New-York tribune., 1908-05-18
PEARY HERE FOR MONEY
Wants $4,000 for Ninth Trip IN
Search of the North Pole.

Commander Robert E Pesry who has been in
Washington and who had special conference WIN
THE President, arrived here last night. and Went
to the Grand Union Hotel. He comes here 10 get
II possible. the 5000 which viii be necessary TO
take him on his ninth expedition in search of the
North Pole this summer.
Commander Peary said that he needed 500" TO
make the trip 10 the pole. and while he had as
sarances that he would get at least thiro OF mat
amount he not at all certain that the remain
Ger would be Forthcoming.
The same financial condition has always existed
before nv expeditions. he said, but nave al
ways been hopeful and shortly before the un1e
came for nv departure the necessary funds nave
come in have more confidence now than ever
~ reaching the North Pole. / have given twenty
wears to the work and have the advantage of that
period of experience. and now when success is
within reach I hardly think those persons inter
ested IN the work will fail to respond
a.IfT had +he money myself would give up every
cent Of il 10 the expedition and make no appeal
for assistance but personally 1 have not the funds
and am forced TO appeal 20 my friends ano lhose
interested in the work 10 assist me
Commander Peary said he had forged aneao 10 d
ro,rt ia nautical miles from the pole, which was
nearer than he had ever been before, and that he
would stay in the Polar region for three years If
necessary until the pole had been reached
MY auxiliary vessel. the Roosevelt. is better now
than she was when L took her on the first trip
north" he said She is equipped now with splen-
did Scotch boilers and the forecastle Is larger
which will afford better accommodations Tor the
t7sk,o members Of the party. She is also equipped
with q lugsan forward. which will assist her
greatly when the wind is directly aft
Il have also $4,000 worth OF supplies and equip
r,enr exclusive Of the assurances Of third of the
s,oaa need for the expedition, and L nave the
a6z-antage of the experience Of my last trip north
or the sledges This time. If / get the neces-
sa-v funds I shall follow the north coast Of Grant
Land as far west as Cape Columbia, and possinly
hevond instead OF leaving the land at Point MOSS
&c did before On leaving the land shall make
my course more west of north than before 10
,r.erac- or allow for the easterly set OF the ice
between the north coast OF Grant Lana anu 'iie
pole"
u would have reached the pole on my last rlp
had II moi been for circumstances which caused
pole is within our grasp, and it seems pity tha'
so aa cannot be raised 10 make the possibility an
accomplishment
Commander Peary said that President Roosevelt
had always been interested in his expeditions and
hs5 been Of pronounced moral assistance TO MIN
from the first
The work Of getting funds before going on the
long Journey" continued the explorer. has al
Uavs been hard task. and have gone into the
Arctic tagged out every time But l have sufll-
cjeut energy in reserve to forget everything but
ceived I have approached several wealthy men
and have met with some encouragement. but the
entire amount must be forthcoming before July l
or I will not be able TO start. l know now much
thar ] did not know previous expeditions. and
have ship that has been tried and tested for
Arctic work. and she is the best that can be had
AE her defects have been overcome. and with
that ship and the $1,000 I am positive that can
find the North Pole"