The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-12
PEARYS GOAL THE POLE
The Arctic Explorer to Make a Dash
over the Ice.


him since he severed his connection with
civilization last August by sending bis de-
pot ship Windward home, will be Crgan-
izing his little band Of whites and Es-
kimo for what his friends believe Will
be his last daring attempt TO reach the
North Pole.
The sun returns to gladden. the eye Of
the Greenland wayfaTer on February q,
and il is followed by week or two Of yio-
lent storms. usually succeeded by a period
of fine weather
His intention is to utilize this period for
land march to Fort Conger, and thence
after a rest and organization Of his eX-
petition. TO push on TO Cape Joseph Henry,
and from that. over the unbrOken ice foe CT
the Polar Basin TO the Pole Itself. if he can
reach there. and if not, 10 as high lati-
tude as he can make his way.
From Cape Sabine which is twenty three
miles across Smith Sound from Etah.
Peary has cleared post road. By means OF
crowbars, dynamite, and hard work, right
70 Fort COngeT following the coast line.
PeaTy might have remained at COnger all
this winter and thus have escaped all the
hardships incident to a winter march over
such a stretch, but by falling back to Etah
he was able to assume the personal direc-
tion Of the preliminary work among the
landed from the Wirdward and Diana last
season, and they killed 1l9 walruses for
him before they left for home.
All these stores PeaTy intends TO carry
across the Sound this month on the ice and
then convey them up 10 ConE2r stage by
stage. As a provision against possible dis
aster. and 70 be q last resort In case OF
extremity, he has provided caches OF stores
already at Capes Sabine, Duryilie. NapO-
leon, Fraser Shaw. and Lawrence the
most prominent headlands along the route
AT Fort COnger too. he has three tons OF
. stores. besides the remainder OF the Greedy
outfit. and he has also a boat there ard
one az DuTville.
These cache VIII not be disturbed by
| Peary II he can avoid doing SO. He will
depend for the sustenance of himself and
party. as wen as of the Eskimo colony
which accompanies him, upon the stores
/ they bring and upon the musk OK they can
secure along the route. That these are
! fairly plentiful IS iustanced by the fact
I that last winter Peary and those with him
/ secured twenty-eight. II the weather Ia
vors him Peary should have an his sup
l plies stored at Couger by the end OF March
/ and b. able 70 advance into the unknown
/ in April.
/ Much viii depend upon the condition OF
! the Eskimo dogs and the number OF them
available as last winter distcmper Killed
of many and left the remainder unfit for
the work in hand. Peary viii make due
/ allowance fer such contingency as this
/ and an extra trip or two viii not disar-
/ range his plans. II he is able TO set down
his native allies and oil the impedimeuta
/ Of the expedition at Conger by the end Of
! this month he will have done we'll Then
/ from among the several families he viii
! select ten or twelve whose heads are
/ strong. sturdy wOrkmen. dog drivers and
! travelling experts. and with these and all
/ the available dogs he will push on 20 Cape
/ Joseph Henry. at the northern extremity
/ OF land. 80 far as is known. i'm that section
I or the Polar circle, where he viii csJab-
/ lish an advance basis. set mp camps for the
I women and children and store up -gpplies
I for their use and that OF the selected par
/ ty who will make up the personnel OF he
! Pole attacking expedition.
These viii consist OF Peary and Lis two
! assistants. Dederick and Henson. and zen
/ picked natives each man driving a team
Of eight To twelve DOGS. the sledges being
/ laden with stores for fifty TO fity-tye
( days. The trip viii De somewhat like that
1 OF hansen and JOhaunser. the principle
[ underlying E-thaJ OF reaching the Pole
/ by sledge trayel-beiuc the same. though
. the NCrWegisu's experience has enabled
/ Peary Co improve upon their plans.
That Improvement is chiefly found 10
. the employment Of the EskimOs- Th-y
, are the best dog drivers IN The world and
can get almost half as much more w0rL
out Of the animals as could be obtained By
those unfamiliar with them. The advan-
tage. too. is mex, found in the size Of the
party. hansen and his companions ne
with many difficulties which they could
not sUrmOunt for lack Of physical strength
Being but two they were cheChmafed fire.
quenuy where IL would be possible 70
Peary's larger parry 10 make headway. es
pecially as the instructive Ingenuity Il IN
/ natives would be available in the latter
/ behalf In the multitudinOus difhcultie.
[ OF a trip over the broken foes. piled viii
great masses Of RATED ice scanned Will
/ giant Crevasses. and at times presentin.
hillOcks as difficult TO attack as foTtijca
/ lions, the native resources Of the Eskimo
/ will be found valuable in the extreme.
4 Equally striking and effective is ne eX
piOrer's plan for reducing the numbers @
the party as the provisions give cut o.
Z leaving the camp at Cape Joseph Henry
( all IN the party will begin 10 eat of on
. sledEe. the contents Of the others helms
, kept untouched. When that is exhaust
all the best dogs in the team viii be takei
I from il and distributed among the Othe
relays. end the Eskimo viii be s;arte,
; honcward with enough stores % carry bin
there and a couple Of the poOress dogs ID
haul his empty sledge.
second siedge will then be attacked 70
the Ccmmissariat. and when Il is empty
like EtcCesS will be adopted And SC OF
| IatiI only three Sledges. with The YER
I hest DOES IN the whole pack remain an
I OF tle animals which weaken bciEE kiile,
= I and their comrades fed with the flesh. Hav
| ing advanced as ke hopes. some hundred
Of miles by this time. and sent home hi
last Eskimo Peary viii divide all the re
naming stores among the three sledges
and the three Americans viii then grappl
with the final stages OF the journey. tina
Of making a record for the "farthes
, north" even If unfortunate enough to b
, unable 20 reach the Pole. From Cape 10
, seph Henry 10 the Pole is about 500 miles
The severe afliction OF frostbiting. Shic
Peary suffered last winter. and which cos
Z him seven of his ten toes. besides portion
OF his heels. Will tell most hardly upo
him. depriying him. as il necessarily mus
OF the activity in movement fCTmerl
characteristic of his expedition.
The next disadvantage is his Well-knCW
- disregard OF the ordinary pToCaUtiOE
which prudence would suggest in tn
launching out Of such an expedition
I Trusting to Providence. chance or a luck
star, Peary has always set out on trii
4 no matter how small, with insufficient
supplies. hoping to make up the deficieHc
, by game killed on the way.
To those who would condemn this ap
Z parent fooltardiuess the explanation shout
= be made that the reduction Of weights
e a minimum is the chief problem that be
70 sets every arctic explorer. In a reglo
- where all the supplies have TO be carrie
e On dog s!edges an extra lading may mea
e the loss Of the goal of ones ambition.