Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-09-15

back to civilization with is rival, DIR. |
Frederick A. Cook, Commander Rob- |
ert e. Peary. on board the exploring |
steamer Roosevelt, is expected to
reach here some time Sunday or early |
Monday morning, successful in his |
last quest for the pole, after encoun-
ters with fog, ice, and cold, and los
ing one white man in his party, and
nearly losing five others when they
were caught in blizzard and held
snowbound for three days in the very
shadow of the pole.
The Peary dash for the pole was
the most remarkable ever made in
the three centuries of search, as is
shown by the developments of today,
when vague news filtered in from Bat
tie Harbor, Labrador, and was sup
plemented by statements here by
friends of the commander, who have
foregathered to give him Americas
welcome and to extend the greeting,
in fact, of the whole civilized world.
The remarkable speed attained by
Peary was the matter of comment and
Herbert L. Bridgman, secretary of
the Peary Arctic Club. gave a signif-
cant interview, the tenor of which was
that the skeptics who criticized DR..
Cooks statements have been proved
halfway wrong.
After leaving Etah Peary's expedi-
| ton encountered foggy weather, but
after arriving at Cape Sabine, it
cleared and better general conditions
soggy ice. but ploughed through it
with little difficulty. Northward the
little ship steamed into Franz lin Bay,
| where a thick blanket of fog fell and
| solid foes threatened to grind the YES
1 sci to pieces. Driven before the wind
| the crew, not knowing whittier they
1 were bound. the ship was finally push
| ed into Thank God Harbor, on the
| north Greenland coast. The party did
| not know where they were and it was
l not until the fog lifted that they were
| able to ascertain their whereabouts.
| Then came days of drifting south,
| when bergs careened past them and
foes jammed the ship this way and
| that.
| In September the expedition reach
ed Cape Sheridan. where they decided
| to winter. There was thick coat OF
| nard packed snow on the ice and the
| Esquimaux were Immediately put to
| work erecting huts and a workshop.
The hunting proved excellent and a
party brought in deer, bear, and musk
oxen.
Commander Peary Immediately set
about making preparations for his
dash and trips Of exploration. sending
parties with supplies to make depots
at various points between Cape Co
lumbia and Cape Colan.
Then the long winter night set in
and the party settled down in Hub
bardville, as Peary named the winter
settlement, to wait for the spring.
Late in September the ice caused the
Roosevelt to careen ten degrees and
1t was months afterward when the
i ice broke up before she righted her
self.
/ DIR. Goodsall and Borup, accompa-
MED by Professor Marvin, in charge OF
the Esquimaux, transported great
quantities of supplies, distributing
them at various caches for emergen-
cies in the spring. The most Of the
exploring was done in January, when
Marvin led an expedition to Cape Mar.
vim, and Bartlett explored a peninsu
la, while Goodsall and Borup lie,
hunting parties, bringing much gam
to the Roosevelt. An Esquimau wa
lost and seven dogs during a huntini
expedition.
/ In February the wind switched t.
the north and blew in that direction
four months. The temperature was
below zero.
4 It was during a winter march thal
an expedition of five men was caugh.
in blizzard and the snow piled aboul
|, them so rapidly that they had to keel
moving to Keep from being covered
up.
i All these details were heard by
those who are here to welcome the
u gallant explorer. Only ons other
member OF the party mat with seri-
GUS mfshap. That was Mcmillan
whose feet became frozen, but who
i trudged through the snow for two
days, refusing aid until he Lecame so
exhausted that he fell upon the ice
and had to be carried.
Mr.. Bridgman was the central fig
ure Of interest here today, and he
took occasion to take another nipg at
DR.. Cook, Notwithstanding his favora-
ble remarks concerning the speed