The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-02
ASSISTANT TO FIALA.
Facts About "Alaska" Peters,
Who May Find North Pole.
WELL TRAINED FOB ARCTIC WORK

Scientist Chosen Fog Ziegler Expo
dition Can stand H%ardships and Is
Original In His Methods of Pre-
pairing For Trips to the Far North.
Takes Daily Ice Water Baths.
William ]. Peters, better known to
Washington scientists as Alaska" Pc
tiers OH account of his numerous
and perilous trips into the most north
ern part Of that country, who has been
selected as scientific assistant to Cap
tain Anthony Fiala, who heads the
Ziegler expedition in search of the
north pole, became famous all over the
United States by his unique methods
OF preparing himself constitutionally
for his ice journeys, says a Washington
special to the Chicago Tribune.
Peters starts in by taking a daily
bath in ice water, wears summer
weight clothing in the dead of winter,
and he lives not only without fire, but
upon the food best suited to a life of
constant exposure.
Mr.. Peters is original in his methods
OF exploration, and he completely fas-
cinated Captain Fiala with his COM
mon sense plans for reaching the north
pole. His theory is that the failure OF
former expeditions is attributable to
the fact that the material side of the
Journey was not sufficiently studied
out before starting.
When Mr.. Peters knew some years
ago that he was to lead a party head
ed for the gold fields of Alaska and that
hundreds of men had persisted from
cold and hunger on the way, while
others arrived sick and worn and poor.
ly prepared to cope with the rugged
life Of a miner in that frozen country.
he methodically began to study the sit
uation. His plan was to learn all that
was possible about the food. clothing
and habits of the people in the land OF
ice and snow and as nearly as possible
train himself in the same way.
This theory only partly applied to
Alaska. for little was known of the
customs and habits of the Eskimo eX-
cept the meager stories brought by
naval officers and whaling vessels.
So his study vas incomplete until he
was thrown among the natives them
selves. With this knowledge MI. Pc
ters' second trip was comparatively
easy, and before he started for the land
of snow and ice he underwent them most
rigorous physical training. The win
ter before he started he wore nothing
more than summe clothing, walked
and rode through the worst and coolest
weather as much as possible. practi'
cally living outdoors by day and sleep.
ing in a fireless room with pen win
dows at night. He selected a diet as
nearly akin to that of h natives OF
Alaska as possible and lived he most
simple and regular life.
He found his training of the Creates
possible advantage. but he did no stoT
with this. One of the customs of the
natives of Alaska was to strip in thei1
tents and run over the to Il ponc
near by, where a hole had been cut il
the ice. and take a quick plunge. Thi:
method he followed out with good re
suits. He continued to eschew dain
ties and the lighter food and lived likl
the natives.
AS Il result VI llllS SlluRlCs luSSCu AIN
Mr.. Peters probably is the best equip
ped man in the United States for al
arctic journey. He is of slender built
and straight as an arrow and Mt one
impresses one with his wiry, vigorous
constitution.
AS a scientist Mr.. Peters is though
of in the most serious way by mel
. .o,,ol~ ~JJo,. -, <1,o corxyion Ho hoe hpQI
in the employment of the geological
survey for twenty years and for a
least ten years has been looked to TO
his share in the discovery relative t
the north pole. it frequently being sal
that he was the man for whom tn
honor waited.
Finding in his exploration of tn
Arctic ocean through northern Alask
that the instruments at his de'posa
were not well adapted to the scientiti
work required by the government. Nj
Peters invented. among other thing:
q stenometer for the purpose of dt
termining distances over small angle
with the greatest possible accurac,
He is a tOpographer. and his work /
this line as we'll as his astronomi
work is highly valued by the scientist
of the United States and the old worlt
Mr.. Peters proceeded to map out hi
Journey within the arctic circle wit
the same uniqueness and precision ths
characterize all he does. He heade
straight for the great divide separa
ing the Arctic ocean from the Yukol
and, reaching the head of the Yuko
river, he utilized canoes he had carrie
on sledges for a swift passage dow
the river.
When the head Of the Ziegler exp
dition wrote to the Geographic societ
at Washington for a nan to act as a
sistant Mr.. Peters was at once selecte