Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-31

PEARY CONFIDENT.
ellis OF Plans for His Next Try fol
North Pole.

Boston, March 30.-Commander Robt
Z. Peary, the dauntless Arctic explor-
er, who will start in July on another
attempt to find the North pole, was the
guest of honor at the Merchants Club
dlhner at the Algonquin clubhouse
last night, where he entertained the
members with an interesting descrip-
ton of his plans and purposes.
His new boat. the Roosevelt, was
launched at Bucksport, Me-, last
thursday, and a model of it occupied
place of honor at the head table.
Between July l and Is he said, he
expected to leave New York ON the
voyage ncr,h, stopping at Sydney for
coal
by Sept. l he expects to be able to
30 INTO winter quarters at Grant Land
AFTER breaking through the first ice
barriers at Melville bay and the second
ice barriers at Cape Sabine. At Cape
Sabine he will take on board his squad
Oh picked Eskimos, whose assistance
IN his project he deems invaluable.
Next February, he said, with the
nrst new light, he expects to start with
DOG sledgeS on the dash of 400 miles
from his winter quarters to the pole
The siedge journey to the pole will be
less difficult, he thinks, than the task
OF forcing d passage through Smith
sound, but, fully impressed with a be-
lief in the power of his new vessel, he
thinks it will not be impossible to work
his way to Grant Land in her.
His plan is to leave the ship with
five Or six sledges, each loaded with
1f r;c-i@
end of, say, 100 miles, the weakest
sledge and the weakest men will be re-
turned to the ship, the provisions
from that sledge having been con-
sumeG first. At the end of second
Jaunt of so or 15 miles. another sledge
will be returned, and SO on, until the
explorers Of the last 100 miles will
consist of the commander himself and
three or four picked men. Meanwhile
the sedges that have been returned e
the ship will load up with provisions
and start toward the pole. to meet the
commander and his party, and he ex-
poets to meet them about half way
back on his return trip.
Commander Peary thinks he will
reach the pole this time, and this be-
lief is based upon his confidence in the
power and staunchness Of his ship, and
his confidence in the Esquimaux, every
man, woman and child of whom he
knows. and whose services he can COM
mand out of gratitude.
Had his ship been at Grant Land in
1900. he said, so that he might have
used it for base, instead of being
obliged to make a siedge journey from
~ l.
sledgeS at that time would not only
have taken him to the pole. but 100
miles beyond it. The results could not
be measured in money, he said. 1t
might he possible to discover new Whai-
ing grounds or mineral deposits, al
though he was not at all confident of
this. But there Were great scientific
possibilities, and there was also the
prestige of Il discovery which he
thought would appeal to the sentiment
Of every American.
Commander Peary was enthusiastic
in speaking of his new vessel, which
he thought would not only be able to
resist the enormous lateral ice pres
sure. but be able to force her way
through the ice foes. Instead of rely
ing upon sail power with steam as an
auxiliary, he had reversed the usual or
der and supplemented steam power
with sail power. He expressed his deep
obligation to the recognized Peary Arc
tic club. of which Morris X. Jessup OF
New York is president. This club had
provided for the building and equip
mcnt Of the Roosevelt. The money for
supplying the vessel had not yet been
subscribed, but he was confident it
would be forthcoming, and that he
I ould make his start on time.
He supplemented his remarks by
-omc beautiful stereopticon views of
Arctic scenery.