Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-21
PEARY TELLS OF PLANS.
Hopes to Reach the Pole Early in 1906
or 1907.


New York. May 20.-Commander
Robert E. Peary. U. 8. NJ, the Arctic
| explorer, is In the city on business con-
nected with the plans he is perfecting
| for a summer voyage to the Arctic re-
gion. Seen at the Grand Union Hotel
yesterday he said:
shall leave Sydney, Cape Breton. on
July /, with a vessel of from 400 to 5Go
tons burden, and shall take a cargo of
coal, to be deposited at Etah or FouIke
F'iord, on the Greenland shore. oppo-
site Cape Sabine, as a reserve supply
for use in connection with the serious
work in the expedition planned for the
summer of 1905. l expect to be ac-
companied by a party of tourists.
sportsmen and scientists, as on my
former summer voyages, and to return
by September 1. ~.
l had hoped that one or two men
might have been found who would pro-
vide the amount necessary to cover the
entire cost of the polar expedition, but
as that seems at this time impossible,
| | am now engaged in enlisting n larger
number with smaller contribution to
the project from each. The ship for
next years expedition is already as
sured, and l must now secure the mon
ey necessary for the current expenses.
The estimated total cost OF the expedi-
ton, as maximum, including the cost
of the ship, is 100000 If l should be
able to accomplish the objects of tn,
expedition inside of fifteen months
from the time of starting, and bring
the vessel back and in practically I'M
/ irsnvN n ira1
lay will have covered the cost.
My handicap on all previous expedi-
tons into the arctic region has been
my inability, on account of the weak
ness of my vessel to push far enough
| north before beginning the sledge Jour-
ney. Having reached 81 degrees II
minutes, or only 5 degrees AZ minutes
short of the Pole, 1 have achieved the
highest point yet reached on the West
ern Hemisphere, but the highest point
ut which have begun the sledge jour
ney has been 70 degrees north. My
objective point to be reached by vessel
with the expedition next year is the
north coast OF Grant Land, which is SO
degrees north. l shall start about July
l. ana nope to make my way through
Smith Sound to the objective point by
September l, when the arctic winter
begins, and the vessel would be frozen
in. Here the expedition would be de-
tanned until February. when the sledge
journey could be undertaken.
On four previous expeditions I have
covered with sledges sufficient dis
lance going north from the point of
starting to carry me the full distance
n in hoe g.
nautical miles from Grant Land TO the
Pole. 1t must be obvious that the
prospect of Succession it must be ac-
complished between February and the
end of May-depends on the point at
which the start of the sledge journey
may be made.
Aside from the ships crew of proba-
bly, fifteen men, who will, of course, re-
main at winter quarters, shall be. ac-
companied on the expedition by not
more than two white men, and posi-
bic Only one-a surgeon. I shall take
about twenty-five sledges. with six to-
eight dogs for each sledge. and only
one Esquimau with each team of dogs.
Once 1 have attained the proper
point on the north shore of Grant Land,
the conditions to be regarded impor-
ttiit dlc tHS lclllieIIlelit VI the person.
mel, the equipment and provision sup
ply. Under favoring conditions the
sledge Journey to the pole and return
should be accomplished in eighty to
ninety days. OF course, as the pro-
vision supply is consumed the dogs
the weakest of them-and the men in
charge of the unnecessary sledges will
return to the vessel. 1t will become a
case from that point of the survival of
the fittest. Nothing for the sustenance
of the expedition can be found on that
sea of ice, and every pound of pro-
visions necessary even for the last day
of the journey returning must be car
ried to the pole and back. On land,
rations might be deposited in caches
and found on our return, but on this
great field of ice the reserve might
easily be swallowed up in an opening
assure, or covered by the SHOWS and
lost.
If am unable to push my way the
whole distance to the north of Grant
land the first season, shall winter at
the furthest point 1 may reach and in
the summer of 1906 continue to my OBJ
jective point, there to spend another
winter, beginning in the February fol-
lowing the sledge journey toward the
pole. 1t is the biggest geographical
prize yet to be attained and under my
present plans expect to make the most
strenuous effort that has yet been made
to reach the goal of my ambitio1.
Aaen IIcuruoIIcE