Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-05
LIEUTENAN PEARY
Tells the Journal How He Will
Reach the North Pole.
Interview With the Noted Arctic Ex-
plorer--He Outlines Plans.
Reception to Lieut. Peary in Evening at Wat
erviIle, Mler Ms Lecture.

Lieutenant Peary, the Arctic explorer
arrived in this city this afternoon.
on the APO train, and was met by DR.
Nathaniel Butler, president of Colby
University, Dr. j. F. Hill, whose guest
the lieutenant will be tonight, and Prof
Bayley of Colby. Lieutenant Peary
lectured in City hail. this evening, on
"Northernmost Greenland"
The Journal representative met
Lieutenant Peary on the train at Au-
gusta and was granted an interview,
during the course of which the famous
explorer detailed his plans of procedure
to be followed on the occasion of his
next trip to the Arctic region.
Lieutenant Peary is good looking
man whom no one would take to be
over 80 years of age. He is clean cut
in appearance, tritle reserved but
still pleasant in conversation. has a
distant way of explaining his methods
of travel and, when talking on his
favorite subject, the possibility of
reaching the north POLE he is earnest
and enthusiastic
That he has his plans all laid for his
proposed trip in 1898, is seen at once
in the rapidity with which he pictures
his trip in words He looks like the
man who means business when he
says that he proposes to stay in the
north until he has discovered the pole
and has completed the geographical
lines that are now missing.
The explorer touched upon the matter
of the Importance to Colby University
OF sending a number of young men. now
in college. to accompany the expedition
Of this year. by means of which Lieut..
Peary intends to establish caches along
the north coast Of Greenland in prepara-
ton for the main expedition of 1898.
MY PLAN said the explorer lis to go
north as far as there is possibility of
finding Esqumos, a tribe of which
know and with which the members of
which | am personally acquainted. hav-
ing lived among them for three years.
then ! will take on my ship all the young
men and their wives that will accompany
me. and there ~ no doubt in my mind
but that | will succeed in getting all the
young people to so, and proceed north
along the coast of Greenland, establish
service later. ullil reach the northern,
most point of land possible. Here | VIII
establish a village of the Esquimo, who
will there live and maintain a supply
depot.
''On this trip | will be accompanied by
a surgeon and one other man beside the
Esqumo. From this last depot or vii
iage | will start out for the north with
80 Esquimo dogs, native dog drivers, and
will travel in the ightest manner. taking
only enough Of what will be actually
necessary for Tho trip o. nearly abu miles.
shall go prepared t. stay until the
work is done. | intend to find the pole
and establish the geographical lines 'nat
will complete what are necessary at TINS
time.
Lieut. Peary detailed the course that
he believed he would pursue. said he did
not know who would accompany MN on
the main trip, and that he did not know
how long he should he sJne. Inc estab-
lshment of the northernmost depot or
village would be- made on the point OF
Flaud that was nearest tne pole.
That is he could not tell at this time
how far north the land extended, but Il
is known that land extends to WITHIN 80"
miles of The pole, how m nl 1ar nd r,a ny
extend so 100, or perhaps $50 miles far-
Their north than is now known: keachihs
that northcrnmoNt point he VIII estapiish
the base of supplies and WIN thence pro-
ceed to the ice with his assistants
II feel confident that | shall be ah am,
to reach the pole. but how much time VIII
take two years. perhaps three years, pos,
sibly four or five. OF course we do not
know what objects are to be encountered
when on the, the ice se Dur tr hos shall take
along with me h sufficient number OF
Esauimo to drive the sledge teams ~
rapidly possible. prefer the hsIui lin,'
to the white man FOR me very re',s pa
that they are born to drive the dogs ana
can drive them two miles to one by the
white man. Thus expect TO gel over
the ice very rapidly $40
lieutenant Peary was rendered re,
ception at the residence of Dr. ). =. M,
on Main street, after the lecture ana
there met the following gentlemen. 6
Hon. NJ c. Foster, Hon Peinah .;
HEAD II. c. Prince, Attorney General
W r Haines, W. b. Arnold. II. G. fos-
Ter Frank Rednston, George Is. Bon-
teiie ESQ. Rev. S. D. Lindsey, II; ID.
Eaton. ESD Hon. w. G. Philbrook Rrcs-
ident Nathaniel Butler of Colby frQi-
@ r, Stetson Prof. W. S. Bayley, Dr. II.
n Shempp, f. r. Wyman Dr. a. ~. bes-
sew. DR. c. w. Abbott. r. r.; A.Wo9u'
Han G. F. Johnson. Rev. w. p. Gasklii
PRINCIPAL A. NJ Thomas. Kicker lnsu-
tute. Houlton G. Fred Ferry H. w. = 4
rims Of Gardiner. Prof. j, H. Bates +. a.
ynwaiov n. l.. Corson, Frank Alden, =.
r. Wariwell. Rev. j. l.. Seward. ProI' a.
+ lane. c. b. Davis, H. f. JndkihS, g
- r. t n-% ex-Nayor c. Knauff, Col. L. s
pangs w. L. Waters. II. W. ross %
Charleston. Prof. Jonn Holman, froi.
w Black. Prof. Roberts.
Ianitor Sam Osborne of COPY. ac.e9
as butrer. Prof w. S. Bayley assis'eu
DIR HUI in receiving guests. T.,
I,,eutenant Peary met the gentlemen IL, IN
the parlor. Lunch WAS serVeu uhuei ''i'
suneryision of Mrs. Hill. ~
pprasident Frank Redington OF the
1,aard of Trade, presided over the punch
bowl. .ortai,ed the call
a,rs with stories of his WISH 10 MOI tiei "
most Greenland.