The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-09-18
PEARYS OWN STORY Of FINDING THE NORTH P0LE


program was for him to 60 back from
here IN command of the fourth sup
porting party, and there were no sup
| plies Tor an increase in the main party.
When he left l felt for a moment
pangs OF regret as he disappeared in
| the distance, but It was only momen-
tary. My work was still ahead. not in
| the rear.
Bartlett had done good work and had
been great help to me. Circumstances
had thrust the brunt of the pioneering
| upon him instead of dividing 1t among
| several, as l had planned.
He had reason to take pride In the
fact that he had bettered the Italian
| record by degree and a quarter and
had covered a distance equal to the
entire distance Of the Italian expedi-
| tton from Franz Josefs land to Cagni's
| farthest north.
I had given Bartlett this position and
| post OF honor in command of my
fourth and last supporting party. and
| for two reasons: first. because OF his
| magnificent handling of the Roosevelt;
second. because he had cheerfully stood
| between me and many trihing annoy
| ancea on the expeditions.
Then there was third reason. 1t
| seemed to me appropriate in view of
the magnificent British record OF arc
| tic work, covering three centuries, that
1t should be a British subject who
could boast that, next to an American.
he had Been nearest the pole.
Last Struggle at Hand.
| With the disappearance of Bartlett
| turned 10 the problem before me. This
| was that for which l had worked for 80
years. for which l had lived the simple
| life; FOR which l had conserved all my
| energy on the upward trip: for which
| had trained myself as for a race. crush
ing down every worry about success.
In spite of my years. felt in trim
| nt for tic demands of the coming days
| and eager to be on the trail.
As for my party. my equipment. and
| my supplies. l was in shape beyond my
most sangnine dreams OF earliest years.
My party might be regarded an
| ideal, which had now come to realization
| as loyal and responsive to my will
the fingers of my right hand.
Party Ideal for Effort.
| -Four of them possess the technique OF
| dogs sledges ice. and cold their heri-
tage. Two of them Hansen and Ootam.
| were my companions to the farthest point
| three years before. Two others, Eginwuk
| and Sigloo, were in Clark's division.
| which had such a narrow escape at that
time. and now were willing to go any
where with my immediate party. and
willing to risk themselves again in any
supporting party.
The fifth a young man who had
never served before in any expedition.
but who was. II possible even more
| willing and eager than the others for
the princey gifts-a boat. a rifle. a shot
gun. ammunition. knives. etc. which
had promised to each of them who
| reached the pole with me: for he knew
| that these riches would enable him to
| wrest from a stubborn father the girl
whose image filled his hot young heart.
| Had Confidence in Him.
All had blno confidence so long as
| was with them. and gave no thought
| for the morrow. sure that whatever hap
| pened l should somehow get them back
70 md Il,t 1aal Vii ha
| equally. l recognized that all Its i'm
petus centered in me. and that whatever
pace set it would make good. II any
one played out. I would stop for short
time.
had no fault to nnd with the condi-
tions. My dogs were the best the pick
of LIZ with which we left Columbia. AL
| most all were powerful males. hard
| nails. In good flesh. but without super
fiuous ounce and what was better yet.
| they were all in good spirits.
| My sledges. now that the repairs were
completed. were in good condition. My
| supplies were ample for 40 days and.
with the reserve represented by the dogs
themselves. could be made to last 50.
His Program Planned.
Pacing back and forth in tn ice of the
pressure ridge where the igoos were
built. while my men got their loads
ready for the next marches, l settled on
| my program. l decided l should strain
| every nerve to make five marches of Is
miles each. crowding these marches In
such a way to bring us to the end of
| the fifth long enough before noon to per-
| NIT the Immediate taking OF an observa-
| ton for latitude.
| Weather and leads permitting, ! be-
| lieved could do this II my proposed
| distances were cut down by any chance
| l had two means in reserve for making
| up the deficit
| First-To make the last march forced
| one stopping to make tea and rest the
| dogs. but not to sleep.
| Second-At the end of the fifth march
| to make a forced march with a light
sledge. . double team of dogs. and one
| two of the party. leaving the rest in
| camp.
Sees Danger In Gale.
| Underlying all these calculations was a
recognition of the ever present neighbor-
| hood OF open leads and impossible water.
| and the knowledge that a 4-hour gale
| would knock all my plans Into cooked
hat, and even put US in imminent peril.
At little after midnight Of April !.
| after few hours of sound sleep. I hit
the trail. leaving the others to break
| up camp and follow.
AS I climbed the pressure ridge back
| of our igloos 1 set another hole in my
| belt the third since l started. Every
man and doK of US was lean and fat
| bellied as a board and as hard.
Conditions All Favorable.
| 1t was a fine morning. The wind of
| the last two days had subsided. and the
| going was the best and most eQuable
| of any had had yet. The foes were
| large and old. and clear. and were sur
| rounded by pressure ridges. some Of
| which were almost stupendous.
| The biggest of them. however were
| easily negotiated either through some
| crevice or up some huge brink. l set
| a good pace for about ten hours.
| Twenty-Five mile took me well be-
| yond the eighty eighth parallel
| While I was building my igloos a
| long lead forward by the east and
| southwest of US at distance of a few
| miles.
| Travel Was Easy.
| few hours sleep and we were on
| the trail again As the going was now