Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-18
Peary Thinks South Pole
Easier Exploration Quest

BATTLE HARBOR,r Labrador. via Mar
conf wireless to Cape Ray. N. F., Septem-
Der 1S-After week OF rest for the crew
of the arctic steamer Roosevelt, on board
which Commander Robert E. Peary will
continue his way south, there are hustle
and activity on all sides as the men put
the finishing touches to the vessel pre-
paratory to the start for Sydney.
Commander Peary at o'clock re-
ceived Capt Dickson of the Canadian gov
eminent steamer Tyrian, and half an
hour later he welcomed the newspaper
correspondents. who come up to Battle
Harbor on the Tyrian.
One OF the first things he did was to go
to the quarter deck of the Roosevelt and
face battery of cameras. When the pic
lures had been taken Commander Peary
and the correspondents all went ashore to
the loft of a fishhouse on the wharf, where
the explorer became the target for 4
broadside Of questions
Peary Lectures" on North Pole.
Peary sat with his back to the single
window in the gable end Of the attic, and
the newspaper men were grouped in front
Of him. Some of them mounted on piles
Of fish nets, others were seated on bar
rels, and number squatted on the floor.
In addition. the crews of the steamers
and sailing vessels in port, the local mer-
chants and fishermen, and a gathering
of small boys filed the rude hall and
listened to what might be termed Com
mander Peary's first public lecture since
his return from the pole.
This gathering at Battle HarbOr, a fish
ing port on the coast of the Labrador
that before the scomfng of Commander
Peary was practically unknown to the
world at large, was facetiously denomi-
mated the first class in north pole
geography.
In explaining to the newspaper men
what he considered to be the scientific
value of polar exploration. Commander
Peary said he had taken soundings of the
sea from Cape Sheridan to the pole. which
supplemented the similar data taken on
the other side by hansen and Cagni.
Continuing. he argued that north polar
exploration is much more dinicult than
the same work in the antarctic.
In the arctic the work must be done in
one season, while the south pole will
eventually be reached by several seasons
OF work. it being possible for exploring
parties to push forward and hold the
ground covered instead Of turning back
to winter quarters or the limits of civiliza-
tion
Celebration Of Holidays.
Commander Peary described the cele-
bration of Christmas day. the Fourth of
July, Thanksgiving day, and st. Patrick's
day in the far north. On Christmas his
party had a special dinner and distribu-
ton Of presents that had been brought
with this celebration in mind.
The gifts included a box of presents
from Sir William McGregor. then the
Governor of Newfoundland, and boxes Of
candy from Mrs. Peary.
There were also running races for the
members Of the party and Eskimo men
and women, for which prizes were given
The distance was seventy-five yards.
The long arctic night prevailed at this
time and the course was marked by
string Of lanterns from the Roosevelt.
Describing the flags he had raised at
the pole. Commander Peary made partic-
ular mention of the silk American flag
given him by his wife fifteen years ago,
and which he had carried on every one Of
his arctic expeditions. leaving a portion at
the most northerly point attained. The
remnant Of this flag raised at the pole
consisted Of one star and section Of
the blue field and a part of the red and
white stripes.
At noon Commander Peary returned the
visit of the captain Of the Tyrian.