Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
WALRUS HIDE AND
"0UR FATHER" KEPT
PEARYS MEN ALIVE
Weird Story of the Trip is Out
at Last.
SOME VERY ODD TRAILS
Yarns of the Crew Differ From the
Master Explorer.
WON'T SAIL IN THE ROOSEVELT
Men Of the Forecastle Say They Have
Had Enough Of the Ship
for Awhile.
SOME VERY ODD TRAILS
Yarns of the Crew Differ From ths
Master Explorer.
WON'T SAIL IN THE ROOSEVELT

Inc tale OF some of the crew of
the Roosevelt and the explorer him.
self seem to differ in small measure.
Peary admits that all was not plain
sailing, and he tells OF hardships on
the Journey through the snow-clad
and lce-bound north, but one of the
men in the forecastle says that it
was the time-honored, prattling
prayer "Our Father" said with
freezing breath among the bergs in
the iceland and walrus hide that
kept life. A weird, plain tale of the
north is told.
Special Dispatch to The Star
SYDNEY, November 24-Peary's arctic
ship Roosevelt may have to ship a new
crew before she leaves this port for New
York. She is booked to sail Thursday, Mo-
vember 70, Thanksgiving day. Members of
her arctic crew, grouped in her forecastle
this morning said that they would absolute
ly decline to sail on her unless she were put
in dry dock and thoroughly repaired.
An air of dissatisfaction was distinctly
noticeable in the forecastle when none Of
the officers were present.
We know what that vessel is like" ono
wearing years growth of whiskers re.
marked In his Newfoundland dialect. I'VE
know what she's like and we say by all dis
and dat we won't go on her without she's
fixed good"
Charlie Clarke, one Of the crew who, Of
all the men, still bore some signs of ter.
rible hardships, told something of what
it means to stare right into the eyes Of
death among the snow and ice of the arc.
tic region.
Matt Ryan and me went not from the
ship in da spring. 1t was spring for shure,
but dare wasn't no birds and flowers and
green grass. We went mort an mort an
says Ryan to me, bye for shore we get
da pole by our lonesome and We laugh
jolly as boys.
Den 1t began to snow, an'-we was lost
1t snow for four days an our grub-you
eats anything-so we ate da dogs all Of
dem, and by an by dey is all gone. Dog
is good eatin'. 1t tastes like rabbit, only
tough We gets hongry an hongry. an
not talk to each oder. One day / grabbed
lives on dat
Tough and Salty.
ut was tough chewing and tasted salty.
but it kept us from dying
I'VE got weaker an weaker an eat was
coming fer shore. Den | got down In da
snow an writ our names. Den Ryan says
pray, AMI started to write da our Fader,
couldn't fast. Den we were picked up by
da commander an got back safe. Da prayer
only wrote parts of it. De last was about
forgive us our trespasses."
No matter what the men have to say
about the hardships and dangers, they are
unanimous in their admiration ard praise
Of Commander Peary, whom they ..esg-
nate daring, brave, clever man. They
will all feel badly at parting. Danger OF
death, when shared together for many
binds men inexplicably and 1t is
this bond that these men of the Roosevelts
crew feel now. That they will refuse to go
to New York seems definite Capt. Bart
lett is trying for new crew.
Early today some of the men had a chunk
of walrus meat run up in the rigging for
the benefit of visitors who approached the
vessel from all sides in all kinds of craft,
but later 1t was cut down. The Roosevelt
shows many signs of her arctic stay. Here
and there one sees a cast-off Esquimo har.
ness or piece of walrus side deerskin,
and aft, on the quarterback, two holfish,
clumsy Esquimo puppies, Kate and Jack,
tumble over each other to make friends
with everybody.
Their mother reclines in the empty boat
left by the Alert expedition and found by
Peary. 1t is stored on the beams in the
Roosevelt's hold, and there are other dogs,
wolf-like brutes, savage to all but Percy,
their tender, who crawis among them while
they jump all over him and lick his face.
Relics of Esquimaux.
The forecastle of the Roosevelt still bears
evidences Of the presence of Esquimaux.
who had the freedom Of it during the win-
.er's stay in the north. The crew de-
scribes how the whole ship was covered
with masses of snow to a depth of several
'eet
When the long arctic nights set in. dark
sning windows and portfolios and skylights.
seventy Esqulmaux were on board. Men,
,ers of the crew say that Peary is taking
logs home with him to raise and train,
and that he will use Esquimaux only for
guides next time. The crew say that ii was
he presence of so many Esquimaux. all big
eaters that depleted the provision stock
The Esquimau according to the crew. ara
utterly savage, although they have some
knowledge of an unseen power. They have
no marriage other than that of choice and
force, and yet they instinctively observe the
laws Of blood relationship. The natives
Peary had with him this time are of the
most northerly tribes. They have fought
against the intrusion of missionaries, de.
,laring that they have heard of the de-