Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
PEARY'S own STORY
Cells of His Dash Toward the
North Pole. +
Departmental MESSAGE
Navy Congratulates Him on His
Achievement. ~
CHRISTMAS IN THE ARCTIC
Capt. Bartlett's Diary Tells Of the
Menu and the Various Forms
of Entertainment.
CHRISTMAS IN THE ARCTIC

u. d.. TNONenDeT Zt-SOH-
mander and Mrs. Peary will leave Sydney
for New York by rail at noon on Monday,
November "a. arriving at Boston about
Wednesday morning.
Commander Peary has received a tele-
gram from Washington conveying the con-
gratulations of the Navy Department on
his splendid effort and success and the safe
return of his expedition.
The party will leave tomorrow by rail for
New York. They may stop for a day or
two en- route at Portland. Me.
The Roosevelt will undergo temporary
repairs here, new crew will be signed
and the steamship will sail next Tuesday
for New York.
Among the many messages of congratu-
lation received today by the explorer, nearly
every prominent scientific society in the
world Is represented.
There was a gap of 100 miles in the sur
vey of Grant Land by the English expedi-
tion on one hand and that of the Sverdrup
discoveries on the other. Peary has closed
this up. Probably the only section of I'M
known coast remaining In the arctic is the
northeast coast of Greenland, embracing
loo miles.
Doctor Wolff said that the health of the
party had been excellent. There was no
death and practically no sickness. Doctor
Woln said he had no doubt that II the
gale In the early part Of March had not
occurred the pole would have been reached
without difficulty
The account of the trip is most interest
ing. One of the graphic features is con-
tained in a diary Of Captain Bartlett of
the Roosevelt. who tells of Christmas
dinner in the far north Said he:
Christmas Near the Pole.
I'VE had a real Christmas and on New
Year day we received calls from one an
other and from our Eskimo friends In
stead of rum at home. we received steamine
hot coffee We had theatrical perform
ance that day and some Of the characters
and costumes were grotesque
christmas day the temperature was 80
degrees below at pm. and there were
binding drifts of snow. Up to then we
had seventy-flve days Of almost constant
darkness
Before we left home almost every MEM
Der OF the party had received letters con-
tanning remembrances by thoughtful rela-
tves. with an Injunction that they be
opened Christmas day. The governors and
missionaries at several points of Labrador
and Greenland had likewise presented ms
with sealed gifts.
We made snow baby and draped II
In an American flag for Commander Peary
put noticed that his face beamed more
than usual when he discovered among his
gifts signet ring from Marie Ahnigheto.
MS little girl. who was born in the arctic
regions in September 1893
the Eskimos evinced more interest in
ths GIT than In the seal lances, harpoons
sewing sets and knives. which they Them
selves received. because Marie was the first
white child known to be born amid their
savage grandeur
But 1t was the Christmas banouat altar
all. that made the day famous The 'restau-
rant was decorated in all the bunting we
could collect; the ceiling in mosquito net
ting, which we always carry for the mos
qultoes OF the northland are the worst in
the world We had wire candleholders
ana into these we set candles.
me Gunner was at D. and lasted four
hours. We had afterdinner speeches. too
we drank the toast of Merry Christmas
IN sauterne, after which the commander
mace an address of cheer, saying that he
mad great faith in everybody Connected
with the expedition. and that we must win
And Doctor Wolff responded to the toast of
the absent ones
The menu was: Cocktail whisky SAL
mon la st. Nick reindeer legs ME stewed
corn. green peas, tomatoes sauterne yeni-
son roast. cranberry sauce. plum pudding
Drandy sauce, apricot pie. cookies pre-
served pears, conee nuts raislns candies
The only things lacking were starched
table linen, silver, electric lights and
nunkies. After dinner one of US read Dick
ems Christmas stories aloud while the
Eskimos in furs, with hands washed for
me nrst time In months. sat down to a re-
past not quite as sumptuous as ours
The Christmas dinner was scarcely con-
Guided before giant wall of ice drifted
Gown on the ship, and while the craft hung
TO her mornings, the rudder and rudder
post were torn away, but the hull was not
damaged"
Newfoundlanders Weaken.
Capt Bartlett said the Roosevelt was
good sea boat and that he will sail her to
New York. He is ready to go again to the
Arctic.
First Mate Bartlett cousin of the can
a hn hoe
crew was well paid and well fed bur he
Old not think many OF the Newfoundland
ers would join another expedition IT was a
hard experience. Several other members of
Inc crew, including some of the engineer
staH' expressed similar sentiments Their
complaint was directed not to treatment
py Peary. but to the privations and dan
gers of the work
Worst Danger Nearer Home.
commander Peary said this afternoon:
Finding the north pole is not nearly
Do dangerous as it was to try to avoid
being shipwrecked on the Newfoundland
coast
We had an awful time. We spent eleven
eays IN battle Harbor fighting the under
Tow. which threatened to tear MS fron,
the rocks to which we were secured We
proxe our best anchor and lost countless
ropes Abreast OF Cape ST George the
DAYS we beat back and forth in and ont
OF St Georges bay trying to save the
Roosevelt. 'io
THE vessel is leaking now a little aft
due To the damaged sternpost. Our rudder
guy was carried away and we had to call
At Bonnie bay and put boat over to make
repairs
Asked II dissatisfaction of the crew af
feeted the chances of the expedition Peary
said:
No; one or two OF the men tried to
make trouble. but have since grown
ashamed of themselves. 1t Is not true that
refused TO let them leave the ship They
might have gone had they wanted to- Can't
Bartlett and myself would have brought
her back. The men had food, and their
complaint was that I did not go in for a
fresh supply. as l promised. on the way
back from through Kale basin.
That / did not is because / did not
want another polar disaster for the world
to talk about"
"Dash for the Pole"
The explorer told of his dash for the
pole when he reached -''farthest north"
He said:
Altogether We were f1fty-seven days on
the ice trip. We left the ship on February
q and returned on April 81. The plan was
for light pioneer parfy with nicked doos