Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28
PEARY ON A|RSH|PS
Does Not Believe in BaIIoonino
to the Pole.
POINTS OUT DIFFICULTIES
They Include Snow, Battling Wind
and Changing Temperature.
DID NOT TRY TO USE WIRELESS
he Says the Arctic is Not a. Safe
Ground for Experiments of ANY
Sort-Trusts Men and Dogs.
POINTS OUT DIFFICULTIES
DID NOT TRY TO USE WIRELESS
he Says the Arctic Is Not a. Safe

BOSTON. November 2S-Mr and Mrs.
X T.. Peary arrived here at fifteen minutes
AFTER y O'Clock last night and left for New
YORK on the midnight train. They spent the
interval In the city as guests of Col W. E.
Haskell of the Boston Herald. who invited
a number of prominent Bostonians to meet
them at the Herald office.
While l don't want to apear as CRITICS.
Ing the plans of others personally, / have
no faith in the airship or allied means for
reaching the north pole" said Commander
Peary on the train in route to this city.
II 1t was possible to bring an airship
to such degre Of perfection that it would
be as reliable as an ocean liner and dirigible
enough to withstand the sudden and re-
markable fluctuations of circumpolar aerial
navigation, and able to go to windward-all
OF which 1t Is not-then we might talk with
reason about balloons and aeroplanes How
ever, these ideas Of electrical sledges and
airships as contrivances on which to reach
the pole are based, 1t seems to me- on la elk
OF knowledge OF prevailing conditions up
there.
AN airship as it Is at present would meet
with insurmountable difficulties, rapid
fluctuations in temperature there being
aDout as herce and as variable as the winds.
Then, the heavy falls of snow weighing on
the balloon would make a very appreciable
di1erence in its weight. with consequent
dlmculties In Its MANAGEMENT
Ihe rise and fall of temperature to the
extent OF difference Of twenty-five degrees
with or without the sun would naturally
nave It's effect on the gas and on the me-
chanical operation of the ship.
The Smiths Sound Route.
have in no way changed my opinion
regarding the proper way to reach the pole
MY allegiance to the Smiths sound or Amer
lean route Is unimpaired l have always
admitted the possibilities Of the drift
method Of reaching the pole, IL ship can
be put into the ice at the proper place.
manned ny men of such temperament as
a campaign which would not be aided in the
least by their own efforts
VI course, 1t is impossible to say how
long such method would require to be
ten years to drift over the pole. or to an
proach sufficiently near it to make # nos
slole FOR sledge parties to reach it without
any extraordinary difficulties.
attempt to use untried or undeveloped
IDEAS IN the polar regions. The far north
Is not safe ground for experiments, as I
nave always maintained, and as 1 have
agencies for travel over the rough ice |
foes and ridges Of the polar seas are the
man and the Eskimo dog
These ideas Of electrical sledges and |
airsnlps as contrivances on which to reach |
the pole are based, it seems to me, on lack |
there. w
The heavy falls of snow Weighing on
Dalloon would make very apprecfable
Inference In its weight, with CONSEQUENT
in its management.
Besides this the minute particles of
snow, long and fine and piercing as nee
lies. due to evaporation of snow and ice.
might affect the chances of the airships'
airworthiness.
Wireless Telegraphy.
II did not use a wireless telegraphy out
1t aboard the Roosevelt because 1 have no
aith In 1t for polar work. The wireless is
n its experimental stage, and it would have |
o be perfected beyond anything it has
lone yet before should care to use it in
ny work.
1.-THE wireless does not operate well in
he arctic. Some of the wireless stations
N the Labrador coast which is the ex-
RENE northern point for the service are
o close together that it is possible to wig
Vag signals from one station to the other
ct messages are unsatisfactory between
hem"
Two of the things Commander Pearv
Offices on coming back to civilization again |
re the pinching of civilized footgear and
he difficulty Of writing with a pen after |
aving used a pencil for so long, He also |
anticipates some difficulty in making his
1ay through the crowds on Broadway,
aVng encountered comparatively few
eople in the uncrowded Broad White
Way that leads to the pole &,
The explorer has with him some fine |
isquimau curios, but perhaps the most | !
nique piece is an Esqumau doll which he
'ill present to President Roosevelt. The |
oil is made of walrus de, with a skin |
ace, and is the clever handiwork of the |
ldest woman in her tribe.
Commander Peary's appearance did NOT |
uggest his having suffered any privations.
lie was slightly tanned and robust He |
aid his health had been excellent In the |
orth station a crowd of people sur
ounded the explorer while the newspaper
photographers took f1ashlight pictures.
hen he and Mrs. Peary climbed into an |
utomobile, going to hotel, where they |
ined.