New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-28
PEARY'S FIRST TRIP
B4CKERS DISSATISFIED.
For Financial did They ReceiUed
Slim Report and a Feuo Skins.
LRy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

GBy Telegraph to The Tribune
Philadelphia, Sept. 27.-Seventeen years ago last
Thursday Communication IAeutenant-Peary re-
turned to Philadelphia from his first polar e1pedi-
tiOn which was organized and financed by the
Academy OF Natural Sciences OF this city on con-
dition that complete sets of specimens collected
and observations made should belong TO and be the
property OF the academy
The academy has received from Peary one pre-
limnary narrative filling nine pages OF It's PRO
ceedngs' for 1892 AMI forty-six bird skins. These
facts recorded in the archives OF the academy.
DIR. Frederick A Cook member OF this ex-
petition. and of him Peary says In the report
mentioned
The report would be incomplete without an
acknowledgment OBJ my obligation to Or. COok-a
patient and skilfuI surgeon. interchangeable work
er. earnest student of the peculiar people
among whom lived: he has obtained. believe.
a record of the tribe unapprOachable in ethn0log-
icd archives
While Peary was on this expedition he sent a
collection OF Esquimau curios to Professor +. w.
Putnam. chief of the department of ethnOlogy at
the Worlds Fair. Chicago. This statement is
based on the following letter. written BY Pesry TO
Professor BENJAMIN Sharp. another member OF
the expedition and dated Mccormick Bay. Green
land July -. 1891:
Dear Sir: I turn To you the following
tcles illustrative OF the life Of the Arctic Highland
Whale Sound. the same TO be taken home in the
Kite In your charge and forwarded to Professor y.
az the Worlds Columbian Exposition. chicago.
Putnam viii cover such additional articles as YOU
obtain on the return o T P
nam native stone house and series Of good
plete the exhibit shall be able TO obtain here
r. E PEARY. U. s. n.
The articles referred 70 as enumerated in the re-
port Of the academys special committee which
appointed 10 examine into Peary's
were: one EsquImau skin tent and frame, one fox
trap. one Esquinau woman's knife. one bone drink
ing cup. one Esqumau sledge. EsquImau bone
knife stone blubber dish and three stone lamps
As the Kite came up the Delaware on September
2. 1884, Peary asked the academy Official who met
him what he should do with his Esqumau dogs 1t
suggested that they be sent 10 the Zoo in this
CITY and he accepted the suggestion. The next
day he took the dogs out 20 the Zoo. and Il Is
st the Impression that Peary presented them
a gift.
special Enclosure was prepared at
pense and the dogs advertised a feature.
People came in crowds 20 see them, and every one
delighted. until afternoon Peary visited the
Zoo. lie said he had 10 have the dogs right away
10 exhibit In New York city. and took them with
him. That was tfe last heard OF them by either
the Zoo or the academy.
The acRdemy's aid was extended Peary after he
had almost despaired OF ever being able % obtain
financial support for his desired quest OF the pole
With the exception OF 81 800 given by Professor
Putnam. all the money raised In this city The
academy feels that It has been sighted on the pres
ent occasion. when Peary did not notice II BY
sending IL dispatch That he appreciated its
part is testified by the last paragraph his report
TO the institution. wherein he SAYS;
Finally. desire to thank the academy most sin
cerey for the quick and efficient interest and as
sistance with which Il honored my project less ha
safety OF the expedition. resulting the dispatch
OF the Kite northward last summer thus relieving
my party OF the last possible element OF serious
hardships. | assure the academy that my personal
qualification In having been enabled 10 carry out
enhanced by the feeling that this good fortune Is
| equally gratifying to my fellow members.
| The acedemy's committee which raised $4,000
| for Peary. composed OF Professor Isaac Mar
tindale Charles d. Perot and Theodore D. Rand
II made thorough investigation OF She charges
that Peary had not kept faith in regard 10 speci-
mems. and, while the letter quoted was evidence
that he must have made prior arrangement
| with Professor Putnam, no member OF the acad-
| emys council which carried all negotiations
| with :he explorer, hGd ever heard OF any such
arrangement In It's report this committee said;
We have not found that any notice OF this agree
| nent was ever reported to the council. Is any
reference 10 II contained in the report of the North
Greenland expedition committee. made Just prior to
the departure OF the expedition and read in council
| May p, 1891
The minutes of the council meeting on the date
mentioned substantiate the report In this particu
lar. they contain the stipulation heretofore
noted, and in addition to this official record OF its
acceptance by Peary. the letter given him by
collections and reports OF observations may be
made by both sections of the expedition are 20 he
Natural Sciences OF Philadelphia the former to
/ be placed In the museum
The academy for its expenditure OF nearly Oo0
on FeaTy secured "A brief narrative and forty-six
/ bird skins. while 10 Professor Putnam. who had
contributed 81 ~ to the undertakings was sent the
collection OF interesting and valuable curios else
where enumerated.