The Portland daily press., 1897-11-09
In THE FROZEN NORTH.
Lieut.. Peary's Lecture at the Jeffer-
son Last Night.

Lieut.. Peary delivered at the Jefferson
last night, his interesting illustrated |
lecture I'm the Frozen North" Upon |
taking the stage Lieut.. Peary was warmly
received, and responded by saying that it
always gave him pleasure to appear be-
fore Portland audience since his school
boy days were passed here and the old
towns streets and buildings were
ineffacably impressed on his memory.
Prof. Napes then proceeded to throw a
map of the region about the North Pole
upon the screen.
Lieut.. Peary began his discourse by re
marking that hs had been asked to tell
not only what he had accomplished, but
what he proposed to do, also his views
on Andree, Nansen, the possibilities of
reaching the North Pole, and the value to
the world, should so degrees of latitude
finally be attained. All these questions
and subjects, he, said, could scarcely be
considered in detail in one lecture, but he
would try and give cursory answers to
them all. His trip the past summer had
two fold object, first to make arrange
ments for his long visit to Polar regions
next summer, and, second, to bring back
the big meteorite. He had been eminent
ly successful in achieving both ends, for
he had secured complete Eskimo equip
ment, which would be awaiting his ar
rival next spring, and be ready to start
ON the perilous journey without delay.
The Cape York meteorite he had secured
at so much risk was the largest of three,
and the biggest known in the world. For
years the Eskimos had tipped their weap-
ons with fragments of this meteorite
and they were not inclined to part with
nected with these three heavenly bodies.
One weighing 5000 pounds was believed
to be an Eskimo woman who had been
hurled from the skies for misdemeanor
The second. weighing 1000 pounds, was
her. dog, and the big one, 100 tons in
weight, was her tent. p rs
Touching on his future plans, Lieuten-
ant Peary stated that he proposed to take
the Eskimo party. with dogs equipment
and food supplies, on board ship and
force his way to the most northeastern
point of Greenland attainable and estab-
lish colony, then. with dogs and
sledges make dart for the pole in the
open weather. The ship he would send
back. If the conditions were not favorable
and he failed to reach the pole, he would
return to the colony and winter, not be-
ing compelled, as heretofore, to come
back to this country. The following
spring he would make another attempt,
protiting by his past experiences, and re-
peat this scheme for several years, if his
life was spared. He had allowed him
self five years. had secured the necessary
funds and he believed that never before
had polar exedition been planned under
| circumstances which augured SO we'll for
success.
The question as to whether the pole
ever would be discovered he could answer
quickly in the affirmative. Each attempt
has brought information which was of
value to subsequent explorers, and the I'll
| innate result was beyond doubt.
The value Of the discovery of the North
Pole was most difficult query to salts.
factorily answer. Like many great in.
ventions for which scientists have striv.
en-, the usefulness could not be predicted
and 1t is possible that society may re,
ceive great benefits from such an achieve.
ment. At present it is a geographical
feat which everyone is anxious to accom-
plish, but beyond this there was no appar-
emit intrinsic value, unless it should prove
a test of nations, the successful explorer
demonstrating a superiority in energy
and daring. @ Gr.sbsa
He had often been asked, he said, con-
corning Andree and his balloon. The
theory of being blown across the pole
stood about one chance in Thousand OF
success. As to Andree's personal safety,
the risk was about even, the small party
being in his favor. When last heard from
by authentic, reports his airship was
drifting northeast, which course, barring
accidents, would land him in Siberia.
That country, continued the lecturer, is
not in condition to travel in in summer
on account of the mud, and no attempt
is made to go from place to place unit
eAO 1o0oS oAo LAWS d1O lOIZCu up ~
even if Andree had safely landed on the
Siberian coast it is not yet time to re
ceive Dews from him.
Il Concerning DIR. Nansen, Lieut.. Peary
said he did not wish to anticipate thai
gentleman, although on the map hi
showed the course taken by the Fran
But. the lecturer remarked, while DR.
hansen did not reach the pole he estab
lished one fact, namely, that the Siberian
circle would meyer again be employed as
q starting point for Arctic expeditions
The drifting of theFram demonstrated. thai
there was but little land from that side
and in future all routes will be by thu
American side, from Greenland.
Lieutenant Peary declared that whe1
the pole was discovered it would not ma
terially differ In characteristics from 9th
err Arctic localities already visited. Their,
would be many unique features connect
ed with the exact spot. For instance,
man standing at the pole could only lool
in one direction, due south. There would