Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-09-15
FROM FAR LABRADOR
COMES GREAT NEWS

and another meteorological surveys
and third, Of six picked men with
dogs, for the last dash to the pole.
while the first two followed more
slowly as supporting parties and es-
tablished bases of supplies for the
return trip.
When the Roosevelt sailed north
ward July 7, 1908, Lieutenant Peary
left behind the record of his explora-
tions and letters to friends and his
children to be opered if Le never re-
turned.
That Lieutenant Peary's friends
foresaw that criticism was likely to be
evoked by DR. Cooks claims and UNI
dertook to guard against such stu
alton, is shown by the remarkable
plan arranged for reporting tie dis
covery hoped for.
1t was agreed that if Peaiy fo7nd
the pole he would notify the world II
a simple sentence. Then the mes
senger from his publishers was to
start north for Cape Chidley, Labra-
dor, and wait there until the Roose-
Welt approached. Peary was to de-
liver the racket containing his ae-
count of the expedition with photo
graphs u films, and with these the
messenger was to return south while
the Roosevelt proceeded to Hudson
bay, where she would be lost to civil
ization for six weeks. Peary how
ever, abandoned the plan at the last
moment, saying:
Newspapers and tt public always
treated me fairly and owe it to them
to give all the information they want.
have no right to withhold important
data from the world at large"
When Peary set new boilers in the
Roosevelt's hold, before he started
the last expedition, he had a difficult
time to raise money. So close was
the pinch that when the president
came to the Roosevelt at Oyster Bay,
July Z, 1908, to say farewell and good
luck, he found the craft clean but
actually shabby, because Peary did
not have money to paint her.
Mat Hansen. Peary's negro servant,
has been with Peary more than 20
years. If he was alive. he has been
at the pole with his commander, the
first man of his race.
Ambition Accomplished.
In reaching the pole, Peary
achieved the ambition of his life. He
was born at Cresson, Pennsylvania,
May 6, 1858. but in early youth his
family removed to Maine.
Lieutenant Peary graduated from
Bowdoin college in 1877. He always
closely studied Arctic exploration
He entered the navy as civil engin-
eer, in 1891, and served on the boat
which surveyed the route of the Mica
raguan canal
In 1S86he obtained leave of absense
to visit Greenland, and in the same
year, began the first of seven expe-
ditions to the north, all attended by
hardship, some with suffering and
want, but he persevered tenaciously.
He won medals from the American
geographical society, the Royal Geo.
graphical society, the London, Scott
ish Geographical society, honors
never accorded in equal number to
any other American. In the navy, he
won the title of Commander" and
the government recognized the value
of his explorations by granting re-
peated leaves of absence. In 1903.
he was made president of the Amer
lean Geopraghical society.
Lieutenant Peary's domestic life
Is so happy that enforced absence
was one of his greatest hardships.
In 1888, he married Josephine Die
bisch, who at various times accom-
panied her husband a considerable
distance northward. Upon one of
these trips a daughter was born, who
for time held notoriety rivaling
that of her father, as the only white
child born within the Arctic circle