Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-22
WOMAN IN POLE HUNT.
Miss Babb to Accompany Peary
 to the Far North.
WILL BRAVE ARCTIC DANGERS.

Success and Has Provided Herself
 With ComDIete Outnt-wiM Look After Installation of Wireless Tels.
 graph Apparatus and Operate It.
 Love for adventure and desire to be the first woman to reach the north pole have caused Miss Mamie Babb to abandon school teaching to sail, she says, with Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Peary in his quest of the north pole From the peak of the ex- plorers new steamer will float an American flag presented to Miss Babb by her pupils at the little school at North Harpswell, Me, says special dispatch from Norway, Me, to the New York World.
 "What danger can there be in such . journeyT she asks when the perils of an arctic trip are pointed out to her by relatives who are opposed to her going. "No one need have fears for our safety. I shall be the first woman to reach the pole, because know Mir. Peary will find it this time"
 Mrs. Peary and her daughter Marie, twelve years old, will also be passen- gers on the Roosevelt, but they will re- turn home when the steamer arrives at the point where relief supply stations are to be esta blished. Miss Babb says she will stick to the ship until the end. If the men stand the trip, I guess I can" she says.
 Miss Babb' is thirty years old, tall and handsome. For several years she has lived with an uncle and aunt at Westbrook. who are greatly averse to the trip she is about to take
 Miss Babb has always been friend of Mrs. Peary and as stenographer has done much of Lieutenant Peary's cler- ical work. She has read much about the frozen regions. She has prepared maps and routes for the coming trip. and all have been approved by Mir. Peary when submitted to him for ex- animation.
 When Peary came to Maine last year to make arrangements with the ship yards for the construction of the Roosevelt he called upon Miss Babb and explained to her in great detail what he intended to do on his next dash to the pole. Invariably any changes in the itinerary which Miss Babb made were needed by Peary. who submitted the revised details to the Arctic Club of North America, which is financing the trip. The o6i- cials> of that organization unhesitat- ingly put their 70. K" on the plans After Peary's second attempt to reach the pole failed he abandoned the project, thinking that 1t would be im- possible. to get another leave of ab- sence from the secretary of the navy. i Miss Babb counseled against his re- solve and. taking the matter in hef own hands, obtained the secretary's consent for another leave of absence. Then it was that Miss Babb commenc- ed to think what a nice journey the voyage would be for a woman to make. ! She talked with her relatives. and when she had gained the opinion of several persons she fatly told Peary that she intended to make the trip with him if quarters could be fixed up for her on the Roosevelt. If not, she wal going anyhow.
 Miss Babb will look after the install. lation of the wireless telegraph appa' ratus and will operate the instrumen, while in the arctic regions. She has learned telegraphy and stenography and is an expert at photography. Much of the data concerning the trip and all the pictures of interesting points visit ed along the line will be her work as we'll as all the press matter.
 Miss Babb was born in Sebago. Hel mother died in a hospital at Portland ten years ago while Miss Babb wal just finishing her education. Compelled to forsake school and earn her owr living, the young woman went to the home of her uncle and aunt. Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Herr at westbrook. They have since acted as her parents.
 The adventurous young woman has had made an entire outfit of clothing suitable for use in the arctic regions even to several pairs of snowshoes.