The Washington times., 1903-09-06
10 Transport Entire Eskimo
Tribe TO Within 500 Miles
of Coveted Goal, TO Form
Base of Supplies.
Novelty of Plan Praised by
Acting Secretary Darling,
Who Expects the Expedi-
ton to Be Successful.

Capt. Robert E. Peary will make an
other attempt to reach the North Pole.
He has been granted a three years
leave OF absence by the Navy Depart
ment and will start for the northIand
with the Endorsement OF President
Roosevelt and the commentator OF
Acting Secretary Darling and other
prominent officials of the Navy Depart
ment
Plans for Captain Peary's trip were
made public yesterday afternoon by Mr.
Darling. when he announced the grant
ing of leave Of absence TO Captain
Peary. This Arctic expedition will be
different from any previous expedition.
Captain Peary's long experience in the
far north has given him a knowledge
OF the country and its possibilities
which has shaped his plans.
Features of the Plan.
Captain Peary will start for the north
next summer His leave begins April l.
He VIII go to Cape York. Greenland.
on Smith Sound. There he will take on
board his ship the entire tribe OF
Whale Sound Eskimos. numbering nearly
100 He will carry this tribe to the
north shore OF Grantland. where the
colony will settle and form a base OF
supplies for the Arctic party. less than
500 miles from the North Pole.
This is the unique feature of the pro-
posed expedition. Captain Peary's
friendly relations with the Eskimos
make 1t possible for him to move the
little tribe TO Grantland. where condi-
tions are such that they can live and
make a base of supplies several hundred
miles nearer the North Pole than other
parties have had. Then members Of ths
tribe are to form the party which viii
accompany Captain Peary on his hazard
Gus trip over the Ice. Captain PeaTy
will be accompanied probably by one
other white man. and the remainder OF
the company. which viii. doubtless num-
Der about twenty. will be Eskimos.
Final Attempt in 1905.
The dash over the ice for the North
Pole will begin about February l, 1906.
Dogs will be used to haul the sledgrs
and the party will make better time
than has been made by other expeditions.
as 1t will be small ard every member CT
it viii be trained Arctic man. accus-
toned 10 the rigors OF that climate. For
some distance the trips will be over ex-
tremely rough ice. which the Eskimos
are able to pass over with much greater
skill than any other class OF explorers
Captain Peary hopes TO reach the North
Pole, and to return TO his base OF sup
plies in time to get back 10 the United
States early in the fall OF 1905.
American and British Aid
Captain Peary has not yet selected the
men who will accompany him to Grant
land from the United States He will
have a powerful wooden vessel, equipped
with heavy machinery and well sheathei
with metal to enable it to battle with
the ice. Previous expeditions are be-
lieved to have failed in some cases
because of the slowuess OF their yes-
sells
Although Captain Peary has not been
assured all the financial aid necessary
TO make his expedition success. ns
will be assisted by the Peary Arctic
Club, of New York, of which Morris X.
Jessup. is president. and will have the
assistance OF Englishmen interested In
Arctic exploration. He also hopes to
interest other American societies in the
expedition. The Government has hot
pledged Captain Peary financial support,
but that he will start with the good
wishes OF the Administration is shown
in the following letter from Acting Sec
retary Darling. of the Navy Depart
fent:
Secretary Darling's Letter.
In granting you leave of absence for
the purpose of prosecuting your Arctic
work, 1 am moved to remark that be-
lieve you are better equipped than any
other person in the country to undertake
this work You have the requisite cour-
age. fortitude. and physique. You have
had a longer term of service within the
Arctic circle than any other explorel,
You have had large experience in sledge
journeying both upon the land and upon
the polar pack. You are familiar with
ice conditions through the Smith Sound
route and north of Grantland and the
continent. You have demonstrated your
ability 20 maintain yourself in this lat
itude for a longer period in health and
safety than any other explorer. You