The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-11-03
WHAT |NSP|REDPEARY
Reading Dr.. Kane's Arctic ExpIo-
Jrations, Says Boyhood Chum.
FIRED HIS EARLY IMAGINATION

Judge e. c. Reynolds Pictures the Ex.
plorer curIed Up Before the Fire
place 0evourins the Old Volume.
Natural Leader as a Boy.
Judge Edward G. Reynolds Of South
Portland, Me-, who is one of Com
mander Peary's oldest and most init
mate friends, having been his compan-
ion in boyhood, recently told about the
arctic explorers early life and what
led him to seek the north pole. He
said:
81 have at my house a copy of DR..
Kane's book on arctic exploration, pub
lished, l think, about 1855 or 1856,
which, I believe, was the first inspira-
ton Commander Robert E. Peary re-
ceived for exploration in the arctic
regions.
1T is even now, in the light Of all
we know and in these days of fine H.
Illustrations and good printing, an ex-
cellent volume. The old woodcut pic
lures Of Eskimo huts and their sledges,
Of the dog teams and the vessels stuck
In the ice foes, are even now interest
Ing to look upon, and I can just pic
ture to myself Bert Peary, as I have
always known him, curled up before
the fireplace with this book in his lap
and reading Of these remarkable ex-
periences of almost the first among the
arctic explorers. I don't imagine that
he then had any idea that he would
be an explorer himself in those re-
gions or that he would one day come
home with the honor of having discov-
cred the north pole, but because this
volume ono claimed the attention Of
Commander Peary and fixed his
thoughts upon such things I prize 1t
highly.
Natural Leader as a Boy.
II think 1 first remember Bert Peary
when we were about six years old. He
was then living with his mother at the
home Of Freeman T. Evans, in Pleas
antdale. Mrs. Peary and Mrs. Evans,
whom every n called Aunt Eliza
were great friends, and when Mrs.
Peary came to live at Cape Elizabeth
oAlCl liz AuoDuuO , uculu Sic tcIy
soon made her home with Mrs. Evans.
"Bert Peary was at my home almost
as much as he was at his own. In
fact, as boys and young men our rela-
lions We're almost as close as those Of
brothers, and l believe I know him as
well as 1 would a brother.
1--WE went to school together for
mn v-0O,sc ,,1or06 fcrofhor md 1o1
by him, for he was a natural leader,
we roamed about all of this country
near u homes, always seeking the
life in the open and the adventures
which boys seek. 1 recall especially
that he was very fond Of skating.
That was a sport which we both en-
joyed, and we passed many hours to-
gether upon the ice in the winter time.
He was always daring, courageous and
energetic. From the earliest time it
seemed that Peary had an inclination
to seek those things pertaining to the
sciences or natural history. He made
collections Of snakes, which he knew
all about, and often l have seen him
catch them and snap off their heads
with a quick jerk Of his arm, a trick
none of the other boys cared to do.
Had Mania For Birds Eggs.
"He had a mania for the collection of
birds eggs when we were about ten
or twelve years old, and he made as
fine a collection as any I ever saw. 1
think he had about every kind Of
egg that could be obtained in these
regions. That was before it was re-
garded as a crime for a boy to rob
birds nests. l made a collection, too,
but mine was not as good as Peary's,
for he had a natural aptitude for such
things. He was very observing Of
birds and animals in the woods and
made a study of them, which as a boy
I have always thought was quite re-
markable. 1t shows, If nothing more,
that from the earliest time he had a
decided inclination for the pursuit of
the natural sciences, and since then he
has shown the world how well devel-
oped this faculty was.
II vas at Washington in 1884 as
clerk in the lighthouse department,
and I remember very we'll the first
time l called upon Peary there. He
was then a civil engineer in the navy
and had been for three years or lore.
I don't just recall where his room
was at the time, but when I went to
see him I found him on the floor at
work upon something. I asked him
what it was, and he said: I am max
ing a sledge. I have studied those Of
arctic explorers, and I think I can
make a much better sled than any Of
those they have used
HE then told me that he intended
to 60 to the arctic regions and that
he was saving up his leaves of alb
ence for that purpose and intended
to take three or four months and
make an expedition to Greenland. I
attempted to discourage him, but he
said that he intended to make the
trip and thought that there were great