The Washington times., 1901-09-22

other. and the natives, being nearer the
in an iceberg. where they were storm
bound for thirty six hours and had to
kill dog to satisfy their hunger
The doctor complaining of his feet be-
coming frozen. Peary offered him his
own reserve pair of ''kameks," elder
duck skins made into stockings. the ma
tive footwear in the region. This unset
fishness. while saving the doctor his feet,
probably cost Peary his own. His toes
were affected as the hours wore on, and
when he realized that there was some
thing wrong it was too late TO repair
the mischief. The storm over. they
made their way to Fort Conger, Peary
already helpless and being drawn along
by his companions. In the gloom of the
Polar midnight they staggered across
the threshold of the house untenanted
for more than fifteen years. and CROPPED
blindly about for the materials to pro-
duce a light and make fire. This done,
attention was turned to Peary, who was
found to have his feet so badly frosted
that seven toes required immediate am
putation, a task successfully accom-
plished with the all-inadequate appli-
ances at DR.. Dederick's disposal.
Here the trio stayed for six weeks,
communication being renewed with the
Eskimos and the ship until Peary was
sufficiently recovered to be removed
south to the steamer, where a second
operation was performed. which inca
pacitated him for 4 similar period. OF
course, this unfortunate affair pat 1t
out of the question to attempt anything
further in the way of exploring, for the
time, but it is characteristic of the man
that while he lay ill abed at Fort Con-
ger he was having his comrades repair
the structure so as to make 1t habitable
for some years. 1t had suffered from
the storms, but by dismantling the out
houses he was able to effect substantial
improvements.
On first arriving, the place was found
to be in just the condition of domestic
disorder in which Greely's men had left
1t. The utensils were on the cook stove.
the dishes We're on the table, the half
eaten portions showed where the last
meal had been taken. the mems
hunks" were dotted with trinkets and
mementoes impossible to be brought
along, the commanders long cob pipe
hung from nail behind the door in the
little enclosure dienified as his state
room" All these personal effects Peary
had packed up, with the diaries and Of
fetal records of the expedition, and
conveyed to the Windward, to be taken
to the United States. and there distrib-
uted among those entitled to them. The
stores. all hermetically sealed and in
ample quantity, he had repacked and
arranged for use in his own expeditions.
At last ne was out on the trail again,
strapped to his sledge, with his crutches
beside him, before he could walk, and
ere his wounded extremities had healed
he was doggedly trying to scale the
slippery bluffs that lead toward Cape
Hecla. But he was taxing nature too
heavily, and she took toll from him in
return. His feet grew sore again. travel
was impossible. and by July, 1899. he
was back to the Windward, having de-
cided to cease active operations for
three months. The ship got free of the
ice in August, and he left her at Etah,
where he was establishing his heaquar-
ters, sending her back to St. Johns to
refit, to return to him next season with
further supplies.
In remaining north second winter,
Peary was not deviating from his orig
inal scheme for that contemplated a
five years absence. In fixing himself
at Etah he was only displaying his tai
ent for organization. By this step he
obtained a personal oversight Of all the
plans which the Eskimos were to carry
out on his behalf. walrus were to be got.
and converted into dog food. Dogs were
to be trained, sledges to be made, furs
to be prepared, and tons of stores got
into portable packages. There was
busy autumn's work, and when the sun
would rise again in February, Peary
and his two staunch comrades, who re-
manned north with him, would be ready
for another advance toward the icy de-
fences which had defied all the attacks
OF the most daring explorers.
1t was on March 80, 1860. when he and
his comrades, with large party of Es-
kimos, conveying supplies and impedi
nenIdI hdu redCfieu II oIt CoHSti rum
Etah, Peary being bent on utilizing the
spring, the best season in the north for
travelling, to make his poleward dash
again This news was brought by Mr..
Leopold Kann, OF Cornell, one Of the
Stein exploring party in Ellesmere
Land, who spoke with Peary when
passing Cape Sabine on March 13. and
to whom Peary promised to send down
messages on learning that Mr.. Kann
proposed to make his way down to Cape
York and get on board a whaler, and
so work his way home. This he did,
and the world learned in October that
Peary was thus far advanced in March.
His intention was to cross Robson
Channel and move up along the Green
land coast to Cape Washington Hock-
woods lookout over the polar ocean in
1882. whence he and his comrades
would essay the perilous plunge into
the unknown, the Eskimos only accom-
panying them in the early stages, as
supporting party to get the provisions
along; the three Americans making the
final endeavor alone.
A NEW WORLD TO CONQUER.
Six Hundred Million American Acres