The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-17
And an American Should Fore
stall all Others in Accomplish
ing This Feat-Sp!endid Au-
dic1ce at Academy Hears
Thrilling Story of Four
Years of Ice Fight
ing to Reach the
Top of the
Earth.
HE EXCELLED OTHERS

Lieutenant T. E. Peary. the famous eS-
plorer, believes the north pole can be
reached. He declares also that the man
who shall accomplish this feat should by
all means be an American.
These were interesting utterances that
fell from his lips at the Academy Of
Music last night just before concluding
one OF the most thrilling lectures ever
delivered in the Lyceum Course Of this
city.
Lieutenant Peary was greeted by an
audience measu. ed only by the seating
capacity OF the Academy, and as cul-
tured as can be found in the limits OF
Richmond. Many from outside OF the city
were a.so there, including number OF
members of the General Assembly.
The speaker has three times tried to
reach the poe. but has each time failed
Yet in the face of his own failures, and
in the Light Of his experiences, and his
now Intimate knowledge of the difficulties
and dangers Of the undertaking, ne as
serts that the pole can be cached, and
by all means should be reached. if at all,
by an American. His judgment, based
on his owu experiences, he says, war
rants the former declaration. and his
patriotism the latter. 1ie believes that
his own plan Of procedure during his last
trip would accomplish the feat if the
exporer be equipped with men and
food as he may be. Enough men
and provisions are TO be carried
along, the men sufficient in num-
Der to cut a way through the Ice, ana the
provisions amp.e to enable encampment
a., the northernnost spot reached in the
ali, and the journey northward to ne re
sll,ued as soon as the first CLEANS OF hight
come in February
lieutenant Peary claims that he placed
the American flag on the noTtheImoSt iaLu
ever set foot upon human beings i1lN
tou1, wears of toll in the Ice fields were
not lost. lie did excellent Work ioE ltie
gcagraphers and geologtsts
The lecture was abundantly illustrates
with the steropti,on. tie picture for the
slides being taken by Lieutenant Peafy
himself.
The speaker first grounded his audience
on the geography Of the country ana
seas about the pole, particularly LAWS
strait, which is the American passage 10
the pole. Then picture Of the Wlho-
ward" the vessel made famous for nay
ing borne the Peary party on Its --Icuc
trip. This ship was fitted out for Lieu
tenant Peary in the summer OF 1888 by
the Fesry Arctic Club, Of New
York. on January 18th, 1888, the
Windward. with Lieutenant Peary. his
wife and their little daughter. Marie. on
board. left the last point touched by
telegraph wires The rumor OF the pat
tie of Santiago had just reached thae
lonely spot Lieutenant Peary sad he
did not hear the confirmation Of it until
eighteen months had passed and the
Spanish war had long been q matter OF
history.
As soon in that fall as the Windward
was stopped by the ice. the explorer ana
party of Eskimos LETT her and pushed
aorthward Fifty miles further on they
could go no further and had to camp for
the winter, Here the story was deficient.
The speaker said nothing of how the long
Arctic night was spent, what the members
of the party occupied themselves with
and whole months We're passed by wl,h
a word. When spring came the attempt
was made again 10 push northWard. put
it was hard and slow work for the lew
men he had to cut through the ice and
snow.
An interesting detail of the story was
the account of the burial of records Of
the party their names and all facts coh-
cerning them and the results OF their
trip in mounds 10 let the people at rome
hear from them in case they perlshed
and searching parties came to look Tor
them. or as landmarks aad guides TO eS-
plorers TO come after them.
The speaker declared that as far north
as re Went and as far north as land eX-
tends he discovered life-the polar tear.
the musk OK and other animals. He be-
lieves he went to the land limit and that
no islands exist about the pole.
Closing. the sneaker made his declara-
ton that the pole could be reached and
ought to be reached by an American,
which brought forth generous applause.
In fact the discourse delighted al and
awakened more interest in the subject
than dozen books might do