The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-31
LIEUT.. PEARY'S PLANS
HIS PROPOSED EXPEDITION IN QUEST
OF THE NORTH POLE.
He VIII Take Esquimau Drivers
from Station to Station and
Then Make a Dash.

NEW YORK, May 30.-Lieut. Peary yes
terday talked about his proposed expedi.
ton to make a sure thing of reaching the
north pole even if the effort shall extend
over ten years and cost $780, coo. He has
secured five-year leave of absence from
the navy, and promise of the necessary
financial backing His plan embodies the
so-called station plan" and dash, with
light sledges and skilled Esquimau drivers
over the shortest line possible to the apex
of the earth as the browning effort.
Lieut.. Peary said; Il propose to take
some of the Esquimaux living around
Whale sound. whom 1 know personally
from several years sojourn in their midst
and colonize them to the Greenland coast
further north. [ know from my own ex-
perience that if they have their families
with them and the assurance of plenty to
eat, they will be contented anywhere on
the Greenland coast without regard to lati-
tude, and how much more valuable are
their services there than would be the best
efforts of unframed white men. When it
comes to driving dogs and handling sledges
IN rough ice, did any one ever see any
white man who could compare in skill with
any Esquimau? Take Nansen's experience
for instance" said Peary. IF he had had
Esquimaux. don't you think he could have
made two miles for every one he actually
did accomplish? You know how the Es-
quimau is trained to sledge work. The first
top the baby boy has is a dog whip and
when he sits naked on his mothers lap his
earliest sport is to practice with his little
whip on the puppies.
Some polar expeditions have taken two
or three Esquimau men to the far north
in order to utilize their skill as dog drivers
but in every case they have had great
trouble to make these savage auxiliaries
contented as the months rolled by and they
BEGAN TO feel the loneliness of their condi-
ton, separated long from their homes
and families. Their domestic ties are very
strong, and they feel such separation much
more kelly than do white people, with their
superior education and greater resources
for amusement and recreation. Hall
Hayes, Greedy and others have told how
sometimes their Esquimau assistants have
become temporarily insane, and have
started back to reach their homes, though
the distance was so great that they would
certainly have persisted had they not been
pursued and brought back. 1t was not in
sanity with these poor fellows, 1t was SIM
ply inconsistencies"
Peary proposes to take the families of
his assistants with them and keep them
at the stations, where the women will be
found of inestimable value in making and
mending the skin clothing which is the
ideal habiliment for Arctic winter weather
wear. Peary said: when Nansen and
others say that wooden clothing is better
than reindeer skin garments, believe 1t
is because they do not know they have not
used a skin clothing or they would nave
found how vastly superior it is. / say
again, that the nearer We approach the
Esquimaux methods in their country the
better off we are"
work as YETI
ready stated / shall make a preliminary
trip this summer to the netghporhood OF
my old headquarters in Whale sound 10
select from among my friends there the
hunters and families to take north with
me next year l have the confidence of
these people and 1 also know that l can
depend upon them. They will have a year
to make a collection of walrus and reindeer
meat and skins for clothing, ana they VIII
be assembled at a point to be established
when I arrive next year, so as to cause as
little delay at that time as possible. ] Will
Sherard Osborne Fjord. and there estab-
fish my permanent camp, which may be
reached each year by a relief ship
"During next summer, and when possible
later in the season I will work northward
and leave stations at prominent points and
my final station will be at the last point or
land 7 find This of course, has not yet
been reached, as when Brannery and LOCK-
wood reached their furtherest point north
they saw the land sun stretchllg away
toward the northeast. From that station
I shall make my dash for the pole. ana
should I be favored with good weather and
go9f5 q fs Of 1S95 P But S You know how un
Certain the conditions are in the north from
one season to another. and if do not find
them favorable in 1898 will have to wait
another year and may be another But
shall remain until I do get an opportunity
no matter how long it takes.
don't suppose you W WI 4teT Ho re reacb
the northern limit of land?
No What use would they hey be? belieYe
moving. lust as it moves further south.
THAT is the obstacle in the way of carrying
ont the popular idea Of continuing stations
to the very pole itself.
Mrs Peary will accompany me this year,
but will not go with the expedition next
year"
as far as determined and the reasons for
its adoption that have suggested them