Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-10

= IEUT. ROBERT E. PEARY'S lat
est dash to the pole ended at "a
~ degrees II minutes north latitude
-S43 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
impassable for men on foot, in sledSes,
or in boats.
While Lieut.. Peary did not equal the
Duke d'Abruzzi's record Of S6.3S, 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 Greely expedition, who
reached S3.24 degrees north latitude, in
1882.
At S7.47 north latitude Peary found the
ice cap broken by immense ridges dill
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-of 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 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 If compelled to do so and still be
ready at the instant conditions changed to
push on once more. Relief expeditions
were arranged to 60 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 1886, when, having been
Department, he penetrated far into
Greenland and reached an elevation on
the Greenland Ice never before attained
by Il 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
foes. 1t was the following spring he
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, yisi-
BILE, but not attainable. He returned
home.
His ext.expedition was begun in 1903,
after he had overcome the most trying
obstacles in the matter Of gathering suffi-