Democratic messenger., 1903-09-12
DASH FOR THE POLE
Commander Pcary Will Lead Another
Expedition.
WILL BE THoRoUGHLY AMERICAN.
The ln:.cpii Exp.cr:r Secures Three Years
Leave OF Absence, AMI his Enterprise High
~ Commented by President Roosevelt and
Acting Secretary Dari.ng-Th. Essential
Features OF the Plan.

Washington. d. C. (SpcciaD.- Com
mandcr Robert E. Peary, L. S ~. the
wcil-tnown Arctic explorer. will make
another dash for the North Pole Leave
of absence Tor three wears has been
granted him. with the permission ri
the President. by Mr. Daring, Act
ing Secretary oil the Navy. and he has
been assured oi the hearty sympathy
oi both these officials i'll his new ven
ture. In his letter OF application ier
leave OF absence Commander Pcary
briefly outlines his plan oi action. In
a suitable ship built i'll one oi our best
,hipyards. reinforced and strengthened
to the maximum degree and fitted
with American engines. so tha; she
may 90 North as an exponent oi Amer
lean skill and mechanical ability. Com
mander Peary hopes TO start with his
expedition abou. the first oi July next
Upon arriving At the Whale Sound
region he will take on board 4 large
number Oi Eskim0s and establish d
permanent base at Cape Sabine
Thence he will force his way northward
to Grantland. where he hopes TO estah
lish winter quarters on the northern
shore AS far a practicable along the
route he will establish caches. The fol
lowing February. with the earliest re
turning light. he will start due north
over the polar pack with small. ligh.
pioneer party and followed by large
main party In his letter OF application
to Acting Secretary Darling for leave
OF absence Commander Peary says:
Il should expect TO accomplish the
distance to the Pole and return i'll abou;
100 days or little more. an average
travel oi about 10 miles day Re
turning. should break the ship OFT
late in the season and return home.
II ice conditions the first year were
such a to prevent reaching the north
ern shore oi Grant Land should win
ter As far north as practicable and
inrcc the ship to the desired location
the following year In this event the
expedition would be gone two years.
Distinctive features al Commander
Peary's plans are the use oi individual
slcdgeS with comparative light loads.
drawn by dogs the adoption OF Eskimo
methcd d and costume and the fullest
utilization oi the EskmoS themselves.
CnmTandcr Pcary believes the adj
vantages OF hi plan and route are i
fixed land base 100 miles nearer the
Pole than any other route; more rigid
ice pack extending further poleward
than is to be found on the opposite side
OF the Pole; wider land base on which
TO retreat. and wcll-beaten line OF
communication and retreat from winter
quarters To comparatively low latitudcs.
which is practicable at any season OF
the year
Acting Secretary OF the Navy Darl-
ing, close student o; Arctic work and
an enthusiastic believer in the ability oi
american pluck and daring to find the
Pole. says in his letter to Commander
Peary granting him three years leave
oi absence. from April l next. that he
thinks he is better equipped than any
other person in the country to under
take this work. He pays 4 high compl:
ment to Mr.. Pcarys courage and abil-
~.
In conclusion" he says. Il am
pleased t. inior:u YOU that the Prc>i-
dent oi the United States >ympathizcs
with your cause and approves the en-
,erpr;se"
The following are the Arctic records
made BIZ explorers: