twelve die of starvation.
both Nansen and myself have proved this
ihe leader of the expedition must be at
the head of the advance party; no success
ful arctic party can be led from the rear
Lieut.. Peary then proceeded to outline
his plan for "the conquest of the north
pole. the complete delmitation of the
Greenland archipelago. the last of the cir
cumpolar island groups, and the elimina-
tion from our maps of the unknown area
between the S4th parallel and the pole-''
My plan in fewest words is to raise a.
fund sufficient to insure the continuation of
the work of exploration for ten years. If
necessary, say, $50 600 and deposit II In a
trust company; purchase ship; give her a
minimum crew: load with concentrated pro-
visions: proceed to Whale sound take on
board several picked families of my faith
ful ESkimoS, with their tents canoes dogs
ETC.: force a way through Robinson chan
mel to Sherard Osborne ford or farther.
and land people and stores; then send the
ship back.
LAS soon as the freezing of the ice in the
great fjords of the northwest coast would
permit sledge travel, the work of advancing
supplies northeastward. along the coast
would be commenced. taking comparatively
short stages and light Ioaas,-so that the
trips could be quickly made, AS soon as
the supplies had been adYaIeed the first
stage, the party itself would move for
ward. leaving a cache behind and as they
would be following Eskimo customs and
living in snow houses, this'eould easily be
done. ,>ilr'o1
Then the second stage 81. advance would
be taken up, and the work, carried on un-
til the departure of the sAn. Each of the
brilliant winter moons ofgthe polar night
would afford opportunities for continuing
1t, SO that early spring should find the party
and the bulk of its supplies located at the
northern terminus of the North Greenland
archipelago, probably not Far from the S5th
parallel with caches behind it at each
prominent headland.
From this point, henethes proper time
came, with picked dogs, NE lightest pos
sible equipment. and two Of the best of the
,Eskimos. the dash for tfle, pole would be
attempted, with strong probabilities of a
successful termination. "a oh .
Each succeeding summer the ship would
attempt to establish Communication with
the party's base, succeeding probably every
other year at first. then. with increasing
experience, every year, and keep up it's
supply of food, dogs and Eskimos until the
objects of the expedition were accom-
plished.
Should the ship be unsuccessful in the
passage of Robinson channel the first year,
the party would land at Hayes sound, and
devote the first year to explorations of that
unknown region.
Retreat from the colony at Sherard Os-
borne ford would always be practicable
across the inland ice to Whale sound.
In nutshell, my project means, First ::
The raising of sum sufficient to insure
persistent continued effort. SO that If the
attempt fails the first year it can be re-
peated the next. and the next, and the
next, until it is done.
Second: The establishment of party of
picked Eskimo families, a surgeon and an
experienced leader at the highest prac-
ticable point on the northwest coast Of
Greenland; with ample supplies; means Of
communication. which would enable the
colony to sustain itself until Its work is
accomplished, and with practicable line
Of retreat entirely Independent Of the ship"