Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-09-18
pEARY'S OWN STORY Of
TRIP TO NORTH POLE

us by forced marches. we proceeded
nortbward. The sounding Of the lead
gave 10 fathoms. During this march
We crossed the saith parallel and ira.
versed a succession of lust-frozen leads
from a few yards to a mile in width.
This march was really simple.
ION the 14th we got free of the leads
and came on decent going. While we
were making camp a courier from
Marvin came and informed me he was
on the march in the rear. The tenn
perature was 50 below.
The following morning, March Ii.
| SEM Hansen with his division north
to pioneer a trail for FIVE marches.
and DIR. Goodsell, according to the pro
gram, started back to Cape Columbia.
At night Marvin and Borup came
spinning in with their men and dogs
steaming In the bitter air like a squad
ron of battleships. Their arrival re.
lieved me of all anxiety as to our oil
supply.
I'm the morning | discovered that
McMillan's foot was badly frost bitten.
The mishap had occurred two Oh three
days before, but Mcmillan had said
nothing about it in the hope that it
would come out all right. A glance at
the injury showed me that the only
thing was to send him back to Cape
Columbia at once. The arrival of Mar
win and Borup enabled me to spare
sufficient men and dogs to go pack
with him.
ION leaving this camp the expedi-
ton comprised sixteen men, twelve
sledges and a hundred dogs. The next
march was satisfactory as regards dis
lance and character of going. In the
latter part there were pronounced
movements in the ice. Some leads
were crossed, in one of which Borup
and his team took a bath, and We were
finally stopped by an impracticable
lead opening in front of us. At the end
of the tenth march, latitude 1923,
Borup turned back in command of the
second supporting party"
Peary here tells of o~vertaking Cap
tain Bartlett, and he was again pushed
forward with Henderson to do more
pioneer work. Peary and Marvin and
Hansen remained behind for twenty
hours. The policy now pursued was
for Bartlett's crew to break the way
and camp. When the Peary force came
up the Bartlett camp was occupied by
the newcomers, while Bartlett and
Henderson made another advance. The
/ condition of the ice was improving
right along. and every day good dis
tances were made. At n time Bart
lett made twenty miles in a day.
Marvin Drowned.
Then began the breaking of former
records. One observation gave S6.3S,
and Peary knew that he had beaten
hansen and Abruzzi. Not an accident
had marred the expedition up to this
point. Things were rapidly shaping
themselves for the great dash, and
here poor Marvin was turned back.
He was to return to Cape Columbia,
but HI never reached it. He fell into
open water and vas drowned.
More Eskimos were sent with Mar
vim on the return trip, and Peary then
found himself with nine men, seven
sledges and sixty dogs. Changes in the
haze enveloped the wonderful fields OF
glistening ice, and 1t was impossible
to see any distance.
Great banks OF snow obstructed the
trail and the ice became very rough.
In the midst of this hea~rt-breaking
work Peary came up with the Bartlett
party, all the men exhausted.
Snow houses were built and a camp
made. During the night there was a
swift breaking up of the ice, and when
the men were aroused it was found
that the camp was on the edge of open
water. One dog team narrowly escaped
being crushed between the great caloss
of ice.
Preparations were made for a quick
start, and at a favorable opportunity
the whole expedition pushed across
some thin ice. All the following day
the men were on an ice field, which
heaved and groaned, while from the
open water a black fog arose,
Pushing onward, Peary came upon
old ice, which was solid and which
enabled him to make an advance OF
six miles without any trouble. There
was a high wind. but 1t did not ham
per the party.
Henderson was sent back, and now
as the SSth parallel was nearing, Peary
determined to drop Captain Bartlett,
who had shown so much courage and
had done more than any other of the
Supporting party to make the expedi-
tion a success. Captain Bartlett want
ed to go ahead. but Peary told him
there were no supplies for a large
party. Peary says Captain Bartlett
was very solemn, and possibly found
comfort in Peary's declaration that,
next to an American, a British sub
ject had succeeded in getting farthest
north.
Peary was now left with his faith
full Matt Hensen, Ave Eskimos. four
sledges and enough dogs to make dou-
BILE teams for the ~sledges. Peary saws
that he was now within reach Of the
prize for which he had worked thirty