Ellsworth American., 1907-04-03

sleoges TO penetrate the frigid and
hitherto unexplored territory way to the
northward OF the Greedy, the Morse and
the Peary expeditions OF previous years,
The four men remaining were to provide
food and comfort for the score Of women
left at the ship.
1t had been slow work making their
way by vessel through the latter 900 miles
OF glacier ice, but their actual test OF
endurance was to come. Only master
engineer could work the Roosevelt through
small channels, amid piled-up ice vary
ing from six feet to thirty above the sides
OF their floating home. In the course of
twenty-four hours, in its meanderings
through zigzag channels, the Roosevelt
would often be carried ten miles farther
to the south than she had been at the
beginning of the day.
The coaler Utah had gone along to
furnish fuel for the Roosevelt. The
party left some coal en- route, to be used
in returning. After leaving Labrador
the Roosevelt ran out Of coal, and was
compelled to cut away some OF the beams
for fuel and to burn a large amount Of
seal and whale OIL
After leaving the vessel Commander
Peary and his followers set out overland
as far as Cape Columbia. Then they drove
their dog teams over the ocean OF ice.
Finally, after weary journeys, having been
divided into three sections by the break
ing up Of glacier-ice, the parties were re-
united. Where Commander r. E. Peary
constructed his last monument OF ex-
pioration it was 81 degrees, 8 minutes
north latitude. Here the Stars and Stripes
were unfurled.
GETTING FOOD DURING THE EXPEDITION.
Thr question OF food, as well as fuel,
was for time grave one. Some OF the
dogs were butchered for food, both for the
men and the remaining dogs. A large
number of dogs, TOO, at one time died from
poisoning, caused by eating canned whale
meat. Only four OF the dogs were alive
when the party returned to New York on
tho twenty fourth day of December, 1905.
These are priced very highly.
For the most part, however, the Peary
company was fortunate in the problem of
IoOu. 1HeTt WIS IL sDEt VI SEA iO"t tdlltu
aux, about the size of robin, that was
delicious. Tie Eskimos kill these birds
by the ton. 1t is an industry among the
Eskimo women, who capture them in
large nets. Brant, ducks and geese are
abundant in many sections OF the Arctic
region. The party which remained at the
Roosevelt caught large quantity of
handsome salmon and trout from two
fresh water lakes, Chief Wardwell caught
some in the lake from which drinking
water was obtained, that were thirteen
inches in length, and in Hazel lake, over
two feet long. Eskimos spear these big,
handsome fellows for food throughout the
year.
In the winter OF 1876, Capt. Morse AID
crew wintered nearly as far north in their
vessel Alert, This Peary party found and
read letter written by Capt. Morse,
erected at his most northern point. A
shovel was found near the grave of one of
the Morse party, who died and was buried
thousands of miles from his native home.
A can opener of mammoth proportions
was also found, a relic of this expedition.
On its blade were the letters ~. C. D."
cut deeply into the steel. Chief WardwelI
brought this home among his many
souvenirs.
The GreeIy party which hibernated in
that icy country in 1882, left quantity of
things also to prove they had been there.
This party, it will be remembered, Con-
structed house, abandoning their vessel
during the winter months. In this house
were found dishes, napkins and many
other things. Chief Wardwell brought
his wife a handsome china plate from the
Greedy home, also a napkin which is in
exactly as good a state of preservation as
when left there twenty-five years ago. 1t
is SO cold that nothing decays or even
molds in this degree of latitude, and
unless something extraordinary takes
place, such things were left by these ex-
plorers will remain good for centuries to
come.
DRESSED FOR FRIGID WEATHER.
The chief article of dress of the Peary
party was coolatah or coat. This came
ABOUT TO tHe kHece. II waS hanuiactuf0u
of Scottish deerskin and was put on in
the same way as sweater, cord lacing
tightly about the throat. This fur is
much nicer than our deerskin. 1t is fine
and very thick. On the head was worn
hood made of the same material or seal,
lined with purest white fox. Boots, with
legs coming to the knees, were made of
,bn,x ,y,t lx,r
garb Chief Wardwell said he could with
stand weather of almost any degree of cold
ness The women wore nearly the same
dress as the men, save that their boots
were longer and they had sort of girdle
of white fox skin outside their inner
dress, thus allowing their coats to be worn
shorter, than those of their husbands. In
+L;a draso ha xuou,ap yyifhsfood the cold