The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-15

on Thursday or Friday for Sydney with Commander Peary aboard, going direct to that port witsout stop. There the steamer will fill her bunk CTS with coal for straight run to New York.
 Commander Peary was offered pas- sage for Sydney on the Associated Press tug, Douglas Thomas. but he declined with the explanation that the Roosevelt was absolutely seaworthy and would not require any assistance, nor would he leave her, he added, until he had personally docked her at Sydney.
 Asked if she would accept an invita- tion to the banquet in his honor at Sydney. he replied that he probably would. From Sydney Commander Peart will go to the United States by rail. He would not say what woull become of the Roosevelt. At New York. however, thefcrew would be paid off, The ship bkIongs to the Peary Arctic Club.
 Regarding the Hudson-Fulton parade, the commander said he did not know whether the Roosevelt would participate, but if MT. Bridgman has said that the steamer would not take part in this celebration if the Schooner John R. Bradley. Cooks vessel. was admitted, that would likely be the off, ficial opinion of the Peary Arctic Club, and would express Peary's own view If the Roosevelt did take part in the parade, Peary said he would likely command her. but he was in doubt as to who would be his guests.
 The explorer suggested that it woull be a good idea for the United States to take over the Roosevelt as a cut ter in the Behring sea, or to keep some channel open. as she would be splendid Ice breaker. Italy. he point ed out, now holds possession of the Stella Polar, the Duke of the Abruzzrs ship, and the Norwegian government holds the Fram Why should not the United States secure the Roosevelt? He asked
 Continuing, Commander Peary said that he had already made an official report of his work to Washington, and therefore had not yet decided whether he would go immediately to the Ma tional capital on returning to the past expeditions was embodied in the government maps and the same course probably would be followed in this case. Not a dollar of government money had been invested in his polar expeditions.
 Talks of Expenditures.
 Up to the present time his total ex-
  gregated, roughly speaking. $500,000. The first and smaller portion of this was his own and his wife's fortunes, and the contributions of personal friends The proceeds of his lectures /and books also went in, said Com mander Peary. Of the total outlay. about s350.000 had been supplied by members of the Peary Arctic Club and other connections. He had always lived on his salary, and until 1900 was in debt for money advanced for his arctic Investigations.
 Commander Peary has received an invitation to address the National Geographical Society at Washington, and to attend the Canadian camp din- ner in New York in November. Ban gor. Me, wishes to offer a welcome to the explorer. between trains and Port land is also anxious to entertain him. To these invitations. Commander Peary has replied that it will be im- possible for him to make any engage Inents now. as the Peary Arctic Club and New York City are to have first claim on his attention.
 On board the Roosevelt are eleven dogs, three of which were actually at the north pole with Commander Peary. One of these three, called Apudingwah, was also with him in his farthest north dash three years ago.