Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-12

pring as soon as there is an indicd
ion of the approach of sunrise
HewinG Way in lee.
| Continuing. he said, when we left
he Roosevelt with Eskimos, dogs and
sledges. we had literally to hew om
way through the ice for the first 81
miles from Cape Columbia Once GU
| If the rough ice. we found compare
| lively smooth going, and we made as
| much Roadway as possible each day
| We tried to make up for lost time, anG
| made forced marches, but suddenly en-
| countered Il blizzard during which pro
| sreSS was impossible. When the storm
| had passed, / found by observations
| shat we had drifted 20 miles to the
east with the ice, and were thus cut
off from our supporting parties and
supplies. In few days we encoun
tered big lead and were delayed six
days waiting until it froze over and
We were enabled to cross with light
loads
Our encounter with the big blizzard
and the delay owing to the open water.
were all. l believe. that prevented our
reaching the pole on this trip.
The Farthest Point.
fApril 20, after several days of hard
marching we started out in the early
morning, and from o'clock until noon
We forged ahead. and at noon | took
observations which showed that we
had reached 81 degrees minutes
north latitude. the nearest approach
to the pole. My reasons for turning
back here were the lack of supplies
and not as has been stated in some
newspapers, the weather conditions or
open water We were far from sup
plies, and our food was scarce. We
might have gone on, and | doubt not,
reached the pole. but under the condi-
tons | believe we could never have
returned
Felt No EXuItatiOn.
AT this time | felt no exultation, as
might have, but instead l had keen
sense of disappointment, for though
we had attained much. we had fallen
short of my expectations. But when |
looked at the wan faces of my COM
panions. and observed the lean condi-
tons of the dogs, l had not the heart
to give the order to continue the
march, but instead turned back
In going back we tried to retrace
our path. but in this found consider
able difficulty. We soon reached the
big lead. which. because it separated
us from land, our companions. and
perhaps life itself. we came to call the
Styx After several days, during which
the lead gradually widened. a thin
crust of ice formed, and with lightened
loads, and exercising the greatest eau
ton. we began the journey over the |
black water With each movement |
the ice swayed under the men, who |
were so feet apart, when we had |
crossed. the signs of relief that came |
from my nearest companions were dis |
tinctly audible. As we looked back, |
we saw a thin black thread of water, |
rapidly widening. that showed us that |
the lead was again being widened by |
the wind and current This was the |
first time in my arctic experiences that |
| doubted coming back alive.
Results of Expedition.
After describing the return journey,
and picturing one incident when he
saved a supporting party that was
nearly exhausted from the struggle |
the ice, Commander Peary in
conclusion spoke of the results of the
expedition. '"The trip placed the at
tainment of the pole 80 per cent near
er. and demonstrated that the Amer
lean methods are the most practical.
An explorer profiting by my experienc-
es. and making a sledge journey from
the same point in a more westward di-
rection. will certainly reach the pole.
Had the winter been normally cold
one I believe we should have reached
the pole on this last voyage. we ac-
too. the filling in of large
gap of the unknown coast line OF
Grant land. and another expedition can
easily complete the gap and perhaps
secure further information of the I'M
known land which we observed to-
ward the Behring straits
The Club Reception and Dinner.
Commander Peary arrived from the
east over the Burlington at Gas and
was met at the station in Davenport
bv a Tri-City Press club delegation
of members of the entertain
ment and reception committees, and
driven direct to the Commercial club
in Davenport where the members and
their ladies had assembled The en-
committee had arranged
with Manager Briscoe of the club for
q splendid dinner. the tables being
spread in the main dining room, the
former presidents Of the club acting as
4 reception committee. During the ev-
ening the Lindello Mandolin club,
which contributed it's services as a
to the press club, dis
delightful music. Commander
Peary was given an ovation as he en-