Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-12
For Reaching North Pole
Cover All Points,
Famous American Explorer Con,
tidsnt Of Attaining Ambition.
will Start About June i0...Steamer
Roosevelt His Choice.

New York, April 1.-THE navy de-
partment at Washington has granted
. another three-years' leave of absence
to Commander Robert E. Peary, the
Arctic explorer and this added TO the
fact that orders had been given to
hurry along the rapid work on the
polar ship Roosevelt, convinced the
friends of Peary that he would have
another expedition ready to sail for
the North pole by June 10. 1t is know n
that he is anxious to get away about
that date.
Commander Peary stated in his lee
lures that if he ever started again to
reach the pole he would take q course
more to the westward from the last
starting point, a thing he learned on
his last trip.
There were only two obstacles that
he encountered in his plans to try
again to reach the goal of his ambi-
ton.
One Of these was the raising Of funds
TO pay the expenses of the expedition
and the other was the necessity of OBJ
tanning a leave of absence from the
navy department. A few days ago the
announcement was made that Com
mander Peary had received Il guaran-
tee of $4,000 for n new expedition.
The other obstacle was overcome
Wednesday, when the navy department
granted the three years leave of alb
sence.
one Of Commander Poary's friends
said that there was now nothing in the
way to prevent going ahead with the
!, q
ton.
In preparation for his seventh polar at
tempt Commander peary has notified
Can't Robert Bartlett of st. Johns to get
ready by May 20, when the Roosevelt will
be in shape. At present he is on leave
of absence from the navy on Il lccturing
tour This leave of absence expires next
Sunday
Herbert L. brigham, the secretary OF
the Peary Arctic Club, when asked
Wednesday night at his home III Brook
Ign for some of the details Of the coming
expedition, said that he had not seen
Commander Peary for several weeks ana
consequently could not talk about the
matter.
Mr. Brdgman said that the new boilers
for the Roosevelt were not more than
half ready, but The work of putting the
ship in shape was well under way, and
that it was possible 10 have the Roose-
welt ready before June l. if Commander
Peary was ready to make a new start
northward at that time.
1T is understood this time Commander
Peary will select his own crew, 50 as TO
avoid trouble. and that nc has already
got the consent Of Roy Marvin, natural
ist, and DR.. Louis Wolff, to accompany
HIM on the trip. To one of his friends
he said he believed that by going further
to the westward than he did on his last
trip. and drifting. h will he able to es-
tablish Il base of supplies near CROUCH to
the pole to enable him to make the trip
there and return over the ice on sledgcS
in less than three months time from the
date of establishing his base.
In oHn Of his recent lectures he said
that his next expedition ought 10 set a
course. not direct for the pole on tho
ovcr-ice sl"dgc journey, but for Il point to
the westward of the pole, 50 as to take
advantage of the eastward drift OF the
ice foes.
The Roosevelt, which was built by the
Pelry Arctic Club. sailed for the polar
Regions on July 1G. 1906, and bot back a
few months ago. She got as far rs Cape
Sheridan, the northernmost point reach
ed by a vessel that had to fight against
ice and Arctic gales. Explorer Nansen's
ship, the Fran. on Sept. s. 1905, got fur
Their, but by drifting.
This time il is Pcarv's intcrtion To
drift with the ice foes as far north rs
possible and then he believes he can
reach the pole by sledge. lie said after
his return from his last trip that if the
season had been normal he would have
done better, but he encountered an Arctic
storm that disabled the Roosevelt for Il
time
After establishing winter quarters near
Cape Sheridan, Peary went over the ice
on a sledgc, but finally his progress was
stopped by leads or open lanes Of water.
lie succeeded in crossing many &c these
after waiting for them to freeze. but the
Young ice compelled the party to leave
much of their supplies behind. rs they
coull only carry half loads on their
sledges.
They then made a dash forward to get
as Lear TO the pole as possible, hut, losir.g
many of their dogs. had To return to
their ship after having planted their silk
flags at s. degrees minutes NORTH.