The herald., 1898-02-20
SUN, SNOW AND SKY
rs ALL THE SCENERY ON GREEN
LANDS ICE CAP
LIEUTENANT PEARY'S LECTURE
An Interesting Retrospective Trip of
the Arctic Explorer Illustrated
With Colored Views

Lieut.. Il. E. Peary iectured last night a.
the Los Angeles theater on his explorations
in Greenland. The lecture, which is very
interesting, is entertaninsly told by Lieut.
Peary, who has an easy delivery and 8
simplicity of manner ard elocution which
is very commencing. a series OF 100 very
| finely colored lantern views helps the lis
teners TO thoroughly acquaint themselves
with the scenery on the journey and the
perils undergone by the hardy traveller and
his companions, both human and canine.
! The lecturer at once, on stepping upon
| the stage, proposed to give some details
| that might be of interest to those intending
! to go to Alaska this season. He promised
that his experience in Greenland might be
of utility to them. While in summer the
heat sometimes is insufferable in certain
close valleys. yet the change in climate is
very pronounced right there AT very short
notice, and with a thermometer registering
% degrees in the shade, a wind, blowing
over snow, may lower the temperature
soon after to 40 or 45 degrees.
Lieut.. Peary described the outfit which
he considered of value for Alaska. He
suggested medium weight woolen combina-
tion suits, with hoods. dogskin or Eskimo
trousers. wooden socks, and large, ample
boots of leather, to be replaced later, in
the north. by sealskin, and dry grass or hay
within to keep the feet warm. Fur gar
ments without openings, and ample sleeves
with very narrow openings for the hands,
were absolutely indispensable and would
obviate the necessity of packing sleeping
bags, weighing from 10 to % pounds. All
that was requisite was the turning in of
the fur side of the garments at night.
He advocated food of the simplest kind.
Pemmican was not attainable although
the mainstay of life. Tea, condensed milk.
biscuit and German army pea soup tablets
would sustain u person in the coldest kind
of weather. He also gave advice about
dogs, although the mongrels in use in Alas
ka could not be compared with the Eskimo
animals Pliable, flexible sledges. lashed
with rawllde, and tents. whose bottoms
were attached to the tents themselves and
whose openings We're as small as possible,
to prevent the entrance of the fine drift
snow. were Indispensable. He laid down
the axiom that nothing was of such small
consequence to the northern voyageur that
it should suffer from neglect. because in
the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions comfort
and life depend frequently upon the most
trivial details.
Peary reverted to his proposed eXpedi
tion to the north next summer which may
take him five years. There is no reason
why the pole should not be reached, and, as
Il matter of fact. 1t will assuredly be. The
nearest point to it already touched is only
260 miles away from 1t. Geologically and
geographically speaking, there is nothing
abnormal al the North pole. If it is on land
or in the water. that land or water Will be
characteristic of other Arctic land or sea.
After reviewing the work of the latest
Arctic explorers, he believed that the only
practicable route to the pole was along the
northwest coast of Greenland, whence lie
would begin his campaign for the Stars and
Stripes next year.
The lecturer now launched into his suh-
ject proper showing his audience maps of
the frozen north and describing Greenland
that large island, covered with an ice cap
that hid from view its valleys and its high
est mountains, leaving exposed only
narrow strip of land along the sea shore,
hardly more than 20 miles in width at the
largest places. He depicted the itinerary
of a 1200-mle journey across 1t In 1885 at
an elevation of from 5000 to 5000 feet above
the level of the sea, where there was moth
ing in sight but sun, snow and sky. He
dwelt in simple but earnest language upon
the inclemency of the weather, the fury of
the winds and the perils of the trips, and
illustrated by excellent pictures of pack
ice, icebergs, Arctic scenery, views of the
midnight sun. calms and storms, his Eski-
mo companions at the avocations and the
chase. and the labor of his faithful dogs.
that an Arctic journey is one of the most
adventurous and dangerous undertakings
in the world.
Lieut.. Peary will repeat his entertaining
lecture at the earnest request of number
of people tonight at the Los Angeles the
alter at popular prices. the proceeds to be
devoted to the Glen Ellen Home for News
boys and the Associated Charities.