Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-11-09

have no difficulty in obtaining coal in
Labrador He expects to hear from
Peary next at Sidney, Cape Breton.
Recalls Wife's Prediction.
An odd coincidence in connection with
the receipt of this dispatch is the fact
that just a week ago the explorers wife
expressed herself as confident that
Peary had reached the pole. Dispatches
from Portland, Me, where Mrs Peary
in which she said she was certain her
husband had attained his goal, although
she was entirely ignorant Of his loca-
ton.
Il have Ian instructive feeling" she
said. that he has attained the ambition
of his life
Peary's Seventh Expedition.
This was Commander Peary's seventh
arctic expedition, and never has an at
tempt been made to reach the north pole
under more favorable auspices. Com
mander Peary set his face to the north
in July of last year. with the experience
Of six other expeditions behind him, eX-
tending over period of nineteen years,
and with a most thorough and compre-
hensive knowledge, founded on personal
contact, with the precise conditions and
difficulties to be met.
Morris K. JesSup of New York, who
aided Commander Peary generously in
fitting out his expedition, said: 1T would
be useless to deny that | am disappoint-
ed that Commander Peary failed to
reach the pole, but | am glad to know
he is returning safe. Until we get more
details Of the voyage it will be fruitless
to discuss it more particularly"
Details of Last Effort.
Commander Peary, who was then 40
years old, was most sanguine over the
prospects for his expedition when the
Roosevelt sailed from New York on
Sunday, July 10, 1905.
The steamer Roosevelt, which bore
the commander and his party to the
north, was built specially for the seventh
Peary expedition, every atom of the
leaders experience and knowledge being
used to devise a ship which would with
stand, as far as wood and steel may,
the impact of the terrible ice masses.
Besides having the best ship which
ever sailed on the polar quest, Com
mander Peary surrounded himself with
men to whom the rigors of the north
We're known through lengthy experience
in the polar regions.
The last prior time, in 1898, his ship,
the Windward, had been supplied by AL
fred &. Harmsworth of London. This
save III LuSIlSn cOulpieAlOn 10 the NOg
age. On the present trip, however, Com
mander Peary declared that it would be
an American venture throughout, and it
was.
The money, amounting to about $780,
600, to outfit the expedition was sup
piled by American business men. mem
bers of the Peary Arctic club. Much of
Jessup of the club, who came forward
with personal donation of $4,000
early last summer.
Peary Starts by Train.
Commander Peary himself did not sail
from New York on the ship, but went
to Sydney, Cape Breton by train, being
accompanied as far as Boston by his
wife. Mrs. Peary has made trips to the
North with her husband, but decided to
stay home this time with her children,
Marie Anighito Peary and Robert E.
Peary, Jr.
The Roosevelt arrived at Sydney on
Friday, July p, being joined there by
Commander Peary and sailing shortly
thereafter. Captain Robert Bartlett was
in command of the vessel and there
We're but nineteen other persons on
board, including Peary. Among those in
the party We're DR.. Louis J. Wolf, a
graduate of Cooper Medical College,
San Francisco, surgeon; Ross E. Mar
vim, Cornell "rauuate, geologist and
u,
who has journeyed to the arctic three
times with Peary; George A. Wardwell
and Matthew A. Henson; the explorer S
personal servant, negro, who has ac-
companied him on every voyage.
News During Voyage.
After sailing from Sydney the next
news of the Peary expedition came on
Aug. y, 1905, when a message was re
ceived at New York from Peary by
Secretary Bridgman.
This message was dated July %, and
was sent from Labrador stating that all
on board the Roosevelt We're well.
On September 8, 1905, the final direct
message came from Peary in the form of
a communication to Mr. Bridgman, sent
from Etah, North Greenland. The mes
scage bore date of August 16, and stated
that the Roosevelt would leave Etah on
that day with twenty three Esquimaux
and 200 dogs to establish a base at Cape
Sabin, for the final dash to the pole
''The machinery of the Roosevelt has
been overhauled and everything is in
readiness for ice-fghting. All WELL"
added the message.
Heard from on December 2.
petition until December 2, 1905. when
the British bark Alkaline arrived at
Philadelphia and her commander, Capt.
E'risbie. reported having been in COM
munication with the Roosevelt on her
way north. Capt. Frisbie said it was
thought the expedition would make
Grant Land its winter headquarters. the
season being declared unusually favor
able for getting farther north than ever
before.