Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-10-14

IEUT. ROBERT E. PEARY's lat

n IEUT. ROBERT E. PEARY'S lat
est dash to the pole ended at "a
g. degrees II minutes north latitude
-343 miles from the pole. At this point
BE was compelled to turn back, not be-
cause Of physical exhaustion or lack OK
supplies, but because the ice cap was
impossible for men on foot, in sledges,
81 In boats.
While Lieut. Peary did not equal the
Duke d'Abruzzi's record of 1898, and
Eansen's mark Of 1914, he set new
American record. Heretofore the high
est American record was that of Lock
wood, OF the Greedy expedition, who
reached 1924 degrees north latitude, in
1852.
At S7.47 north latitude Peary found the
5re cap broken by immense ridges diff
cult to surmount Great assures opened
An 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
seader upon its plunge into the frozen
BAND of mystery in 1898. Hope was
stsong within his breast, and his plans,
maturing through the years he had spent
n the region for which he was bound in
bis previous Intellectual Gashes 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 it to
be siege. Peary was convinced that the
enly way in which he might accomplish
tta al L.
prepared to remain for several years if
necessary, terrifying each sep in advance
OF the main body of his expedition so be
might safely fall back a fraction OF the
way IL compelled to do so and still be
seady a. the Instant conditions changed to
push on once more. Relief expeditions
were arranged TO go mp after him each
year, ready to take him back to civiliza-
tion II he had gained what he sought, or
70 return without him II he still had lis
task before him.
Pryatons of the sort that urive the
brayest 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
en- doubt most of the time whether he
still lived.
Lieut.. Peary made his first exploratiop
OF the North in 1886, when. having been
granted leave OF absence by the NAVY
Department, he penetrated far into
Greenland and reached an elevation ON
che Greenland ice never before attained
By white man. He also reached--the
nrst OF his race to accomplish as much
fhe interior plateau of unchanging arctic
snow.
In 1891 he made his second venture ac-
companied by Mrs. Peary and a email
party. His hope was to discover the
northern limits OF Greenland and seek 10
7ash on to the pole if possible. Before
hS WAS well on the way his leg was brok
en- in an accident to his ship in the leo
Aoes. 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
ne named Independence Bay in honor of
the day. Across the bag was land. yisi-
bic, but not atta'lable. He returned
nome.
His next expedition was begun in 1893
after he had overcome the most trying
obstacles in the matter Of gathering sufii-