New-York tribune., 1902-07-16
TIE OETLOOK FOR PE4RY.

One cannot fail to notice the difference be-
tween the degree of apprehension which is felt
to-day by we'll Informed and intelligent people
in regard to polar expeditions and that which
was entertained fifteen twenty years ago.
Then the chance of returning alive was re-
garded poor one. Now there is practically no
anxiety about the fate of either the Windward
or of the man she has gone to assist. The mys-
terry which for more than thirty years sur
rounded the outcome of Sir John Franklins
historic venture threw a cloud over enterprises
of n similar character. Many parties went in
search of him and came back in safety but
they had wonderful, tales to tell of their narrow
escapes. Kane abandoned his ship and hauled
his boats over sixty miles of ice to an open sea.
Hall having died of apoplexy, his leaderless
command was caught on an icefoe, where IL
hOated 1S6 days. Then came the crushing or
the Jeannette. in 1881. and the starvation or
eighteen men under Greely in consequence or
badly managed rescue work These tragedies
served to revive the suspicion and dread which
the very name of polar research had formerly
excited, and for time paralyZed further effort.
So far as the danger attendant upon this kind
of exploration is real, there has been marked
diminution therein Of late years. The change
is largely due, moreover, to methods proposed
and adopted by Peary Provision had been
Iudue III auNdUCe lOF the TelleI OF OlHtT tA-
petitions. but he organized a more complete
system of communication between his northern
base of operations. whatever it might be, and
the United States than ever existed before.
Those summer trips of the Hope. the Diana and
the Erik were as regular though not as fire.
quent, the voyages of the Atlantic liners.
Baldwin arranged in similar manner for
tender that should accompany his other ship TO
Franz Josef Land and revisit him this summer.
Those who sent out the British Antarctic
pedition last year have followed Peary's plan,
too. Something has been gained, no doubt, in
the soundness of the ships that now engage in
polar work. The Fran, the America and the
Windward will stand practically any amount of
crushing. The Discovery which at present is
probably hemmed in on the coast of Victoria
Land, was built with special reference to this
risk, and probably has no superior, If she has
an equal. Finally. Peary has engaged more ex-
tensively than any one else ever did in the prac-
tice of depositing food at convenient points
along his route especially between Cape Sabine
and Fort Conger shipwreck and starvation, of
which the peril was once so great. may now be
successfully defed.
The uncertainties concerning the Windward's
mission this year relate only to the precise time
when she will reach Cape Sabine, and TO the
degree Of success which has attended Peary's
efforts this spring. The broad passage between
Greenland and Grant Land remains filed with
ice much longer some seasons than Ii does
others. When Peary went north in 1898 he
hoped to be able to reach a little sound on the
north coast Of Greenland, but could not force
his way beyond Etah. The Greely party landed
in Lady Franklin Bay, much further up. in Au-
gust, 1881. 1t is related that the first time
Hayes wintered in that vicinity the channel
opened completely on July 10. Thence it is i'm
possible to say how far up the Windward will
now be able to go, since she plans TO stop at
Cape Sabine, though there is little occasion TO
anticipate other delay than that which results
from her tardiness in leaving New-York As
for the explorer himself the worst that can be
reasonably expected is some such interference
with his ambition as that which frozen toe or
inadequate dog food or open water between
Cape Hecla and the sheet Of polar ice may offer
But every year he has spent In that part of
the world has added TO his material and mental
resources. 1t may be confidently believed
therefore, that his prospects were never so
good as they were this spring.