Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-10-25

lila est daSn TO the pole ended at 81
- degrees II minutes north latitude
-343 miles from the pole. At this point
he was compelled to turn back, not be-
cause of physical exhaustion or lack of
supplies, but because the ice cap was
impossible 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 S6.14, he set a new
American record. Heretofore the high
est American record was that of Lock
wood, Of the Greedy expedition, who
reached 1924 degrees north latitude, in
1882.
AT 87.47 north latitude Peary found the
ice cap broken by immense ridges diff
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-off 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 1t to
be siege. Peary was convinced that the
only way in which he might accomplish
his great aim would be to go forward
prepared to remain for several years If
necessary, fortifying each step in advance
of the main body of his expedition so he
might safely fall back a fraction Of the
way IL 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 civiIiza-
tion If he had gained what he sought, or
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 1886, when, having been
granted leave Of absence by the Navy
Department, he penetrated far into
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. ac-
companied by Mrs. Peary and a small
party. His hope was to discover the
northern limits of Greenland and seek to
push on to the pole if possible. Before
he was we'll on the way his leg was brok-
en- in an accident to his ship in the ice
does. 1t was the following spring be-
fore he could renew his journey, and then
he set out with one companion and his
dogs and sledges. July he reached his
goal, the northern end Of Greenland, and
there he ran up the American flag. A
bay stretched before him. and this water
he named Independence Bay in honor Of
the day. Across the bay was land, visi-
BILE, but not attainable. He returned
home.
His next expedition was begun In 1893,
after he had overcome the most trying
obstacles in the matter of gathering sufi-