The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-10-24

n
~ degrees II minutes north latitude
-343 miles from the pole. At this point
he was compelled to turn back, not be-
canse of physical exhaustion or lack OF
sunplies. but because the ice cap was
inonassable for men on foot, in sledges,
or in boats
While Lieut.. Peary did not equal the
Duke d'Abruzzi's record of 1888, and
Nansen's mark Of S6.11, he set new
American record. Heretofore the high
est American record was that of Lock
wood. of the Greedy expedition who |
reached 49, "a degrees north latitude, IN
1882.
At S7.47 north latitude Peary found the /
ice cap broken by immense ridges din
cult to surmount. Great assures opened
in the ice in every direction. Dense fogs
made travelling almost impossible.
The north pole his goal, and possession
for the United States of the far-oh limits
of the world his ambition, Peary launch
ed the little band of which he was the
leader upon its plunge into the frozen
land of mystery in 1898. Hope was
strong within his breast, and his plans,
maturing through the years he had spent
in the region for which he was bound in
his previous Intellectual dashes north
ward seemed to provide for every contin-
gency that might arise.
1t wdas not to be a quick rush through
the ice-bound region. Rather was it to
be a siege. Peary was convinced that the
only way in which he might accomplish
his great aim would he to go forward
prepared to remain for several years If
necessary, terrifying each step in advance
of the main body of his expedition so he
might safely fall back a fraction of the
way if compelled to do so and still be
ready at the instant conditions changed to
push on once more. Relief expeditions
were arranged to go up after him each
year, ready to take him back to civiliza-
ton If he had gained what he sought, or
to return without him if he still had lis
task before him.
Privations of the sort that drive the
bravest men from their appointed mis-
sions confronted the daring explorer in
the four years that he spent in the frozen
Businesses Of the North cut off from all
civilization his friends and supporters
in doubt most of the time whether he
still lived
Lieut.. Peary made his first exploration
of the North in 1856, when, having been
granted leave Of absence by the Navy
Greenland and reached an elevation on
the Greenland ice never before attained
by white man. He also reached--the
first of his race to accomplish as much
the interior plateau OF unchanging arctic
snow.
In 1891 he made his second venture, &C
companied by Mrs. Peary and a anal
party. His hope was to discover tn,
northern limits Of Greenland and seek t,
push on to the pole if possible. Befor,
he was we'll on the way his leg was brok
en- in an accident to his ship in the ic0
sloes. Ii was the following spring be
fore he could renew his journey, and thel
ne set out with one companion and hi
dogs and sledges. July he reached hi
goal. the northern end Of Greenland, an
there he ran up the American flag .
bay stretched before him, and this waite
he named Independence Bay in honor O
the day. Across the bay was land, Wis
BILE, but not attainable. lie returne
home.
His next expedition was begun in 1S9'
after he had overcome the most tryin
obstacles in the matter of gathering suf