The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-07
Thu NEW PUARY POLE QUEST.
NORRIS X. JESUP PROBABLY
WILL BACK EXPLORER.

Few Of the Original Peary Arctic Club 10
Cs0trib0te 70 Expenses q Trip-Pcary
- Have . BETTER ship. which. Also.
viii Stay at tho Base Of supplies.
The news from Washington in yester-
days papers that K. 4. Peary. the Arctic
explorer. had asked for and received
three years leave Of absence from the
Navy Department for the purpose OF
venturing again into the Polar regions.
with the object Of reaching the Pole, has
aroused much interest hereabouts. 1t also
has caused considerable surprise. at least
among some Of Mr.. Peary's friends, who
had imagined that for several reasons
the explorer had given up all idea Of doing
any more polar exploring and would settle
down TO the less hazardous life Of civil
engineer.
1t was learned from q good source that
very few of Mr.. Peary's hackers had made
any plans for assisting him in any new
enterprise and that the financial support
for the trip outlined In his letter applying
for leave Of absence would. in all proba-
bility, come mostly from new sources
Mr., Peary. in an interview in Washington
on Saturday, when questioned about the
financing Of his trip, said that it would
be done by the Peary Arctic Club of New
York. While that Is the name assumed by the
group Of men who contributed to pay the
expenses Of the last trip, II does not there
fore follow that It IL from those same men
that assistance ID to come In the present
instance. 1t Ia more than likely TO come
from Morris X. Jesup and his friends
not hitherto associated with Mr.. Peary's
work.
Some frien Dis OF Mr.. Peary, when they
heard Of his plans yesterday, assumed
at once that Mr.. Jesup had made good
a promise which they said he had made
on Mr.. Peary's return last fall That was
that he. with others, would defray the
explorers expenses should he desire to try
again for the elusive Pole.
The Peary Arctic Club. which paid the
expenses Of Mr. Peary's last trip. was not
an incorporated body. There were twelve
or thirteen men in the group, including
Mr.. Jesup, James J. Hill. E. c. Benedict
G. F. WyckoY, Henry Harper Benedict
Clarence Seamans and Herbert L. Bridg-
man., who was secretary Of the so-called
club. While majority Of the men paid
81 600 year, some OF them. including Mr..
Jesup, paid double that. Some OF these
men did not know prior to yesterday that
Explorer Peary had decided to make AL
other trip in search Of the Pole.
Mr.. Bridgman was out OF town Yesterday,
but II was learned at his home in Brooklyn
that the news was surprise there ard
r, hA nf ar a uriN hn
new enterprise person we'll informed
on the affairs OF the former Peary Arctic
Club and an intimate acquaintance OF Mr..
Peary said, however, that word had been
received yesterday from him Of his in
tention to make trip. and that he
had indicated that financial help was to
come from a new quarter. Said this per-
SOL:
The so-called Peary Arctic Club was not
an Incorporated club, and it may be said
to have been dissolved when the debts
incurred by Mr.. Peary's last trip were all
paid. That trip cost in the neighborhood
Of $4,000 and the last bill Was paid some
time ago. The gentlemen who paid these
bills had no exclusive right to the name
Peary Arctic Club. and undoubtedly that
name will be preserved ard used by any
new financial hackers Mr.. Peary may have
secured.
-When Mr.. Peary returned last fall very
few Of the men who had assisted him were
enthusiastic enough to express the hope
I may say that most Of them indicated that
money they could for Arctic explor-
alton and that they were going to quit.
This was with no intention OF discrediting
anything that MIR. Peary had accomplished.
Mr.. Jesup who informed Mr.. Peary that If
if he ever felt like trying again he would
try and see him through financially. In fact,
Mr. Jesup was very enthusiastic about it.
Mr.. Jesup said that, in addition to what
he would give, he believed that when Mr..
Psary had signified his willingness to once
more 60 on a quest for the Pole he could
Ter Of Commerce to give $1,000 each, and
thus form the membership Of new Arctic
club. That would mean 100000. Mr.,
Peary estimated then that he should need
from 100000 to $25O,OOO for another trip,
but he did not at that time seem to think
Of going again. In fact, a great many Of
his friends hoped that he would content
as his future was promising here at horne,
His wife, who has never encouraged his
polar work. hoped very much tina. be had
made hia last trip
Another reason why some Of Mr.. Peary's
friends were surprised at hearing he was
planning to go northward again is the fact
that only week ago little son was born
to the Pearys. In announcing the birth
Of his son Mr. Peary last week wrote
letter to friends In Brooklyn in which he
said that ne hoped his son would some
day take up his work and that to him might
come the honor coveted by his father-that
of discovering the Pole 1t was not thought
then that Mr.. Peary meant to go again
or. at any rate, leave his family for SO me
time at least
The reason. it was said. that Mr.. Peary's
estimate for his new trip Is 80 much in ex :
cess OF the last IL due to his desire this
year to buy a somewhat better ship and TO
keep this ship In the Arctic regions through
out his sojourn there, instead OF sending
her back. as was done last time. Mr.. Peary
announced last fall that If he ever did go
again It would be only on condition that
he could keep the ship at his base Of sup
plies.