Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-09-11
DASH FOR TIE POLE
Commander Peary viii Lead Another
Expedition.
WILL BE THOROUGHLY AMERICAN.
The intrepid Explorer Secures Three Years
Leave of Absence, and His Enterprise High
Iy Commended by President Roosevelt and
Acting Secretary DarIlng-The Essential
Features of the Plan.

Washington, D. c. (SpeciaD.- Com
mander Robert T. Peary, U. S. NJ, the
well-known Arctic explorer, will make
another dash for the North Pole. Leave
of absence for three years has been
granted him, with the permission OF
the President, by Mr. Darling, Act
ing Secretary of the Navy, and he has
been assured OF the hearty sympathy
OF both these officials in his new ven
ture. In his letter of application tor
leave of absence Commander Peary
briefly outlines his plan OF action. In
a suitable ship built in one OF our best
shipyards, reinforced and strengthened
to the maximum degree and fitted
with American engines, so that she
may go North as an exponent OF Amer
lean skill and mechanical ability, Com-
mander Peary hopes to start with bis
expedition about the first Of July next
Upon arriving at the Whale Sound
region he will take on board a large
number of Eskimos and establish
permanent base at Cape Sabine:
Thence he will force his way northward
to Grantland, where he hopes to estab-
lish winter quarters on the northern
shore. AS far as practicable along the
route he will establish caches. The tol-
lowing February, with the earliest re-
turning light, he will start due, north
over the polar pack with small, light
pioneer party and followed by a large
main party In his letter OF application
to Acting Secretary Darling for leave
OF absence Commander Peary says:
II should expect to accomplish the
distance to the Pole and return in about
100 days or little more, an average
travel OF about 10 miles day Re
turning. I should break the ship out
late in the season and return home.
"1f 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.
Distinctive features of Commander
Peary's plans are the use Of individual
sledgcs with comparative light loads,
drawn by dogs the adoption OF Eskimo
methods and costume and the fullest
utilization of the Eskimos themselves.
Commander Peary believes the adj
vantages of his plan and route are.
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 a well-beaten line OF
communication and retreat from winter
quarters to comparatively low ATTITUDES.
which is practicable at any season OF
the year.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darl-
ing, a close student of Arctic work and
an enthusiastic believer in the ability OF
American pluck and daring to find the
Pole, says in his letter to Commander
Peary granting him three years leave
of absence, from April I next, that he
thinks he is better equipped than any
other person in the country to under
take this work. He pays high compli.
ment to Mr.. Peary's courage and abl-
"In conclusion" he says, Il am
pleased to inform you that the Presi-
dent OF the United States sympathizes
with your cause and approves the en-
terpriSe.'
The following are the Arctic records
made by explorers: