The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-18
The Arctic Explorer Gives
Short Sketch of Expedition
Undertaken in Effort to Reach
the North Pole.
HIS FARTHEST POINT.
He Penetrated to a Point in
Latitude SALT.
Polar Pack Became Impene-
trable and He Turned Back.
Brought Back Instruments and
Library of Greely Party.

Sydney. N. s., Sept. 1s.-The Peary
Arctic club steamer Windward, Captain
Samuel w. Bartlett, arrived here this
morning from Cape Sabine. All
board are we'll.
report of the operations of the expedi-
ton since August 9, 1901:
Left at Erik harbor, on the Elles-
mere coast, August 20. The party reach
ed Payer harbor September 16. crossing
Roose bay partly by sledge and partly
by boat, then walking across Bedford
PIN. About a week later my EskimoS
began to fall sick, not one escaping.
By November 10 six adults and one
child were dead, nearly all the others
gere very weak but out of danger.
Early in January Eskimos came
across from Anvilak bringing news of
the ravageS of a fatal epidemic through
the tribe. Word was sent back by these
,scouts for as many of the survivors az
could come to me and by the end of the
month they began arriving. In February
a large depot of dog food was estab-
lished near Cape Louis Napoleon, some
sixty miles north of Sabine. On March
my advance party of six SledgeS in
charge of Hensen, left for Conger, March
6 started with the main party of Is
sledges. leaving Percy in charge at
Payer harbor. Conger was reached in
II marches, arriving within an hour or
two of the advance party. My support
ill6 party VI E>SkITnoS .6IuTnInS from
Conger brought down the instruments.
chronometers and Arctic library. Eight
marches more took us to Cape Hecla.
The north end of Robinson channel was
all open across to the Greenland coast
lakes of water extending northward as
far as could be seen from Blake Cape
and Cape Ramsome. From HIcla anoth-
er supporting party returned.
April l. started northward over the
Polar sea with Hensen. four Eskimos
and six sledges Old foes covered deep
with snow and intersected with rubble
ridges and lanes of young ice were en-
eountered from the moment we left the
ice foot.
The same kind of travelling. except
the lanes of young ice, as found by the
English expedition of 1876.
After six marches open leads, foes
in motion were encountered. Two ma
tives were sent back. AS we advanced
the foes became smaller, the pressure
ridges on grander scale and the open
leads more frequent. Each days march
was more perilous and our general
course detected west by the character
of the ice. Finally at S417 N. latitude
northwest of Hecla, the Polar pack be-
came 1mpracticable and further efforts
to advance were given up. New leads
and pressure ridges with foggy weather
made our return in some respects more
trying than the advance. Hecla was
regained Apri! 29 and Conger Nav g.
Leaving Conger May Cape Sabine
was reached on the 18th. A few days
later went north far as Cape Louis
Napoleon to complete the survey of
Bobbit bay. returning the first of June
A proposed trip across Ellesmere land
westward was prevented by open water
in Buchanan bay.
THE ice broke up earlier than in 1901,
and Payer harbor was blockaded almost
continuously.
THE Windward bored her way
through the ice and entered the harbor
the morning of August 5, and got out
again the same afternoon with scarcely
10 minutes to spare before the harbor
was closed by the ice. Forcing our way
across Smith Sound. my Eskimos with
their belongings were landed in Ugh
field gulf. Several days We're devoted
to hunting walrus. then the Windward
started southward, reaching and leav-
ing Cape York the afternoon of August
Calling at Goodhoun, Greenland, and
Cape Haven Baffin Land the Wind
ward arrived at Chateau Bay. Labra-
dor. September IA. and sent dispatches.
The summer voyage has been without
mishap and the Windward with her en-
gfnes has made as good time as the
larger and more powerful ships that
have been going north the last ten
years. The year at Payer harbor was
passed comforta bly, though an anxious
strain caused by the ravages of disease
among my faithful people was not
light Food was abundant and our sup
ply of musk OK and deer meat contin-
ued throughout the year. The northern
sledge trip in the spring was arduous
but not marked by special exposure.
suffering or danger more than is neces-
sarily incidental to serious Arctic work
Equipment and personnel were sat-
fsfactory and failure of further advance
was due to fnsuDerable natural condi-
tions. The Windward has on board the
instruments, chronometers and Arctic
library abandoned by the Greedy expe-
ditiOn and numerous specimens of nat
ural history bear musk OK reindeer
and walrus skins.
THE skeleton of a two-horned mar
whal, rare Arctic specimen. also .liv-
Ing specimens of musk OK, walrus. Arc
tic hare and Eskimo dog. are also on
board.
The anchor and chain lost by Erik
last summer is on board. The Fran
left Goodhoun about August 90 bound
home. She had been in Soner Sound
from whence 1t is understood explora-
tions were made to the northwest One
death "a fireman) is reported since
Others on board sa3d to be we'll The
little schooner Forget Me Not which
was caught in the ice at Cape Haven
last year. is now on her way to ST
John"
This report. signed by Peary. is ad-
dressed to Secretary H. L Bridgeman of
the Peary Arctic club.
Peary will go to New York tomorrow
and the Windward probably will go to
Newfoundland for the winter
lightning Kills Two.