The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-28


boiler battery of thk Scotch type
Other work upon her fiiI be only the
effecting Of repairs and some slight
changes in detail to add to her con-
venienee
THE plan of campaign, the route,
she methods will be practically the
same as the last time The expedition
WI start north the latter part of June
IL 1 succeed in raising the necessary
funds for equipment and supplies"
Comma nder PeaFy made this. his first
official statement. TO me regarding his
forthcoming expedition to the north
pole. and he has supplemented II with
tire following interview In which he
touches upon some valuable and inter
esting points In connection with his last
trip-tbe trip upon which he succeeded
in planting the Stars and Stripes nearer
the pole than has any other flag ever
waved before.
Although almost constantly lecturing
upon his exploratory experience to en-
thusiasfic audiences all over the cOun-
try and having written detailed ac-
count of his experiences in his latest
book Nearest the Pole" the COM
rrander has by no means exhausted his
stock of interesting information in his
books or upon the lecture platform.
The Man.
AS the writer the lecturer, the man
who stands highest in the history of
exploratory achievements, Commander
Peary Is a we'll known figure In the
public eye. AS the informal. kindly
gentleman with whom one may visit
as with ones friends he is not so well
known. 1t was in this latter light that
the writer had the pleasure of seeing
and hearing this remarkable man who
has doIe more for America in polar
iexplor ktOry achievement than has ever
been done by any man for any other
country.
Commander Peary is a man at once
gentle and forceful. In his manner he
lis genial. responsive. and speaks and
carries himself with simple dignity
which impresses one at once. Here,
one feels. is a man who has seen and
felt and lived among big things. man
who has wrestled with the elemental
forces, whose perspective has been, as
It were, limitless. He is reposeful, with
the repose which comes TO man who
has Sved in the open-who has faced
an infnity of land and sea and sky
without SO much as leaf or a distant
llnasthedd to break the vast horizon.
He speaks in few words-but every
word tells. He yuses no extravaganza,
mo superlative because his subject is so
great that only the simplest phraseol-
ogy can convey its greatness.
The first statement which Conn.,
niander Peary made to me was so char
acteristic of, not only the man. but the
American, that 1t most aptly prefaces
this interview.
II Is Not Only Our Privilege, but Our
Duty, to Be the DISCOVERIES of the
North Pole.
4z-l,a ,,,f,,,-,1 1,,,,,,,5-.,- e 81 r-,,s.z
States on the north is the north pole |
nothing else. In this last expedition
have brought the Stars and Stripes
within 200 miles of the pole, and I am |
fully persuaded that the conquest of /
those remaining 200 miles will be the |
glory of the United States. The ROose- |
Welt. in which my last voyage was
made, is the first American ship built |
for Arctic exploration. Constructed of /
American timber in an American ship |
yard, upon plans which were the result /
of American experience. fitted with /
American machinery, the Roosevelt !
went north by what is known as the |
American route. as typical American /
entry in the great international race /
for the north pole. So far she holds |
the championship flag. She must not |
let go that flag, for its proper and per-
manent place is upon the same mast |
head from which futter the Stars and |
Stripes"
Significance of Reaching Pole.
To the question-what is the real mo-
tive-the biggest significance of reach |
Ing the pole? Commander Peary re-
piled without hesitation:
The attainment OF the pole spells |
national prestige. For three centuries |
some Of the best men in the best coun- |
tries have devoted their lives to this |
quest and without success The con-
quest of the north pole is the last great |
geographical prize which the world has /
10 offer TO adventurous man. For that /
reason 1 feel by every right that this /
great country OF ours should be the /
winner. Once won there will be no
future challenge. To the first con- 1
aueror belongs the spoils and the glory. |
Entirely regardless of any intrinsic /
value, the discovery of the pole will 4
be as distinct a milestone in the history |
of the globe as was the discovery of /
America by Columbus.
Value Of Polar Exploration.
But the scientific value of these. ex-
plorations. I suggested. must be OF in
estimable importance. What has been
gained, so far. in the cause of science?
THE efforts which have been carried /
on for the past 300 years to find the |
pole" said Mr.. Peary, .'have resulted /
in securing a very large amount of sci
entifsc material and information and of /
greatly widening our geographical hor-
lion. Still more important information 1
is yet TO be obtained from the remain
ing great UNEMPLOYED area. and par
in this case in connection with
the Polar sea, the photography of
which is entirely unknown. And yet,
in any way desiring to detract
from the value of such work and re-
suits. 1 feel that the great meaning of
this conquest lies not in these. 1t is,
rather a matter of national sentiment;
and the fact that the north pole is a
trophy which the proudest nation in
the world Will be glad 10 win and wear
looms very large to me-"
What Lies Beyond.
And now for the question which the
world is asking-which you have doubt
less pondered-and perhaps found the