, 1908-08-01
PEARY'S ARCTIC SHIP WILL START
TO-DAY.
Nv. Y. 7imes, 9th Ju1y)

explOrHtlon steamer "ROOsevelt yesterday
at her berth beside the recreation pier at
the foot of East Twenty-fourth Street.
At l o'clock this afternoon the Roosevelt
will sail. and tonight somewhere in the
Sound, not far from City Island, she will
adjust her compasses preparatory to begin
ming the voyage to Sydney, Cape Breton,
where Commander Peary will go on board.
When the Roosevelt sails this afternoon
she will have on board the members of the
Peary Arctic Club as well as many persons
who are interested in Peary's work and have
contributed to the expenses Of the expedi-
tion. Commander Peary also will be on
board, y navy yard tug will escort the
Roosevelt up the East River through He'll
Gate, and at some point beyond City Island
Peary and his friends will transfer to the
tug and come back to the city.
The invitations to this farewell function
o. board the Roosevelt say that it is a
farewell and godspeed' to Commander
Peary in his forts 'to reach the furthest
northern point on the Western Hemisphere
to promote and maiAtain explorations Of the
polar regions" Among those who will be
on board when the Roosevelt sails will be
Gen. Thomas L. Hubbard, President Zenas
Crane, vi Q President Herbert L. Bridg-
man, Secretary aud Treasurer, and JoLn ".
Flagler, Anton Raven, and Henry Paris h,
who with Commander Peary make up the
Directorate of the Peary Arctic Club.
While the thousands who visited the
Roosevelt were looking over the craft yes
terday the scientific members Of Peary's
party and the crew were busy getting every
thing ready for the start to day. DR.. Good
sell, the surgeon Of the expedition, was
busy arranging his laboratory, for it is his
intention while in the arctic to make a mi
croscopic study of the various diseases that
af1ict the Eshimos.
Commander Peary had a busy last Sunday
in New York. He was up soon after 4
o'clock, and at 5 was on board the Roosevelt
to see that the final preparations were under
way. Then he went back to the Grand
Union Hotel, looked over his mail, and re.
ceived his friends. The afternoon he gave
to his family. Tomorrow morning, with
Mrs. Penry, he Will go to Oyster Bay, whore
they will have luncheon with the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt at Sycamore Hill.
After the luncheon the President Will go
on board and inspect the Roosevelt, which
will anchor off Sycamore Hill tomorrow
afternoon. When the President leaves the
ship she will sail for Sydney. Commander
Peary will leave the vessel with President
Roosevelt anil return to New York. To-
morrow night he will leave by raj for sgd
ney.
An important part or the cargo on the
Roosevelt is the large assortment of useful
presents that Commander Peary is taking
north for his friends the Eskimos. He
knows everybody in the tribe except the
babies born since his visit, and not a person
has been forgotten. The presents are all
staple things, for on his first expedition to
the polar regions Commander Peary found
that the eskimo desired only those things
that were useful to them. They cared not
for beads, fancy clothes or toys.
81 am taking a lot of things for my faith.
full friends UP there" said Commander Pea
~ last night. FSome of them are presents
pure and simple, while the rest will be used
IN paying them for the services they render
me. T. would be rtt11;;ccTTlo,,- % offer them
money. They have no conception Of the
unit of value. / am taking the men such
things as guns. ammunition, knives, steel
shoes for their sledges, hammers, hatchets,
and other useful tools. Those are the things
they desire and prize the most.
.sFor the women I have large quantities
of needles, thimbles, scissors, and mirrors.
They do not want beads, nor do they have
any desire for the fancy things that the
Indians banker for. The mirror is the
nearest thing to a luxury that appeals to
them, and I have a sufficient supply on
hoard the Roosevelt to last them for wears