Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
BACK FROM THE ARCTIC
RETURN F~CoMMANDER PEARY
TO WASHINGTON.

Commander Robert f. Peary, u. .. NJ
who. in the good ship Roosevelt. recently
reached the most northern point ever
gained by man. white or Esquimau. re-
turned to Washington last night with his
wife, and will spend sure-enough Thanks
giving day with her and the two little tots
he hasn't seen for ear and a half.
Commander Peary celebrated his return
from the unthermometered region above
the arctic circle by catching cold. He ad-
mitted last night, between sneezes and
sniffies, that it seemed particularly silly
thing to do. but explained, in a compre-
hensive and scientific manner that was
entirely unintelligible to The Star reporter,
that 1t was to be expected, after all.
Commander Peary came over from New
York on the Congressional Limited and
reached his home shortly after o o'clock.
He looked strong and active and healthy,
and with his sack coat open and no over
coat in sight. he carried his heavy suit
case from train to street car and from
street car to his front gate, swinging along
at a rate that indicated just how glad he
was to be near home again.
The explorer was good enough to re-
ceive few callers at his home last even
ing after his return, but announced that
today belonged to his family, and he didn'
intend to venture out Of the house, and
even to receive his best friends.
Besides" said Commander Peary II am
simply tired to death and could sleep the
clock around If had half a chance
Mr.. Peary has made no clans as yet that
have to do with his brief stay in Washing
ton at this time. He will call at the White
House to see President Roosevelt and let
the chief executive know by first hand
some of the leading incidents of the me Z
successful voyage Of the Roosevelt craft
Tomorrow he will report at the Navy De-
partment and Saturday or perhaps next
Monday he will return to New York. All
nd nfh dofo
concerning the voyage toward the pole are
still on the Roosevelt.
Best Way to the Pole.
Commander Peary is more than ever con-
WINGED that the best way-in fact, the only
feasible and practicable way-of reaching
the pole Is by dogs and sledges. By this
method. he points out. the main problem to
be solved is that of the food supply in
connection with speed. North of the region
OF broken ice and occasional open water
there is solid ice. the explorer says, and
consequently the going is easier. He thinks
that the pole will be discovered just as
surely as the sun shines and that the dis
covery will not be postponed until far in
the future. He believes. moreover, that 1t
will be discovered by the dog and sledge
method; by party carrying sufficient food
to last until the pole is found and then on
the return journey depending partly on the
remainder of the original food supply and
partly on 1000 cached along the way FOR
use in the emergencies of the return. 1t
will be. he believes. "a dash for the pole
that will be successful in reaching the
long-sought goal of explorers.
with the exception of the question of
dogs and food" said Commander Peary,
Il do not consider that the difficulties in
the way Of reaching the pole increase as
one goes toward 1t from the point reach
ed. / mean that the cold is no more in
tense: that the open cuts. or clear water
In the ice, do not appear to increase nearer
the pole The ice is smoother also as the
mainland is left behind. The discovery of
the pole may be summed up in this way.
1t depends entirely on whether the dogs
and sledges can transport the food for the
length of time required to make the trip
and return. / am confident 1t can be
done
Another Try for the Pole.
Commander Peary would not say whether
or not he intended to make another try for
the pole. He indicated that he wanted to
rest from the present trip first Neither
would he say anything concerning the al
legged trouble with the crew Of the Roose-
welt. save to indicate that reports had been
very much exaggerated.
The explorer was asked for his opinion
concerning the Walter Wellman-Chicago-
Record-Herald balloon expedition by which
1t is expected to reach the pole. Com
mander Peary wouldn't say very much
about the proposition, but indicated that he
didn't consider 1t practicable. 's-