Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-12-28

ON THIN ICE


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when Commander Peary. on his lat
sSt "Trip north, lett his winter quarters
al Cape Sheridan and set out On his
dash for the pole" he virtually burn
ed his bridges" behind him. If SO warm
metaphor can be used Of polar work
" lth a small party. equipped with dogs
ana sledges he dashed ahead having
several assisting parties engaged IN
eaching provisions AID bringing up new
supplies.
Unfortunately, all the advance par.
Ties were thrown back on bis by com.
lug upon an open lead" or river OF
ulfrozen water la the Ice, which they
could not pass,
Sending some back. and waiting
many days, during which his enlarged
party made dangerous lnroads on the
supplies, he at last got across on thin
ice with eight men, with short supplies
ana with conviction that proved well
founded that no more supplies coule
come across the lead to him.
Killing their dogs one by one as they
needed them, the party advanced to lat
lIude eighty-seven degrees, six minutes
When all were 30 weak and the supplies
50 scant 1t was evidently certain death
10 so farther; then they turned back
At that moment perhaps Peary alone
realized what the retreat meant. They
bad almost no supplies, and the oper
lead was between them and relief. II
that was uncrossable, they We're doom
ed to speedy death.
When they came to the lead, about
week after turning back, they found II
open, and half a mile wide. For TIVE
days they skirted 1t 10 the eastward
part Of the time during q terrible
storm. Nothing WAS In sight in any
direction but Ice and snow and thii
black water. slowly widening until ii
extended tive miles from the Ice fioe
they were ON to that which stretches
toward them scores of miles from the
northern end OF Greenland.
At last scouts reported a skim Of lea
forming to the eastward. The whole
party hurried tMther. Yes-there wat
Ice across the lead, but 50 Roft and
thin no man could step on i without
going through. At any moment 1t might
break up. Peary tied on his snow
shoes and essayed to step en- the ice
with them. 1t bore him momentarily
but he could not stand still.
This was the only hope OF life. Hast
/ lily snowshoes we're tied oH-and very
/ tightly, since life depended on them
and then the weary, WORKOUT party
stepped gingerly on the Ice and begaH
soft-footed run for the opposite side
The three remaining dogs with the sin
gle sledge scurried with them.
1t was q heart-breaking race, sayi
Commander Peary In his account 81
the voyage. No one dared stop or even
lift his snowshoes. Even as they scuf
fed the Ice swayed and gave with
them. A single misStep might mean
death.
Once Commander Peary stubbed 8
toe into the Ice, and stumbled. and
thought he was lost but he fortunately
recovered. A moment later he heard
similar splash from the rear, bu'
dared not turn his head.
who Is it," he called, but no one
answered. The CLASSY Ice swelled and
fell away, the snOwshocs seemed to
grow every moment heavier; but at last
the two miles were passed, and they
stepped upon the firm Ice of the Green
land foe.
Then Peary turned to see who had
been lost, but his party was entire
The other stumbler had also saved
himself. But an Eskimo, pointing bach
At the Ice, said: az the chief had
been with us he would be down there
now :" The chief engineer weighed
over two hundred and thirJ-dv'
pounds.
Even with the lead crossed the party
was not safe but at last they reached
the Greenland coast, and there, whil'
their last remaining dog worried a bul
musk OK and kept the herd from fee
ing. Peary, so weak he could scarcely
stand, killed enough to furnish food
on which the party ate continuously fol
three days rs they marched along th'
coast toward their ship.