The record-union., 1899-07-16


with him and his headquarters at Cape
Washington, or some equally far north
ern point, have been safely main
tained, it is likely that he will return
to Inglefield Gulf to meet the Diana.
Only in case of disaster or loss of pro-
visions, compelling him to fall back
on his base, would he be likely to un-
dertake the journey across the inland
ice for the summit, to open communica-
tion with the world The probability
is that letters and reports from him,
sent back by his Eskimo companions
early in the spring, will be found
awaiting the party either at Bowdoin
Bay or Littleton Island, or at some of
the Eskimo villages in the vicinity of
Inglefield Gulf, and that the letters and
dispatches will be taken to Peary by
the same allies upon their return to
his main northern station. The prime
object of the expedition is to deposit,
against all contingency, an ample sup
ply of food, and to inform Peary OF
the fact, SO that in case disaster drives
him back, he may find subsistence. at
Inglefield Gulf, in which country he is
practically at home.
Nothing has been heard from Mr.
Peary since his departure from Sydney,
Cape Breton, July Z, 1898, except the
following report of his northward voy-
age in the Hope from Sydney to Etah,
which is now given to the public for
the first time:
CAPE YORK, July %, 1893.
ITO the President and Members OF
the Peary Arctic Club: 1t gives me
pleasure to transmit the following re-
port of progress on my expedition to
date:
Arriving at Sydney, C. B., at p.
M, July 1st, 1 went Immediately on
board the Hope, and after finishing "A
few letters got under way at IL m.
The Hope carried 800 tons of coal, in
Guiding twenty-five tons on deck. A
bright moon enabled US to clear the
harbor without difficulty, and then for
two days we carried light but favoring
winds northward along the west coast
of Newfoundland. A dense fog in the
strait compelled us to lay to a few
hours Finally a north wind dispelled
this and Belle Isle itself was passed
shortly after midnight. Sunday, the
10th, we steamed northward along the
Labrador coast till late in the after
noon, when I ran into the fishing sta
ton of Domino Run, to send a mail
ashore, and then bore away direct for
Greenland across the wide mouth of
Davis Strait. Here again favoring
winds, though the weather was gloomy
and overcast, helped US on our way,
and midnight of the 18th Give days
ha in,
latitude of Cape Farewell and in the
twilight fringe of the Great Day of the
Arctic summer. 1t was light, though
at midnight, to read coarse print on
deck.
In the forenoon of the 18th the edge
of the East Greenland ice was sighted
on the starboard. Running along the
edge of this strait to the northwest,
a dense fog came on in the afternoon,
and unable to see to avoid the ice, we
entered it. Boring our way northward
as best We could, the fog lifted the next
forenoon, and showed US the mountains
of the Greenland coast, and the ice pack
extending in every direction as far as
could be seen. The noon observation
showed US to be north of Gidhaao.
Still boring through the ice, in the ef-
fort to get into the narrow water along
the shore, we passed Sukkertoppen at
> a. m. of the 18th, and finding tho
ice somewhat less closely packed, kept
on northward, and finally emerged
from it just south of Holsteinberg, in
the afternoon of the 18th.
This East Greenland ice this year is
very wide, is packed closely against
the shore, is very heavy in character,
and extends more than usually far
north Free of ice at last, we were
once more helped on our way by fav-
oring winds, increasing at one time
to a half gale, and accompanied by
thick weather until 8 a. m. of the 18th.
when we were off Sanderson's Hope,
the giant mountain sentinel of this sec
ton of the coast The 18th was bril-
northward, along the magnificent coast,
which looked more hospitable than the
coast much farther south. At p. IN
we passed the Duck Islands, the south
ern limit of Melville Bay, and almost
Immediately began our battle with the
ice. The voyage to here had been un-
usually quick, less than ten days from
Sydney, but the crossing of the bay was
the longest, with one exception. of any
that 1 have made. During Sunday
night we made fairly good progress di-
rectly towards Cape Walker, north OF
Wilcox Head; then with the falling of
the offshore wind the ice closed TO-
gether and during the next four days
and nights we We're able to move only
as the change of ticks Stacked the foes
and enabled the Hope to wind and twist
between them in the narrow lanes of
water, every now and then butting of.
the corners of a foe which barred the
way. All this time the weather was
bright and clear Four bears were seen
in this time. The first one was wound
ed from the ship by the doctor, and
finally killed by me after a hard run
over the ice. The other three, fe-
male and cubs, were seen when the ship
was unfortunately fast between the
foes. They swan a lead before could
get within range, and making directly
away, escaped. Friday noon, about fif-
teen miles south of Bushman, the Hope
was caught between two foes, hardly
more than her own length from open
water, which appeared to extend we'll
to Cape York, some thirty miles dis
tant. Here she was nipped and heeled
over. and raised several inches by the
ice pressure. When finally she was
released. the attempt was made to butt
through the barrier. This was almost
effected when the foes came together
again and the Hope narrowly escaped
being nipped again. This compelled US
to back out, and head away to tho
south. The weather now came on very
thick, fog and snow, but when the fog
lifted Saturday evening, Cape York lay
only six miles distant, but both it and