The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
PEARY GOING NORTH AGAIN.
WILL MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT
10 REACH THE POLE.
His Plan Is TO Force His Way From Cape
Sabine 70 Northern shore Of Grant
Land and Establish His Winter Dass
At Point About 500 Miles From tho
Pole - Gets Three Years Absence.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.-Civil ngineer
Robert E. Peary OF the navy. who returned
from his last Arctic expedition a year ago,
to-day obtained three years leave OF abb
sence from the Navy Department to enable
him to make another attempt to reach the
North Pole. The application OF Mr.. Peary
for leave was brought to the attention Of
President Roosevelt who expressed SYM
pathy with the explorers object and gave
his approval to the request.
It was chiefly through the instrument
tally of Charles II. Darling the acting
Secretary Of the Navy, that leave was
obtained. His interest in the proposed
expedition was shown from the outset.
and II there was any opposition to permit
ting Mr.. Peary to be absent from his on
cial duties for SO long period. Mr.. Darling
succeeded in overcoming it.
Mr. Peary's plan contemplatss the con-
struction Of a strong wooden ship with
powerful machinery. in which he will sail
next July to Cape Sabine and, after estab-
fishing a sub-base there, force his way
northward to the northern shore OF Grant
Land, where he will spend the winter with
colony Of Whale Sound Esquimaux, who
will be taken there by him from their homes.
further south.
This winter base will be at or In the
vicinity Of Cape Columbia or Cape Joseph
Henry, situated about the SD degree Of
north latitude. 1t is about 40 miles from
this proposed base to the Pole. and Mr..
Peary has travelled more than double that
distance In the same vicinity on previous
visits to the Arctic.
One great advantage on the Forthcoming
expedition will be in the nearness Of his
base to the Pole, and another will be in
having at the base and with him on his
dash north Esquimaux with whom he is
well acquainted and in whom he has every
confidence.
On the overland route to be taken by
Mr.. Peary there is rough ice up to the
84th or SSth degree But after that the
ice Is comparatively free from hummocks,
and Mr.. Peary believes that once he gets
into the smooth ice field he can make forty
miles q day with his dog teams.
Mr.. Peary's application for three years
leave Of absence was dated Sept. 2 and
was addressed to the Secretary OF the
Navy. He asked that the leave begin
from April 1, 1904, and that he desired it
to enable him ito undertake an expedition
for the attainment of the North Pole and
to secure general scientific and geograph-
ical information concerning the high polar
regions"
Rear Admiral M. T. Endicott. Chief Of the
Bureau Of Yards and Docks, where Mr..
Peary is on duty, cordially Endorsed the
request and Mr.. Peary's object. Acting
Secretary of the Navy Darling to-day
granted the application for leave.
In the following letter. dated Sept 2, Cd
dressed to the Secretary of the Navy. Mr..
Peary explained his plan for reaching the
Pole:
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. ?. 1908.
SIR Referring to my application for leave
Of absence accompanying this beg TO state
for your information that propose to secure
a suitable ship, put her into one Of our best
shipyards. have her reinforced and strength
ened to the maximum degree and fitted with
American engines, possessing the maximum OF
weight and space, SO that she may go north
rs an exponent Of Am erican skill and me-
With such ship 1 should sail north about
the LIST Of next July. and, on reaching the
Whale Sound region shou Id take on board
my Esquimaux. establish ny permanene
way northward to my proposed winter quar-
tiers on the northern shore of Grant Land,
establishing caches as far as prhcticable en-
following February should start due north
over the polar pack with small light pioneer
party. followed by large. heavy main party.
| should expect to accomplish the distance
to the pole and return in about one hundred
days or little more, an average travel OF
about ten miles n day. Returning, | should
break the ship out late in the same season
and return home.
II ice conditions the first year We're such
us to prevent reaching the northern shore
OF Grant Land | should winter as far north
US practicable and force tho ship to TIE de-
sired location the following year. In this
event the expedition would be gone two
years.
This plan is the result Of some twelve years
of almost continuous experience In those
ATTITUDES. and is based upon an extended
personal acquaintance with the region from
thorough familiarity with climatic and other
conditions and with EsGuimaux.
The distinctive features Of my plan are:
phe use Of sSasf sy T dors V
Ing a travelling unit OF high speed and radius
of reach, as opposed to The man sledge. WIN
is heavy load, slow speed ana Limited radlis;
the adoption Of Esoumau methods and
costume and the fullest utilization of the
EsauimauX themselves
Tho advantage of my plan and route are
u /
than on any other route. n more rigid Ice
pack extending Poleward than Is to be found
on the opposite side OF the Pole, wider land
base upon which to retreat ana well beaten
line OF communication and retreat from
winter quarters to comparatively low lati-
tndes, which is practicable ut any season or
the year.
The work outlined above comprises two
distinct stages. viz; ne navigation Of tho
ship to the northern shore of Grant Lana.
the traverse OF the Polar pack with sledges
from the northern shore of Grant LInd 70 the
f9s and sYn- 1T s e0 Por E wH s .as
the Discovery and the protcusl have ac-
compiished this feat. II regard TO the Sec
ond, | have already made four trips IN those
anne regions, in which the average air line
a. the distanC. from Grant Land TO the Pole.
The air line distance from Start 10 finish
Of my 1000 sledg" journey was Guch mat had
my starting point tcon N" Ecrt,,.rn shore OF
Grant Land il would have carried me beyond
the Pole mad return
beg to state for your consideration the
The North Pole is the last great geographic
mrnt will be accepted as the sign OF mans
final physical conquest Of the globe, and IL
Will always stand ~ one Of the great mile
stones in the world history.
my opinion, our manifest privilege and duty;
It's attainment by another country would
be in tho light OF a reproach and criticism.
The sense OF all the foremost geographers,
upon the Smith Sound ~ American route.
along which / have been working for years
past Other routes have been elIminatet
" we delay IN prompting this route, soma
one else VIII step In and Win the priLe.
! believe that my experience, gained in
years OF practical work my special methods
or travel and uYlDm"ni, IA" evolution OF
laI M I.I aa4 .I tIa