Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-19
84.17 NORTH
Reached by Lieut. Pearyin Last
Dash for the Pole.
Forced to Abandon Trip by Density Of
the Polar Ice Pack.
Made Many Important Discoveries
Arrives at Sydney.

Sydney, N. s., Sept. 18.-The Peary
Arctic steamer Windward, Capt
Samuel w. Bartlett, arrived here, this
morning, from Cape Sabine. All on
board are well. Lieut.. Robert f. Peary
sent to the club the following report of
the operations of the expedition since
Aug. 9, 1891:
Left Erik harbor on Ellsmere coast,
Aug. %. The party reached Payer
harbOr. Sept. IS. crossed Roose bay
partly by sledge and partly by boat,
then walked across Bedford PIN sound.
About a week later my Eskimos began
to fall sick, not one escaping. BY Nov.
10 six adults and one child We're dead,
nearly all the others were weak but out
of danger. Early in January Eskimos
came across from Anvilik, bringing
news of the ravages of a fatal epidemic
through the tribe Word was sent back
by these scouts for as many survivors
as could to come to me and by the end
of the month they began arriving. In
February a large depot of dog feed
was established near Cape Louis Ma
poleon. some 60 miles north of Sabine.
On March 3 my advance party of six
sledges in charge of Hensen left for
Conger
March 6 started with the main
party of l8 sledges, leaving Percy in
charge at Payer harbor. Conger was
reached in IL marches, arriving with
in an hour or two of the advance party.
My supporting party of Eskimos re-
turning from Conger brought down the
Instruments, chronometers and Arctic
library. Eight marches more took us
to Cape Hecla. The north end of Rob-
inson channel was all open water eX-
tending northward as far as could be
seen from Black cape and Cape Ran
some. From Hecla another supporting
party returned.
April LIST started northward over the
Polar sea with Hensen, four skimos
and six sledges. Old foes covered deep
with snow and intersected with rubble
ridges and lanes of young ice We're en-
countered from the moment we left the
ice foot.
THE same kind of travelling, except
the lanes of young ice, was found by
the English expedition Of 1876.
After six marches open leads foes
in motion were encountered. Two ma
tives were sent back. AS we advanced
the foes became smaller, the pressure
I1uPeS on RGdnuef scale, ana lne 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 latitude, northwest of
Hecla, the Polar pack became imprac-
ticabie and further efforts to advance
were given up.
New leads and pressure ridges with
respects more trying than the advance.
Hecla was regained April Goth and Con-
ger, May Sd. Leaving Conger May 9th,
Cape Sabine was reached on the 18th.
A few DAYS later went north as far
as Cape Louis Napoleon to complete
the survey of Rabbit bay returning
the first of June. A proposed trip
across Ellsmere land westward was
prevented by open water in Buchanan
bay.
The ice broke up earlier than in 1901
ana Payer harbor was blockaded al
most continuously.
The Windward bored her way
through the ice and entered the har-
Dor the morning of Aug. and got out
again the same afternoon with scarce
ly Is minutes to spare before the har-
our way across Smith Sound. my Es-
kimos with their belongings were
landed in Ingleaeld gulf. Several days
We're devoted to hunting walrus, then
the Windward started south. reaching
and leaving Cane York the afternoon
of the 2Sth. Calling at Godhaven.
Greenland. and Cape Haven Bafiin
Land, the Windward arrived at Cha
-,
sent dispatches.
The summer voyage has been with
out mishap ana the Windward with
her engines has made as good time
as the larger and more powerful ships
that have been going north the past
10 years.
This year at Payer harbor was
passed comfortably. though an anxious
strain caused by the ravages of disease
among my faithful people was not
light. Food was abundant and our
supply of musk OK and deer meat
continued throughout the year. The
northern sledge trip in the spring was
arduous but not marked by special
exposure, suffering or danger, more
than is necessarily incidental to Sc
rious Arctic work. Equipment and
personnel were satisfactory and fur
Their advance was vetoed by insuper-
able natural conditions.
The Windward has on board the
instruments, chronometers and Arctic
library abandoned by the Greeley ex-
petition, and numerous specimens of
natural history. bear, musk OK, rein
deer and walrus skins.
The skeleton of a two-horned mar
whal. rare Arctic specimen, also liv-
ing specimens of musk OK, walrus.
Arctic hare and Eskimo dog, also are
on board. The anchor and chain lost
by Erik last summer is on board
THE Fran left Godhaven about Aug.
20 bound home. She has been in