The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-11-24

Il sels9 Perfcrmance-Ei Eight Day Gale
Prevented Party From Reaching Poie.
Reported Strike of Crew Confirmed,
but Story OF Bad Treatment Denied.
Sydney, N. S., Nov Immediately
upon the arrival here of the steamer
Roosevelt Commander Peary boarded
a tug and came ashore to meet Mrs
Peary. who had been awaiting him
here for two weeks. He appeared to be
in excellent health and none the worse
for his perilous excursion poleward.
Those who accompanied him are also
in the best OF health and spirits.
The Roosevelt, except for q rudaer-
less stern, shows few marks Of the
trip, but she is in a Ieaky condition and
has lost much of her interior wood
work, Ladders, beams and almost ev-
erything movable having been sacri-
feed to keep the party warm. On
board were sixteen Eskimo dogs, che
tiny craft of a former polar trip, witch
had been lying in the ice for thirty
years, ana numerous other relics.
Commander Peary still believes that
the pole can be reached, and the same
opinion is expressed by Captain Bart
lett
Progress Checked by Gale.
Shortly after the dash for the pole
began a furious gale the equal of
which had never been experienced by
any of the party, sprang up and lasted
for eight days. This broke the connec-
ton between the supporti.g parties.
Had Marvin and Clarke been able to
bring up supplies which would have
lasted 125 days Captain Bartlett has
no doubt whatever that the explorer
would have reached the pole and have
| returned to the starting point within
forty days.
Asked about Explorer Nansen's the
Dry of drifting into the pole in four or
five years by means of the prevailing
west winds, Commander Peary says
that there are great possibilities in it,
but not for man of his temperament,
since much waiting and patience are
required
Men In Good Health.
Dr. Z. J. Walfe.. the medical officer,
says that except for a little rheumatic I
fever the health of the men was excel I
lent
The doctor also believes that by fol
lowing Pearys plan the pole can be
reached
Captain Bartlett was in charge of one
of the parties supporting Peary's ad-
vance. He said the storm which did I
the mischief was tremendous in VIC
lence aud accompanied by binding
squalls of fine arctic snow The ice
field was rent widely asunder, and the
trail was destroyed. Ordinarily track
ing is easy in the far north, as the
snow packs hard and bootmarks are
sometimes preserved for six months.
Walter Clarke. a fireman, who was in
charge of another of the supporting
parties bringing up supplies to fortify
Peary's dash for the pole, had a trying
experience which almost cost him his
life. He is under average stature and
slightly built and, working in the fire
hold was not looked upon as a likely
man to captain a party of Eskimos
snd face the terrific frost of the march
north over the ice field. Clarke yolun-
teered to lead a supporting party. He
is native of Fall River, Mass, and
a machinist BY trade. He had three
Eskimos and twenty dogs and took
third place on the line of communica-
tion. When the great storm visited
the expedition Clsrle and his party
We're driven over 100 miles to the east.
toward the north coast of Greenland.
with only watch compass TO guide
them, all trail marks having been
wiped out Through some error Of
judgment the three Eszimos declared
Cape Columbia, the objective point.
was in the opposite direction to which
It really was. Clarke tried ta persuade
them they We're wrong, but without
avail. They were three against one |
and he had to follow their lead, going s
east and away from the chance Of
succor. Provisions ran out. and they {
ate thirteen of the twenty dogs. They S
we're saved by Peary accidentally I
crossing their trail. /
Commander Peary is enthusiastic i
ahout the performance of the Rodse- S
Telt. He does not believe +here was
aver another ship aaoat could have
stood her battle with the ice.
The reported strike at Hopeda!e is +
confirmed by the crew, who insisted t
lpon remaining at that port until nee o
.ssary repairs to the Roosevelt were
'Heeted. But the ship continued to n
IL ~.