The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-11-29
.PEARY is AT SYDNEY
AFTER ARCTIC TRIP
EXPLORER REACHES PORT AND
MEETS HIS WIFE.
PRAISES HIS STEAMER
Gives Vessel Credit For Expeditions
"Farthest North" Record--Talk
With Captain Bartlett.

nag OF the UnlJeu states, winch mao
been placed nearer the north pole
than any other national standard, and
weather-beaten and disabled, the
Peary arctic steamer Roosevelt ar
rived here Friday under sail and
steam after 16 months vain effort to
reach the pole. Though not entirely
successful, the expedition nevertheless
got to 81 degrees minutes north lat.
itude.
The Roosevelt left Port-aux.Basque,
Newfoundland, at three o'clock Thurs
day afternoon and averaged five miles
an hour to Sydney, experiencing light
wind and rains. The ship came to
an anchor off the yacht squadron pier.
Explorer Meets His Wife.
Though the hour was early, the
Roosevelt was soon visited by the
American consul and various local of.
flcials and an invitation was extended
Commander Peary on behalf of the
Sydney board of trade to be the guest
OF the commercial body at banquet
In his honor at night. A large guam.
tity of mail awaited Commander
Peary. He came ashore almost i'm.
medlately after the steamer anchored
and Joined Mrs. Peary, who has been
here for two weeks waiting for her
husbands return.
After reading the letters accumu.
lated during the past fortnight, Com.
mander Peary decided to leave to.
day by rail for New York.
There was a gap of 100 miles in the
survey of Grantland by the English
expedition on one hand and that OF
the Sverdrup discoveries on the other
Peary has closed this up. Probably
the only section Of unknown coast
remaining in the Arctic is the north,
east coast of Greenland, embracing $50
miles.
Praises the Roosevelt.
Commander Peary is enthusiastic
about the performance of the steamer
Roosevelt. Asked If the very ad.
vanced point to which he had been
able to place the Roosevelt in winter
quarters was due to careful and in
creased knowledge of the movements
of the ice he said 1t was due to the
Roosevelt herself. He did not believe
there was ever another ship afioat
could have stood the battle with the
Zee the Roosevelt had successfully
fought. The boilers were the one de
fective feature of the ship. More
than half the power of the ship was
represented by water tube boilers and
these gave out shortly after the
Roosevelt left Sydney in 1905.
Commander Peary said he ought to
get back to New York before discuss
ing the prospectus of new expedi
ton.
Thanks For Many Messages.
Commander Peary has received a
large number of congratulatory mes
sages and requests the press to cir.
culate the following general acknowl
edgement:
Commander PeaTy desires to make
preliminary acknowledgement and ex
press his deep appreciation Of the
numerous letters and kilograms OF
congratulation which have been sent
him. AS rapidly as possible he will
make direct and individual acknowl'
edgement."
The Roosevelt occupied anchorage
opposite the yacht club pier usually
reserved for vessels of war. The squad
ron nag and Canadian ensign are fly
ing as further mark Of honor. The
stars and stripes on the United States
consulate were raised when the Roose-
welt came into port. Among the early
callers upon Commander Peary at the
Sydney hotel was American Consul
West. Learning of Peary's wishes
to make his departure as soon as pos
sibls the idea of rendering him pub
lie banquet was abandoned and a
reception at the rooms of the yacht
club substituted.
Bartlett Willing to Go Back.
Captain John Bartlett, master Of
the Roosevelt, said the steamer was
a good sea boat and that he will sail
her to New York. He is ready to go
again to the Arctic. ....
Captain Bartlett was in charge OF
one of the parties supporting Com
mander Peary's advance. He said the
storm which did the mischief was
tremendous in violence and accom-
panied by binding squalls of fine
Arctic snow. The Zoe field was rent
widely asunder and all trace of the
track was destroyed. Under ordinary
conditions tracking is easy in the far
north, as the snow packs hard and
boot marks are sometimes preserved
for six months. Captain Bartlett is
satisfied the pole can be reached
without great difficulty, weather per
hitting, and believes 1t would have
been accomplished this trip except fol
the gale In question.
First Mate Bartlett, a cousin of the
captain, who has been north before
but never remained there prior to this
trip, said the crew Of the ship were
well paid and well fed and the Roose
welt was a staunch ship, but he did
not think any of the New Foundland
members of the present crew would
be found willing to join another expe
dition. 1t was a hard experience
which few men cared IN reneat