Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16

ways with them 'Tisuelgh,' which, trans
lated, means Go so far and no closer.
They exclaimed in chorus Ting Neigh
Timah Ketisher.' meaning We have got
there at last
Henson, who reached the farther north
with Peary three years ago, said that
conditions were about the same at the
pole as elsewhere in the arctic circle. All
was solid sea of ice with two-foot
lead Of open water two miles from the
pole.
The Eskimos who went along on the
final lap were Ootah. Egingwah. Ouzau-
eeah and Sigloo, the two first-named
brothers. Commander Peary took photo
graphs Of Henson and the Eskimos wav-
ing flags and cheering.
Declares He Was There.
Continuing his story. Henson said:
THE report is absolutely untrue that,
did not go to the pole. I went the whole
distance, side by side with the command
er. and just as far as he did,
Henson added that he knew that some
on board did not wish him to go to the
pole, if they could prevent it. but he
knew that before he started. He also
which were left in the ice.
The Eskimos, who were with them,
with the exception Of Ouzaueeah. under
stood English. and one of them could
AT the pole" continued Henson, I'VE
could see no open lead. and we went no
distance beyond the flags. The ice near
the igloos was at least ten feet high and
the flags were placed on a hummock
twenty feet In height.
The ice at the pole is about the same
as on the Journey up. all RATED in be-
tween with small foes. Nearly all the
winds we had were from the northeast
Commander Peary had three thermom-
eters and the coolest day was 81 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit. I believe there
is little difference in the temperature at
the pole from that some distance south. -
Henson learned from the Eskimos that
for three days in Whale sound last
month they saw cloud Of smoke and
natives were greatly frightened. and
Henson thought a new volcano had
erupted, and so Informed them.
Peary's Wonderful Endurance.
Henson made his first trip north in
1891. He went there because he was in
terested. and kept on going year after
year. OF Commander Peary he said:
He is the best man that we could
have for arctic expeditions. He has Won
derful endurance. and the weather never
is too cold for him. Many times l would
not leave the camp except for him.
1T never blows hard enough. nor can
the snow drift deep enough to discourage
the commander. A compass course Is all
he desires. So long as man does his
work half decently the commander never
complains The Eskimos think that there
Is no man like him."
Matthew Henson was born in Wash
ington, but lived for time in Florida
He says he. prefers the north pole. be-
cause 1t is too warm and there are too
many mosquitoes in the south.
He is quite proud to be the colored man
to go to the farthest north. He says he
cares less for glory than for earning a
living for his wife in New York
Has Lost Twenty Pounds.
He is in good health, but lost twenty
pounds in the sixty-eight days march to
the pole and return, and now weighs
1875 pounds. The only frost bites he sus-
tanned were on the cheek and fingers.
He thinks some colored men can endure
as much exposure as white men, although
he Is not sure that he stood the cold the
first year as we'll as his white compan-
ions. Since then. however. he has be-
come acclimated
Speaking of the Eskimos, Henson said
they could draw as good a chart of that
country as any person. They do not
know the length Of a mile, but can esti-
mate distance very exactly.
To one who knows the language they
will tell dates within a few days. The
Eskimo women can reckon just how
many days the men are out. The men
cannot take observations. but they know
what they are taken for.
In conclusion, Henson said he certainly
would go to the south pole tomorrow II
he had chance. as he was interested in
exploring and it would be hard for him to
stop.