The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-03
THERooSEYELT, POLE HUNTER
NEW ARCTIC SHIP HERE WITH
PEARY ON BOARD.
Most Powerful Craft That Ever Went on
the IIyperbOrean Errand-Dash to
the Pole to Begin From Grant Land
Next Fcbruary-Three White Men G ding


The Roosevelt, exploring ship OF the
Peary Arctic Club, arrived last night from
Portland Me-, with Mr.. Peary aboard, and
anchored in the North River of Forty
second street. She is the most powerful
craft ever constructed for carving \the Ice
Of the polar sea, and the explorer thinks
that she is certain to do all that IS expected
of her. She sailed from Portland on FRI
day Mr.. Peary and his men scorning all
marine superstitions, and came here under
steam only, although she has as much sail
as an ordinary three masted coasting
schooner to help her along when there
is a breeze.
Mr. Peary wore plain business suit and
spoke in plain business fashion. He said
he wanted it understood that the expe-
dition which he will head to find the pole
is not his, but that OF the Peary Arctic
Club. of which Morris X. Jesup is president
and Herbert L. Bridgman secretary. Mr..
Jesup is chiefly responsible for the organi-
zation Of the expedition.
The Roosevelt will stay here about twelve
days and fit out. She will then sail for
Sydney, Cape Breton and take on 500 tons
Of coal. All her crew will be hardy New
foundlanders. used to battling with ice
clogged waters. The ship will force a way
through Melville Bay to the Whale Sound
region. The base Of the expedition will be
at Cape Sabine. where about twenty five
Of the strongest and most daring Eskimo
hunters will be assembled. with their dogs
and sledges, and taken aboard ship. The
families of the hunters will go with them,
as the men get sick and respondent with
out their wives.
From Cape Sabine the steel proved ship
will make drive through Kennedy and
Robson channels to Grant Land. where,
about Sept. !, the beginning OF the Arctic
winter, the explorers will 60 into winter
quarters.
The dash for the pole, computed to be
about 400 miles from Grant Land, will begin
on Feb. /. There will be only three white
men men IN .h the party 1nSS! N Mr. Pehary
name Mr. Peary is not now at liberty TO
mention. Each Eskimo will have from six
to eight dogs to drag his sledge, which will
be laden with 500 pounds of pemmican,
ships biscuit and tea for the men and penn
that Mr.. Peary will take will be theod ote,
a pocket sextant and chronometer. The
party will also carry two small rifles. Mr..
Peary said;
expectation Of shooting anything. We
believe that it is improbable that we will
see any animal life near the pole. be-
lieve we ire going to win in our race. We
have three strong points in our favor:
First, the ship, which is the most powerful
teen years in the Arctic, and. thirdly. my
knowledge of the Eskimos Of the region
and how to handle them:
with experience and a little natural
aptitude one may be no worse of in the
Arctic than he would be in other regions.
I n find pnthipU abnormal fha
pole, in fact. l am sure there is nothing
abnormal there. There is no open sea and
naturally no pole TO which | may nail the
little American flag that shall take along
One might step on the pole, and without
Instruments of precision. never know
expedition will accomplish, l may say
that it will open up about 100000 square
miles OF absolutely unknown region, land
that has been separated from the rest OF
the world for countless ages
Il take no stock in the theory of certain
professor that the Garden of Eden was origi-
nally at the North Pole. The chief reason
why we desire to reach the pole first is
sentimental. II we win the race 1t will be
striving to attain. No jealousy has been
developed in the contest only fine in
ternational sporting spirit"
Length, 1874 feet; breadth, IS 5-1O feet; depth
10 2-lo feet; gross registered tonnage, Oh
tons; maximum load displacement, about
l,5OO tons. The backbone of the ship
viz, keel, main keelson, stem and stern
posts, as also her frames, plank sheer, the
waterways and cardboard strake-are white
oak. The outer planking is Of white oak
decks of Oregon pine. She has lifting
rudder. which may be raised out Of danger
from contact with the ice; the stem and
bows are annored with heavy plates OF
steel and the outer planking has 2i1 inch
nraenheart shea thing