East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-07-19
How Peary viii Search
for the Pole


airy, 1906, if necessary. to order up
more dogs or Eskimos for the main
sledge journey which will leave the
ship as early in February as the re-
turning light of another year will per-
nit, says Commander r. f. Peary
After the establishment of this sub
base the Erik will replenish the bunE-
ers of the Roosevelt to their full cCai
capacity and return soutn, while the
Roosevelt will begin her fight With
the ice in her effort to negotiate the
ice incumbered channels leading To
her objective winter quarters on tn
northern shore of Grant Land. some
$50 miles to the north.
Should the ice conditions be some
what unfavorable a few more days
will be spent by the ships hunting
walrus off Littleton island while
awaiting a favorable opening n the
ice at the expiration of which time
the Erick will return. and the Roose-
welt proceed on her way.
Driving her way northward through
the opposing ice past Dobbin buy,
Hayes Point, Rawlins bay, Cape Con-
Slllullbls DloNoNNiy lleii bpiH lltNhAN
God harbor, and the other localities
so well known to students of this
Smith sound, or American" route,
the Roosevelt will, it is hoped have
reached her winter quarters some
where on hte northern shore of Grant
Land early in September.
Here she will be quickly frozen in,
and. during the remaining light of the
present summer parties VIII be occu-
pied in establishing caches westward
along the Grant Land coast, and, if
possible, eastward along the North
Greenland coast for possible use by
the spring sledge parties.
Hunting parties will also be sent
! out for the musk oxen, which l know
are to be found in the bays and val
| leys of the northern coast of Grant
Land.
Then in October, begins the long
arctic night, during which time we
shall make our sledges, dog harness,
clothing, and all the hundred and one
little details of sledge and camp equip
ment; shall exercise our dogs, and en-
deavor to keep them and the party in
the best of physical condition and fit
| ness.
With the first returning rays of an
| other year. probably about the first
of February, "Reminiscences with
| light sledges will be made to the
northward, and, as soon as the twi-
light in each "a hours is of sufficient
duration to permit a fair days march
/ A. % -Io
begin this attempt to negotiate the
| last section of the journey, the 400
mile sledge trip across the polar pack
| toward the pole.
If successful in the attempt the
party will be back to the ship, proba-
| bly, not later than the first to the 18th
| of June, and then, as soon as practi-
cable. the Roosevelt will be broken
out of her winter quarters, force her
way southwark through Kennedy and
! Robson channels and Kane basin,
| will take up the sub-base on the Files
mere land side, re-embark the coal
deposited at Etah and return home,
arriving some time in September.
| 1906
Should the ice conditions this sum-
| iilti NC oD ullldNOlbblt oS W negative
the attainment of the northern shore
of Grant Land by the Roosevelt, she
will be forced as far north as possible,
will winter, and will be driven to her
| objective point the following season,
| in which case the expedition is not
likely to return until September, 1907.
The principal departures in my new
| plan are: First, using a powerful
steamer to force my way through the
ice, instead of sailing ship with aux
| iliary engines; and, second, making
my base on the shore of the Polar
sea, more than $50 miles north of my
previous base at Cape Sabine.
This is the plan of campaign Gan
evolution from ~ years of almost con-
tinuous work in these high latitudes
extensive personal acquaintance with
the region from Cape York to "a de-
/ grees north latitude; through famili-
arity with climate and other condi-
tions. and complete control of the
| Eskimos,) which Assistant Secretary
Darling was pleased to commend, and
| for the execution of which he granted
the necessary leave. This is the plan
and object which have enlisted the
warm interest of President Roosevelt,
who says:
"Peary and Nansen are the two
best men in our generation in arctic
exploring work. No better-and I
may add, no more Enthusiastically
American-work could be done than
Peary's efforts to go to the pole"
These plans have the support and
| approval of the American Geogra-
phical society, the official endorse
ment of the eighth international geo.
graphic congress, the interest and ap-
proval of scientists and geographers
throughout the world.
No other field appeals so strongly
and universally to brain and blood
as these dazzling. dangerous, mys-
| terious arctic regions. Their appeal
is the appeal OF the primeval world
to the primeval man, stirring the last
drops of blood of the cave men still
| lingering in our veins.
1t Is the physical lust of striving
with and conquerlng the strongest
natural obstacles to be found upon
the face of the earth.
It is association with nature in her
grandest forms and most savage
moods.
It is closest contact with the heart
of mother earth, even though her pro-
truding ribs are gaunt with the cold
and starvation OF centuries.
And despite the cold, the darkness,