Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-01
PEARY AND THE POLE.
Daring Enthusiast Persists In Effort to
Uncover Arctic Mystery.

in 1886, and ever since that time has
devoted nearly all his time to 1t. He
is a, civil engineer in the United States
Navy.
Commander Peary went to Greenland
in 1886, and partially crossed that con-
tinent at that time. When he went
again, in 1891, he wintered on the west
coast, and in the spring went diago-
nally over the ice cap to a point on the
northeast coast Of Greenland never
before visited. AS he was yet on the
spot on July 4, 1892, he named the
great ihdentation of the continent
which he found there Independence
Bay" Prior to this venture Jackson's
own explorations were never made: he
made special study Of the traits Of
the Eskimos around Inglefield Gulf, and
established particularly friendly rela-
tions with them.
The next time he visited the Arctic,
in 1898, 1t was to stay two years. Mrs.
Peary accompanied him on this occa-
sion, although she returned to the
United States the following summer.
1t was only few weeks after her arri-
val at the site chosen for the winter
camp that first year that Mrs. Peary's
only child was born. Peary made trips
to the northward from Anniversary
Lodge, in White Sound, in the spring
seasons of both 1894 and 1895. Furious
storms and inadequate supplies
thwarted his effort on the first occa-
sion. On the second, with two compan-
ions, he tramped up to Independence
Bay, on the north shore Of Greenland,
and came back with only one dog and
no food. The explorer felt that he had
been baff1ed only by insufficient finan-
cial backing.
In 1896 and again in 1897 Peary went
North and returned the same season.
On the former occasion he brought
down some small masses Of iron, be-
lieved to be of meteoric origin, and
In 1897 he brought an immense block
of the same character, said to contain
nearly 100 tons of metal. These me-
teors had been found at Cape York in
the spring Of 1895.
Before his next start, in 1898, Peary
visited England, where he received
much attention from geographical and
other scientific societies. To that trip
is due, perhaps. the gift Of the ship
Windward, then owned by Mr.. Harms
worth, and recently used by Jackson
for an expedition to Franz Josef Land.
very fruitful, but they served two ex-
cellent purposes. The existence Of his
winter camp gave Nansen a refuge
after the latter, with one companion,
worked his way southwark after his
record beating achievement Of 1896
(reaching latitude 1914 on the ice,)
and it Influenced the fate Of the return
ing Windward.
When Peary went north In 1898 he
hoped to be able to push the Windward
up the west coast Of Greenland through
Smith Sound and Robson Channel, and
establish a winter camp on Sherard
Osborn Fjord, near the eighty-second
parallel Of latitude. His intention was
when early spring came, to start over
the ice pack north Of the continent
with dogs and sledges. But the ice
prevented the Windward from going
more than so miles above Cape Sabine
and the latter stayed from August 1S
1898, to August 2, 1899. All during
the autumn, winter and spring sledge
parties went out in various directions
Much geographical data, for the per-
fection of maps, was thus secured. and
a great deal of game shot. -
The most important Of all these ven
lures was a journey in sledges from
the ship up to Fort Conger, on Lady
Franklin Bay. This is on the west
side Of Robeson Channel, and though
visited repeatedly since that time
December, 1898, 1t had then been de-
serted ever since Greeley's party left
in 1883. While on the way Peary was
overtaken by a severe storm and one
of his feet was frostbitten. When he
got back to his ship again 1t was ne
cessary to have several toes amputat-
ed.
This experience untitled him for any
attempt to reach the pole, and none
Diana up in 1899 with food and mail
and she returned two or three months
later, preceded by the Windward
Etah, on the Greenland side of the
channel, and not far from Littleton
Island was the site Of Peary's winter
camp in 1899-1900. From this point he
made sledge Journeys to Cape Sabine
where Stein was wintering with the
intention Of exploring Ellsemere Land
Peary treated him very graciously and
offered him practical encouragement
In March Peary quartered himself UP
at Fort Conger, having In the mean
time made extensive deposits Of food
at various points along his line OF re-
treat. This post he found almost as
convenient a base Of operations as
that which he had hoped to establish
at Sherard Osborn Fjord. 1t was with
In a few miles of being as far north
Starting from Fort Conger with his
faithful negro servant, Henson. and
five Eskimos on April Is, 1900, Peary
crossed Robson Channel on the ice to
Greenland. He pursued the plan OF
sending back his Eskimos with their
sleds as fast as the provisions loaded
upon the latter were exhausted, so that
early in May he had with him only
one strong team, one Eskimo and Hen
son. Skirting the north coast, Peary
reached the cairn left by Lockwood In
18S2-then the furthest north reached
by man-on May 13. 1900. He rounded
the northernmost point Of Greenland
in latitude 1898, a few days later
This by the way, Is the northernmost
land yet trod by human feet. Peary
here pushed out upon the Ice, In the
hope of reaching the pole. Eleven
miles further north, in latitude 83: so
he found so wide a streak Of water
that he could not cross. That settled
his fate for 1900. Turning back to
the land, he followed the coast on east
ward. 100 miles beyond Lockwood's
"furthest," and within a degree Of In
dependence Bay, visited by him seven
or eight years before. The survey OF
the north coast was thus rendered
more complete than ever before. Geo
graphical experts regard this service as
exceptionally valuable. Fort Conger
was reached in safety on July 10
almost three months from the depart
ure Of the explorer.
To open up communication with
Peary in 1900 the Windward was dis
patched northward. Mrs. Peary went
with the ship. 1t had been planned to
have the vessel return before the cold
weather, but the season was not fav-
orable. On the way up the Windward
stopped first at Etah, and then pushed
on to Cape Sabine. where Peary had
already arrived. The ship remained
there, or rather in Payor Harbor, close
by. from August Is until July 8. 1901
Satisfied by the experience Of a pre-