The age-herald., 1901-10-13

the summer of 1900, and then I made up my mind that the relief steamer Wind ward should carry with her the explorers wife and daughter.
 Here Marie Ahnighito, who enjoys the distinction of having been born further north than any other white child. smiled with a little superior air, as much as to say that any one afraid of sojourn in her native land was a coward of the worst sort.
 People pitied us," said Mrs. Peary, "when we started off, as though we had the slightest dread or fear of the trip.
 "Our only anxiety was as to what news might await us.
 Tt was the 18th of August when our steamer reached Etah, where we have a fine caboose fitted up with all the com forts of home-home in the north ''At Etah my daughter and I had ex- pected to meet MT. Peary. What was our disappointment to be greeted there only with instructions to proceed, if possible, and as quickly as might be, to Smiths Sound.
 "Our instant's disappointment was fol- lowed by renewed hope. Of course my husband hadn't the faintest idea his daughter and wife were on board the re- lief boat, or. I believe, he would have deserted even his proximity to the Pole to meet us
 Through blocks of Ice we slowly pick ed our way, always in danger of being caught between @ glacier and an ice- foe.
 "The ice about us seemed to increase as we progressed. Suddenly it encased us as in vice. We were powerless against it. At Cape Sabine. or, rather, at Payer Harbor. across the Sound from Cape Sa- L4 f..to xrrs,, ,k.ax. quarters, and Just wait and wait
 "Our only information concerning MT. Peary was that contained ir the instruc- tions found at Etah and dated April 19
 "As after events proved, Lieutenant Peary spent the winter at Fort Conger, which was only 150 miles distant, but he was not aware of our being in such close proximity to him, nor did we have the slightest idea that only 15O miles separ- ated us from him.
 'I was, of course, anxious to hear news of him. Where was he? What had he done? How far had he got? Was he well or i'll?
 For eight months these were the ques- tions constantly in my mind.
 'I tried by every means to establish some sort of communication, but with no result. The sailors of the Windward were unacclmated, and the best Eshimos were not on our side of the Sound
 ''The winter dragged itself along some how, not always unpleasantly, although there was nothing to be seen but ice and snow, in drifts, ir bergs, in glaciers, in blocks, in isicles.
 .'I was in the open air nearly every day, shooting and sledging on the ice
 My daughter and myself both kept well. The steward had his wife with him, and they, together with the captain, my daughter and myself, lived very comfort ably in the ships cabin, with our books and our soups and canned meats and desiccated vegetables.
 Tt was not exciting, except for the one hope constantly before us, that Lieuten- ant Peary would arrive when we least expected him.
 When the Arctic night at last showed signs of breaking away I began to send out all the expeditions I could muster to search for MT. Peary.
 At last 1 succeeded in enlisting the services of some good Eskimos. Two sailors volunteered to go with them.
 "I watched them start off for Fort Con gen, and once again I settled down to wait.
 'I was asleep in my room in the cabin one night, when suddenly 1 heard some one jump or the deck right over my head.
 Instantly I was awake. I sat up and shouted to the steward.
 "'Open the companionway,' I cried; MT. Peary is here!
 "I knew that it was he. h hen I went north in the Erik in 1892 he came on board in just the same way. and recognized his step.
 This time he took one long stride and was hammering at the door.
 Tt was the 9th of May-and his birth day"
 Here little S-year-old Marie is accustom- ed to having her mother pause, a trifie overcome by the recollections aroused. She grasped the opportunity to say few words about her little Eskimo compan- ions
 "rhe boys and girls laughed and joked with one another just like white folks, ? she said. '"rhe girls are lazy and like to sleep, but the boys are full of life.
 They dress in hair seal clothes and buckskin kamicks coming way up above the knees. They keep you splendid and warm. I know because wear them too, when am there.
 'The best things to eat are narwhal and walrus flesh, and I was mighty glad when the men brought fresh musk OK on board. It's good when it's fresh. The way to do is to find weak spot in the skin. and then just eat
 "Narwhal is good, but walrus is best of all."
 Marie was asked about her sports in the land of ice.
 went coasting lots, and it was splendid