The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-08

New York, Sept. ST am getting
along in years; this is perhaps the last
time | shall be able to make an at
tempt to reach the pole. SO / am
prepared to make q desperate at
tempt to achieve that honor, for i
have given up twenty-three years OF
my life in an effort to get there"
It was in July, 1908, that Com
mander Robert Edwin Peary, on the
deck of the steamer Roosevelt, made
this statement as he outlined some
of his plans for his last, and sue
cessful, search for the pole.
Commander Peary, working on the
facts he had learned in previous years
planned this trip to n nicely. Ac-
corded to magazine articles, he
planned to take the Roosevelt to Sgd
ney, Cape Breton off Belle Isle. to
Davis Strait, to Baffin and thence to
Smith Sound, From Smith Sound he
planned to make a trip to the Whale
Sound Region where he expected, to
pick up forty Eskimos and 300 dogs
Then he expected to push the Roose-
welt into winter quarters on the far
north side of Grant Land.
He expected to remain there all
winter and early in February to
make his dash for the pole. On that
dash he expected to follow the north
coast of Grant Land as far west as
Cape Columbia and then take to the
ice, travelling more west or north
than ever before. to counteract the
easterly drift of the ice. He intend
ed massing his sledge parties, in
stead OF allowing them to seperate
and to utilize "the American Route"
which gave him solid land 100 miles
nearer than any other route. He ex-
pected to use only Eskimos and dogs
declaring airships and motor cars
were all premature.
With these plans made. Peary sail
in the Roosevelt from New York on
July 6 1908, going first to Oyster
Ray, where he bade President Roose-
welt good bye. The Roosevelt was a
staunch vessels flying a baryuee of the
New York yacht club. She was load
ed heavily with supplies. Hams swung
like pendulums from under her bridge.
There were tons of -four and two
tons OF Goldfish below her decks, as
well as barrels of molasses, cans of
OIL, tomatoes and pork and beans and
all manner of freight, including arms
and ammunition. knives and mirrors.
needles, pins and trinkiets for gifts
for the Eskimos.
The ship was commanded bv Can
tain Robert A. Bartlett. and his
crew numbered nineteen men. They
included George A. Wardell, of Buck
port, Maine, chief engineer. Charles
Percy, steward; Matthew Hanson.
negro cook; DR.. w. KinseIl, of New
kingston, Pennsylvania. surgeon; Pro-
iessor ID. ID. Mcmillan of Worcester
academy, Worcester, Massachusetts.
hrst assistant to Peary; George Broup
the scientist; Banks Scott, second en-
siheer and Dennis Murphy, John
CODY John Burns, John Connors.
Matt Ryan, Pat Joyce and John
Wiseman, all seamen.
AT Sidney the Roosevelt coaled
ana IN company with the supply ship |
went toward Etah. Greenland. On
july 20, the ships arrived at Cane
oharies, where walrus meat was talk
en- on Tor the dogs. On July 81 tbe
Two ships arrived at Cane YORK;
here Peary boarded the Erik and
visited the Eskimo settlements to Sc
cure Eskimos and dogs, while the
roosevelt proceeded to to Etah TO pre-
pare 10 be nipped In the ice for the
winter season On August II, Peary |
ana the Erik rejoined the Roosevelt
from this point Peary reported that
ne landed supplies for the relief OF
Or. Cook, who had not returned. and
mat he had sent Rudolph Francke.
Ncooks companion. home disabled.
harry Whitney, one of Peary's com
Danions, remained at Etah all winter
% hunt. On August II Peary. on the
Rooseyelt' parted company from the
ERIK and proceeded north to rAnna-
OAK, where he locked his shin I'm
he ice and prepared for his dash To
he pole.
The Erik returned to st. Johns
Sew Foundland, October, /, 1908 and
japtain Samuel Bartlett, who com
handed the Erik. reported that
'eary's chances then seemed excel
ent. He added that Peary's last state.
lent was that he hoped to enter the
oiar sea without great difficulty, or
lake point from which, in Febru.
ry. 1903, he could easily reach Cape
olumbia and then make a dash
cross the ice for the pole.
THIS was the last authentic news
sceived from Peary until the newa