Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-25
Peary Would Lose His Life
Before Honors of Exploits

voice filled with emotion Commander
Peary yesterday asserted that he would
rather lose his own life than that his
valuable instruments should suffer injury
or be lost.
II worked and struggled and sacrificed
fortune and loved ones and some part Of
the body God gave me to reach the north
pole. I succeeded at last.
II would not share the honor with my
dearest friend. Rather than have failed
or lose the proofs that have been at the
pole would lose my own life"
Accompanied by Mrs. Peary and their
two children. Commander Peary left his
quarters in the New Falmouth Hotel yes
terday afternoon and went by boat to
South Harpswell. on Casco bay, where
they spent the night, and proceeded this
morning to his home on Eagle Island.
The explorers small launch was brought
to the city from the island during the
forenoon in readiness to take the party
to Eagle Island. A heavy downpour OF
rain caused Commander Peary, in view
Of the exposed situation Of the island on
the extreme outer line of Casco bay, to
give up the plan of going by motor boat
and take the regular steamer at pm
to South Harpswell. which is three miles
from Eagle Island
Peary May Resign.
Before leaving his hotel the commander
granted an interview to the newspaper
men who had accompanied him ON his
trip from Sydney. In reference to a re-
port that he might resign his commission
as civil engineer In the navy, he said
that the report was without any author
!Zation from him.
From q subsequent observation It might
be inferred that he Is considering such a
step. -
ut would be unique in the history OF
the country to have the discoverer OF the
wi yanln ctil In, aoft ynA IN IN
navy" said Commander Peary.
Commander Peary explained that when
he referred to taking observations at
noon at the pole he did not mean the arc
tic noon of April 6. but the noon he had
timed at Cape Columbia.
He had carried the Cape Columbia noon
up to the arctic and with that noon took
his observations. Failure to go into these
details led to the error that 30 greatly
puzzled the Italian astronomers.
lone thing is certain" said Peary.
There can be but one discoverer Of the
pole. Who that man Is has got to be
decided Until then I shall await the
report Of those who are now ascertain1ng
the facts and examining the evidence at
hand. Until that decision is made shall
attend no public receptions of any kind
Arctic Club Has Case.
It was stated yesterday that Peary had
turned over to Gen. Hubbard, president OF
IiiC Cdiy aiNliS Si0os PdPcio NlSdlly I'LL
portant to the present controversy as to.
who first discovered the pole. Gen. Hub
bard is lawyer.
Peary was asked if in turning these
documents over to him he had done so in
order that Gen. Hubbard might consider
them in his legal capacity. The question
caused the explorers jaws to set and his
eyes to fash.
NO he said Gen. Hubbard is not
my counsel. He is president Of the Peary
Arctic Club, and it was in that capacity.
and in that capacity alone that / turned
over my papers to him."
Peary prepa. ed for Gen. Hubbard while
his ship lay at Battle harbor an elaborate
contain statements made by Cook to vari-
Gus individuals whom he met on his re-
turn from the north, in which he told not
few conflicting. stories of his journey;
It was learned that Peary, before he
reached Etah on his return south. was
told by Eskimos that Cook had turned
back from the north long before he had
reached the pole. Accordingly, when
the letter left there by Capt. Walker that
Cook had told Walker that he had
reached the big Nail" Peary Immediate
ly denounced Cook as a fraud.
It is said Peary's report to President
Hubbard contains scientific data to prove
that 1t was a physical impossibility for
Cook to have reached the pole with the
equipment he had. and by the route he
chose.
A telegram sent by the correspondents
to Gen. Hubbard at Bar Harbor, asking
to know what the situation was from his
point Of view, brought the following re-
ply:
mo statement VIII be given out until
authorized by the Peary Arctic Club.
This cannot be done until the club meets
in New York or vicinity some time later.
My conference with Commander Peary
was merely for the purpose Of obtaining
information for the officers of the club,
and its results will be submitted to them
only
Harpswell at pm. after a two-hour
trip on the harbor steamer Aucocisco.
and passed the night with the family OF
Capt. A. c. Slower. who serves as mes
senger to carry mall. provisions and pas
sengers for the Peary family.
Few Of the half a hundred people liv-
ing in the immediate vicinity of the
steamer landing at South Harpswell ex-
pected the explorers arrival, and there
were not more than dozen people at the
wharf. Commander Peary and family had
remained quietly in their suite at local
hotel until $3.50 O'Clock. when they gath
hotel almost unnoticed. slipped away in a
carriage to the wharf, where the steamer
was boarded. There were but few trav-
elers along, and no demonstration was
made.
"GIad You Have Succeeded"
Abruzzi Cables to Peary
NEW YORK. September 25.-The Duke
I> H.,