Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-08-03
Peary's Arctic Expedition.

The object OF the Peary relief expe-
dition, which has recently started for
the Arctic regions, is not to bring the
explorer home, but to carry food and
to get news of him. According to his
plans, he will not return until Septem-
Der, 1900. The relief expedition is on
board the steamer Diana, and is in
charge Of Herbert L. Bridgeman, Sec
rotary of the Peary Arctic Club. This
club consists of II members, who have
each agreed to contribute a thousand
dollars year for four year, the funds
to be used to aid Lieutenant Peary in
his efforts to reach the North Pole.
The Diana carries party Of SO who
go for various objects-some for hunt
ing, some for scientific investigation
and some for sightseeing. The prin-
cipal object Of the expedition is to de-
post supply of food where Mr.. Peary
will find it in case of necessity. 1t Is
supposed that when the Diana reaches
the winter quarters Of the Arctic party
Mr.. Peary and his two companions will
be absent on the sledge Journey over
the great ice cap to the extreme north
ern point of Greenland and the isla nds
beyond, unless some failure or disaster
has driven him back. If trip has
been made this year, it was Mr.. Peary
fourth journey over the great desert
of snow. Twice he has gone to the
northeast point OF Greenland and
looked out upon the ocean where, per-
haps, human eyes had never seen 1t
before. His first Journey was an ex-
detrimental or trial trip across the cen
trail portion Of the great island. The
interior of Greenland, as Mr., Peary
discovered it, is an unbroken expanse
of snow, the accumulations it may be
of many centuries, filing up all the
valleys even with the tops of the
mountain ranges. The entire cap, as
it is called, is elevated from FIVE to
seven thousand feet above the sea. A
journey.over this waste is one of almost
Understandable suffering and hardship.
The winds have the force Of tornado,
driving fine particles of ice and snow
before which no human being can
stand up and live. The temperature
during these tornadoes, even in the
late spring, sinks to 400 or co. below
zero. On the ice cap no life is found.
No tree or plant beaks the dreadful
monotony, and no living creature can
make its home or even venture there.
On his last sledge journey Mr. Peary
lost some of his stores Of food and only
escaped death by the lucky discovery
of a herd of musk oxen on the seashore
at the limit of his journey. Mr.. Peary
is one of the most persistent, intrepid
and skillful of all Arctic explorers.
He has devoted the best years of his
life to it and an amount Of study
which makes him, perhaps, the great
est living authority upon the regions
of the Far North. Upon two of his
expeditions his wife accompanied him,
spending the winter in house built
for the party 130 from the pole. In
this Arctic habitation her daughter was
born.
Mr.. Pearys present companions are
DR.. ?. j. Dedrick, of Washington, n.
j., and his colored servant, Matt Hen
son, who accompanied him on his for
mer expeditions and made two Of the
sledge journeys over the ice cap. The
little party went North in July of last
year. If Mr.. Peary ever finds the
North Pole, he will, perhaps, find moth
ing different in general character from
places he has already visited. If the
pole is covered by the ocean, there will
be no difference between it and the
same ocean elsewhere. If it is land,
it is, perhaps, scene Of desolation, Of
bare rocks, of glaciers, or perhaps Of
rugged mountains. If he reaches it
he will be at point 90 north lati-
tude, but without longitude, as all the
lines of longitude come together there.
The year is divided into six months
Of sunshine and six months Of night,
and there is only one direction, no
north, east or west only south.-Bal-
ti0,ore Sun.