The San Francisco call., 1909-09-16
PfARY'S NEGRO
REACHED POLE
WITH EXPLORER
CoIored Man and Four Eskimos
Accompanied Commander
on His Dash
Dusky Lieutenant Tells OF his
Reaching and Raising Flags
on the big Nail"
Praises Leader of Expedition
for Marvellous Endurance OF
the Long Arctic Trip
the Long Arctic Trip

; ~ ATTLE HARBOR. Labrador, Sept
hl5 Cby wireless. Cape Ray. \. F)-
Live hoisted the stars and stripes
twice at the north pole" said Matthew
Henson. Commander Robert Z. Peary's
colored lieutenant. and the only other
civilized man. according TO Peary who
ever reached the pole.
Henson then gave to the Associated
Press an account of one night and two
DAYS he and Commander Peary and four
Eskimos camped AT 90 degrees north
latitude. Henson assisted in raising the
American flag, and he led the Eskimos
in the cheers. an extra cheer for old
glory in the Eskimo tongue being
given.
Having passed IS years with Com
mander Peary and a considerable por-
ton of that time in the arctic said
Henson. i have acquired a knowledge
OF the dialect of northern Greenland
Eskimos, who probably are superior to
any other. AS is commonly known to
travellers in the far north, the Eskimo
any tongue but. one and it is therefore
necessary for successful dealing with
them TO study their unwritten Ian
gusge.
Reached Pole at Noon
We arrived at the pole just before
noon, April 6. the party consisting of
the commander, myself. four Eskimos
and 3s dogs. divided into two detach-
ments equal in number and I1eaded re-
spectively by Commander Peary and
N myself We had left the last support
'fng party at 81 degrees SO minutes.
where we separated from Captain
Bartlett. who was photographed by the
commander.
Captain Bartlett regretted that he
did not have q British flag 10 erect on
the ice at this spot. so that the photo
might show this as the farthest north
to which the banner OF Great Britain
had been advanced.
L kept a personal diary during this
historical dash across the ice field Our
first task on reaching the pole was to
build two igioos, as the weather was
hszy and prevented taking accurate
observations to confirm the distance
travelled from Cape Columbia. Hav-
ing completed the snow houses we had
dinner, which included tea made on our
alcohol stove and then retired to rest.
thus sleeping one night at the north
pole.
Arctic Sun Shining
The arctic sun was shining when
swoke and found the commander al
ready up. There was only wind enough
TO blow out the small flags. The en-
signs were hoisted toward noon from
tent poles and tied with fish lines.
We had figured out the distance
pretty close and did not go Beyond the
pole. The flags were up about mid
day April and were not moved until
late that evening The haze had
cleared away early, but we waited
some hours to make observations. We
made three close together.
When we first raised the American
flag, its position was behind the igloos
which. according to our initial observa-
lions. was the position Of the pole. but
on taking subsequent observations the
stars and stripes was moved and placed
$50 yards west of the first position, the
difference in the observations being
due perhaps TO the moving ice
When the flag was placed. Comman-
der Peary exclaimed in English: We
viii plant the stars and stripes at the
north pole
Cheers for North Pole
In the native language I proposed
three cheers, which were given in the
Eskimos' own tongue Commander
Peary shook hands all around and we
had more liberal dinner than usual,
each man eating as much as he pleased
The Eskimos danced about and showed
great pleasure that the pole at last
was reached For years the Eskimos
had been trying TO reach that spot,
but IL was always with them .Tiquelgh,'
which translated means. Get so far and
no closer They exclaimed in chorus,
Ting neigh tinlah ketisher,' meaning
We have got there at last"
Henson, who reached the farthest
north with Peary three years ago, said
that conditions were aboift the same
at the pole as elsewhere in the artctic.
circle. All was solid sea of ice with
= two fot lead of open water two miles
from the pole. The Eskimos who went
along on the final hap were Ootah.
Egingwah, Ouzaueeah and Sigloo, the
two first named being brothers. Com
uander Peary took photographs of
Henson and the Eskiinos waving flags
and cheering.
Negro at the Pole
ssr1,. rero~f is absolutely un1rle shat