Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-11

LAST MEAL.
BRIGUS, N. F., September 10.-The
Peary-Harmsworth steamer Windward,
Captain John Bartlett, from Etah,
North Greenland, August 26th, arrived
here to-day, reporting all well on
board. She will be followed in week
by the Peary Arctic Clubs steamtr Di-
ana, Captain Samuel w. Bartlett, also
from Etah. The Windward reports
that all on board the Diana were well at
the time the vessels separated.
Lieut.. Peary and the sledge parties
were in this field almost continuously
from October, 1898, to August of this
year, and have effected an extraordin-
airy amount of important work, not only
bearing on the future of his own expe-
dition, but adding much to the geo
graphical knowledge of the coast line
and the interior of Ellesmere land, the
southern portion of Grinnell land. His
sledging journeys aggregated more
than 1000 miles, not including several
trips repeated over portions of the
track
Lieut.. Peary made several successful
hunting trips and laid in an ample sup
ply of fresh meat, including musk oxen,
seals and birds, for the winter. Util-
izing the December moon, he sledged
along the ice $50 miles north over al
most impossible ice to Fort Conger,
the headquarters of the Greedy expedi-
ton. He had the misfortune to have
both feet frostbitten, which necessitated
six weeks delay and confinement, until
he could make the return trip Lashed
to a sledge, he was hauled all the way
to the Windward, where several toes
were amputated. Complete recovery
followed rapidly and he now walks as
well as ever.
Lieut.. Peary found Fort Conger ex-
actly as Gdeely left it. The table was
standing from the last meal, and all
the other appointments had remained
undisturbed for sixteen years. The
buildings were in fair condition, though
some of them would not be serviceable
much longer. He took posS ession of all
the property, real and personal, in the
name of the United States govern
ment, and posted notices to that effect.
He brought away and is sending home
the original Greedy records, the sex
tant of Lieut.. Beaumont, R. N, of the
Hares Markham expedition of 1868,
recovered by Lieut.. Lockwood, and
many private letters and papers Of
members of Greelys party, all of which
are to be forwarded to the Peary Arc
tic Club, of New York
LieUt. Peary's last sledge journey
was an overland exploration westward
from the winter quarters of the Wind
ward, completely crossing Ellesmere
land and connecting his work with that
of Lieut.. Lockwood of the Greeley ex-
petition at the Fiord bearing the lat
Ter name, on the western slope. FL
lesmereland was found practically ice
free, and to contain much game. The
water to the west of the coast, as far
as could be seen, was also comparative
ly clear of ice.
His winter headquarters Lieut.. Peary
has established at Etah, one of the elig-
ible points on the east side of Smith
Sound. 1t is a mile or so north of
Hayes winter quarters in 1861, five
miles south of life boat cove in which
the Polaris wintered, and six miles
miles north of Cape Alexander. Am
pie supplies for the remainder of the
time of the expedition, not less than
fifty tons, have been landed.
He has built a commodious living
and working room for himself and COM
panions in which they will be thor
oughly comfortable during the winter
and he has nearly seventy-f1ve walrus
for native and dog commissary when
the field is taken in February.