The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-09

geographers of all the world. when
they were gathered in New York CITY
for their international congress the
other day, that he is going to make
another dash for the North Pole. using
a ship he is having specially built for
the purpose.
Very few Arctic or Antarctic expedi
tions have been made in specially built
vessels. and that is why so manv have
failed. Often light craft never intend
ed for ice navigation have been used bv
explorers. Only two ships have been
specially constructed for Polar work
within recent years-Nansen's Franz
and the Discovery" now in the Ant
arctic sea with the National British
expedition"
Most men experienced. in Arctic ex-
ploration believe that Commander
Peary has good chance of reaching
the North Pole, or at all events of get
ting nearer to it than any man has
yet gone. His wonderful perseverance.
eliminating in his reaching the most
northerly point of Greenland has
greatly impressed them.
Peary's knowledge of the Arctic.
Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont. an
Arctic explorer of renown, expressed
the view of all his British colleagues
when he said. after a paper had been
read by Peary before the Royal Geo
graphical Society in London last No
Vember:
Commander Peary will go back to
the Arctic with a knowledge of the
work to be done, and of the way to do
it, which is unrivalled, and, therefore,
if it is possible for him in his ship to
reach the furthest point that has been
reached by a ship-that is, Floeberg
Beach, 81 degrees, 81 minutes-I be-
lieve that, with the courage which he
has shown and with the help of those
Eskimo, who seem to be his very chill
dren, there may be a possibility of sue
cess. No one will be more glad of it
than those who have been there and
seen the difficulties to be overcome.
No one will welcome the fact that he
has reached the pole more than this au-
dience, which comprises so many Arc
tic explorers
At this meeting of the Royal Geo
graphical Society, Peary gave what
was probably his briefest and best
summary of what he hopes to do. His
words on that occasion have never been
published, except in the official PRO
ceedings" of the society. He said:
His Plan of Travel.
my plan of campaign requires but
q few words. 1t contemplates the
utilization of the utmost efforts and
fullest resources of the Whale Sound
Eskimo; the use of dogs for traction
power; a ship which shall drive me
TO the northern shore of Grinnell
Land, and a refinement of the meth
eds and equipment (the result of years
of experience) which will enable me
hn CT CsTiY1 oil
Land to the Pole and back between
early February and June.
MY Polar creed can be quickly
stated. 1t contains three articles. 1t
is held by many Americans beside
myself, from that splendid, vigorous,
typical American personality who
stands at our head, down.
I'D The North Pole should be at
tanned. AS a matter of accession to
geographical knowledge, as a matter
of prestige, it is a prize worth the ut
most effort. The struggle for it has
been going on nearly four centuries.
It's attainment will be the sign of
mans final conquest of the globe. Its
non-attainment is to-day a reproach
both to our boosted civilization and
our alleged abilities.
go The only practical route to the
Pole is the Smith Sound route, offer
ing as 1t does a land base 100 miles
nearer the Pole than any other route,
a less actively moving ice pack,
wider base to which to return, and a
practicable and well-known line OF
retreat to lower ATTITUDES in the event
of mishap to the ship.
An American Enterprise.
"(S) The attainment of the Pole is
peculiarly an object for American
pride and patriotism. The North
American world segment is our home,
our natural, ultimate destiny. Its
bounds are the isthmus and the Pole.
We are negotiating for the isthmus;
we must find and mark the Pole. More
than this, we want the Pole because
it is the Pole, and because you, and
we, and practically all the other civil
ICED nations of the world, have been
trying for it for nearly four centuries,
and have not got it yet, and because to
win it will be the crown of those four
centuries of effort and sacrifice and
splendid heroism."
Naturally, an audience Of British
Arctic explorers could hardly indorse
Peary's third proposition; but they
cheered him until they were hoarse.
Grave scientists and gray-headed adj
mirals were so worked up by his en-
thusiasm that they behaved like
school boys.
The Question One of Money.
Although hundreds of expeditions
have tried to reach the North and
South Poles, and have always failed,
Arctic and Antarctic explorers, with
few exceptions, believe that the poles
can be reached. They say that the
whole question is one of money as
Stunning, of course, that the leader of
the expedition is a well qualified and