The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-23
NEW DASH FOR NORTH POLE
Naval Commander Peary Granted a
Three Years Leave.
HAS THE PRESIDENTS APPROVAL

Scientists and Government Offlcials Who
Have Seen the Fam Gus Arctic Explor-
er's Plans Believe He Will Succeed
Cost of the Expedition to BE Borne
by the Peary Society.
Washington, D. C.-Commander Rob-
ert E. Peary, United States Navy, has
been given permission by President
Roosevelt and the Navy Department to
make another dash for the North Pole.
Naval officers and scientists who
have seen the famous Arctic explorers
plans tbelieve that he will succeed in
attaining the pole, and that as result
American courage, fortitude and en-
ergy will have conquered the last OBJ
stacle in making the map OF the world.
Three years time is all that Com
mander Peary has asked, and all that
has been granted. On April l next he
will leave the United States in COM
mand Of an expedition yet to be Or
ganized for Cape York. in Batiin Bay,
OH the extreme southwestern point OF
Greenland, at the entrance to Kennedy
Channel. Here he proposes to take
aboard his American ship the entire
colony of the Whale Sound Eskimos
living in that section, and who are de-
voted heart and soul to him, and sail
through Kennedy Channel and Robe
son Channel to the extreme northern
end of Grant Land, where, at Cape
Colombia, about 400 miles from the
North Pole. he will establish 4 perma-
nent basis for supplies and strike over
land with men and dogs for tile thus
far unattainable North Pole.
The long experience of Commander
Peary in Arctic exploration and the ap-
parent feasibility Of his present plan
causes the authorities Of the United
States Government. and especially the
President and Acting Secretary of the
Navy Darling. to believe that the eX-
rcdition will meet with that success
which none has yet ever attained.
Commander Pcary himself is enthuSi-
astic and does not hesitate to say that
he believes. as he has never believed
before. that he will this time reach
the North Pole and safelS return. For
years he has been laying the founda-
tons along the lines now decided upon.
Il believe that l will reach the North
Pole" Commander Peary said. The
Eskimos, upon whom am depending
largely, are my friends. and would ac-
company me even if they believed that
certain death would be the result.
However. we do not look for any such
outcome to the trip.
After reaching Cape Colombia, i'll
the extreme north Of Grant Land. the
travel will be exceedingly rough for
some distance. 1t is my theory that
the further one gets across the ice ana
away from the land the smoother the
ice will be, and that finally the travel
will be compa atiVely easy. II stands
to reason that the ice striking against
the land on all sides OF the pole causes
4 crush near the shore. which. as one
gets further and further away from the
land and nearer the pole. will disap-
pear"
Acting Secretary of the Navy Dar-
ling has done much. Commander Peary
says. to make it possible for him to
make the undertaking. He hopes to
start with his expedition about the
first Of April next.
In his letter of application TO Acting
Secretary of the Navy Darling for
leave of absence Commander Pcary
says:
II should expect to accomplish the
distance to the Pole and return i'll
about 100 days or little more, an av-
erage travel Of about ten miles day.
Returning, should break the ship out
late in the season and return home.
''If ice conditions the first year were
such as to prevent reaching the north
ern shore Of Grant Land. should win
ter as far north as practicable, and
force the ship to the desired location
the following year. In this event the
expedition would be gone two years.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Dar-
ling, q close student of Arctic work.
says in his letter to Commander Peary
granting him three years leave of ab-
sence from April next, that he thinks
he is better equipped than any other
person in the country to undertake this
work.
The Peary Arctic Club. Of New York,
of which Morris n. Jesup is president.
will finance the Peary expedition to the
extent Of S150,000 which is $4,000
more than the cost Of the last trip
o.cunio1 fn,1r ya0rS