Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-09-19
PEARY y
BACK FROM ARCTIC
Expedition Failed to Reach
North Pole.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED.
peary Makes interesting Report Of His
Operations to the Arctic CIub-Many
Valuable CuriosIties Were Brought
Back, ,

| Back,
Sydney, N. s., Sept 1s.-The Peary
Arctic club relief steamer Windward,
with Liuetenant @. e. Peary on board,
arrived here today from Cape Sabine.
All on board are we'll. Lieutenant
Peary says;
Our expedition did not reach the
north pole. but we made most impor-
tant scientific discoveries. We are
well and glad to get back to civiliza-
ton"
Peary sent to the club the following
report of the operations of the expe-
dition since Aug. 10, 1901
Left Erik Harbor, on the Files
mere coast, Aug. 20. The party
reached Prayer Harbor Sept. 16, cross
ing Reese bay partly by sled and part,
ly by boat then walking across Beford
Rim About a week later my Eski.
mos began to fall sick, none esoap-
ing. By Nov. 10 six adults and six
children were dead nearly all the
others very weak, but out of danger.
EARLY in January EslSlmos 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 as could come to me,
and by the end of the month they be
gan arriving In February d large
depot of dog food was established
near Cape Louis Napoleon, some 60
miles north of Sabine. On March
my advance party of six sleds in
charge of Henson left for Gangor. On
March 6 started with the main party
of 1S sleds, leaving Percy in charge
at Prayer Harbor Congor was
reached in IL marches, arriving with.
in an hour or two of the advance par.
ty. My supporting party Of Eski.
mos returning from Gangor 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.
From Hecla the supporting party re.
turned. April I started northwar1
over the Polar sea with Hansen, four
Eskimos and six sleds. Old foes GOV.
cred deep with snow and intersected
with rubble ridges and lanes of
young ice were encountered from the
moment we left the ice.
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 AS we advanced
the foes became smaller, the pressure
ridges on a 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 north latitude northwest of Hec.
la. the Polar pack became impractical.
BILE, and further efforts to advance
we're given up. New leads and pres,
sure ridges, with foggy weather, made
our return In some respects more try.
ing than the advance. Hecla was
regained April 20, and Gangor May 3.
leaving Gangor May 6 Cape Sabine
was reached on the 18th. A few
days later we went north as far as
Cape Louis Napoleon to complete the
survey of Bobbit bay, returning tile
1st of June. The Ice broke up earlier
than in 1901. and Prayer Harbor was
blockaded almost continuously. The
Windward bored her way through the
Ice and entered the harbor the morn.
ing of August 5, and got out again
the same afternoon with scarcely Is
minutes to spare before the harb Dr
was closed by ice. Forcing our way
across Smith Sound my Eslimos,
with their belongings, were landed Mt
Ughfeld gulf. The Windward then
started south, reaching and leaving
Cape York the afternoon of August
26.
The Windward arrived at Chateau
bay, Labrador, Sept. A. and sent dis.
patches. The year at Prayer Harbor
anxious strain caused by the ravages
Of disease among my faithful people
was not light Food was abundant.
The northern sled trip in the spring
was arduous but not marked by spe-
cial exposure. suffering or danger
more than Is necessarily incidental to
seriOGs arctic work.
II uipmelt and personnel were sat
lsfaclory ard further advance was We
toed by insuperable natural conditions.
The Windward has on board the In
strumcnts. chroEOnaeters and arctic IL
brary abandoned by the Greeley ex'
peditiou and numerous specimens OF
natural history, bear, musk OK, rein
deer and walrus skins.
The skeleton of a two-horned mar
whale, rare arctic specimen. als1
living specimens of musk OK, walrus,
arctic hare and Eskimo days are
on board.
"The anchor and chain lost by Erik
last summer is on board. The Fran
| lett Godhoun about Aug. 20 bound Tor
| home. She has been IN SOner sounG,
| from whence it is understood explora.
| tions were made to the northwest.
One death a fireman. is reported
since. Others on board said to Dc
well. 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 al
dressed to Secretary II. l.. Brigham.
of the Pcary Arctic club. Peary will
go to New York tomorrow.
- Are MavhrirLge pebatE