New-York tribune., 1902-04-06
pE4RY AND THE POLE.

PearvNs ship the Windward, arrived IN the
vicinity of this city the other day to receive
new engines and boilers preparatory to ner
next voyage to the arctic regions. The lncldent
is A reminder that the explorer himself. IN All
probability. is just entering upon the most crit
ical stage of this years proceedings his pian
for traversing the polar sea early IN 1893 was
thwarted by an experience during the preceuins
winter which nearly cost Peary his life. Nhie
rushing I'D from his ice bound ship to Fort Con
ger in order to be elgibly situated for the final
campaign. he was caught in a snoWStorn. iost
his way froze several toes. and nearly starved
to death. There is no telling. therefore eXaCtiy
when he would have left his base of operations
three wears ago had everything gone we'll HIS
departure in 1900 for the North Greenland coast
occurred April Is, and last spring. having de-
cded 10 try the Grinnell Land route, he started
for Cane Hecla on April B. Hence while he eX-
pected to spend most of the winter OF 1901 w
at Cane Sabine two hundred miles south or
Fort Conger he has undoubtedly moved up to
that point within the last month. So often mas
he made that Journey and abundant are his
caches of provisions along the route, that there
is no occasion for anxiety concerning that pre-
liminary step. He should make his way from
Fort Conger to Cape Hecla. too without great
trouble or delay. 1t is chiefly in regard TO the
northward push from the latter point-nve nun
dred miles from the pole-tbat the chief misglv-
ings Will be entertained.
The reason for abandoning last years at
tempt while yet Peary was skirting the north
ern coast of Grnnell Land. was the condition
of his two human companions and his twelve
dogs. Elaborate preparations to improve both
the numbers and health of his pack have been
made during the last twelve months. and il IS
probable that the explorers men have also been
kept in better trim. Under fairly favorable
circumstances they should he able TO cover
from twenty 10 twenty-five miles day. The
nearer Peary approaches the pole. if is believed,
the firmer will be the ice and the easier the
sledging. If he can once get from the SD to the
s5th parallel of latitude there is decent chance
of his covering the other five degrees in safety.
When he tried the Greenland route. two years
ago he went only eleven miles from the coast
before being compelled by open water TO turn
back Whether he will find the travelling any
better north of Grinnell Land is questionable.
But it is known that he intended TO take with
him this spring some sort of marine convey
ance, for use in case the ice was not continuous.
On the whole. therefore. the outlook for this
springs venture is highly anspicious. although
it would be rash to predict the result.
Should Peary approach the pole more closely
than did Nansen or the Duke of the Abruzzi' $
expedition, he may not return to Cape Sabine
before June or July. II. on the other hand he
is foied once more by insuperabe and unfore-
seen obstacles, he is likely to reach his head
quarters next month. He arrived there last
year early in May. 1t is conceivable, but not
probable. that if he finds the Cape Hecla route
unavailable this year he will look into the pos
sibillties of North Greenland again before com
ing southwark. To such n proceeding there
are two bjections-transportatiO by sledging
consumes a great deal of time. and ere Peary
could reach the point where he left the coast
in 1900 the season would he well advanced
and the ice would be softer than it is now. II
the Cape Hecla attempt fails. then. the explorer
will doubtless reach the place of rendezvous
long before the Windward does. and he will
then begin Immediately TO lay out his next
years programme If life and health are left
he will probably prefer to stay ip the arctic
regions another winter.