Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-14
Newspaper Men After Him With Faster Craft,
Order to Relieve Pub|ics Anxiey--Furtha
Details Of Peary'S Dash for the Pole.
THE DASH FOR THE POLE.

|
| Battle Harbor. Labrador, Sept. 49,
| The following details of Commander
| Peary's Journey to the North Pole
have been CLEANED from members Of
the expedition or board the steamer
Roosevelt. The only men to reach the
pole We're Commander Peary and one
Eskimo, Eging Wah, by name. Tho
| other White members of the various
parties that left Cape Columbia were
sent back one by one as Peary drew
nearer daily to his objective Matthew
Henson and three EsquimauX, the only
other members of the reduced party
that made the final dash, We're left
one march south of the pole.
Capt. Robert A. Bartlett and George
Eorup started t'eo. y from Cape CO.
lumhil with a number of Esquimaux
and dogs on the marcn across the ice,
heading north. On March /, Command
or peary left Cape Columbia with his
party, consisting of seven white men,
II EsquimauX and 1876 dogs. On March
1 Peary came up with Bartlett, who
had pitched his camp at the side Of a
ical of water which was impossible
to cross. The combined parties had to
wait until March II. seven days before
further progress was possible
The sun was seen for the first time
March !, and an observation showed
lhat the explorers were a short way
from the Nth parallel. The supply of
alcohol was running short and Borup
returned to Cape Columbia for fresh
stock. March ID Borup overlook Peary
again and brought supply of oil and
alcohol. The division under Prof. Ross
c. Marvin joined Peary the same day.
At this point Prof. Ronald B. Mcmillan
was sent back. his feet having been.
cadiy frozen. Borup returned to land
from S5.22 with two EsquimauX.
The party now consisted of IL men,
10 slcdses and So dogs. Bartlett was
still beating out the trail two days
ahead of Peary. Mar Yin took observa~
items at S5.4S and then started on his
return march.
On the next march Bartlett made a
record trip, covering 20 miles. This
brought him to $685. The party now
consisted of Peary. Bartlett, Matthew
Henson, the colOred man, who has
bean Pcary's personal assistant on so
many of his expeditions: the Esqui-
maux. seven sledges and so dogs and
The ice was perfectly level as far as
the eye could see. Bartlett took the
observation on the SSth parallel on
April and then reluctantly returned,
leaving Peary. Henson and four Es-
GuimauX with provisions for 40 days,
to make the final dash to the pole.
This reduced party started the morn
ing of April 3. The men walked that
day Tor 10 hours and made 20 miles.
They then slept near the S9th parallel.
While crossing a stretch of young ice
300 yards wide the slcdge broke
through. 1t was saved but two of the
Esouimaux had narrow escapes from
drowning. The ice was still good ana
the dogs were in great shane. They
made as high as rs miles day.
The next observation was made at
S9sb. The next two marches were
made in dense fog. The sun was
sighted or the thi-d march and an obs
servation showed 89.57. Y 4'BTE
The pole was reached April and q
series Of observations were taken at
90. Peary deposited his records and
hoisted the American flag The tenn
perature was 80 degrees below zero
Fahrenheit. The pole appeared as q
frozen sea. Peary tried to take. q
sounding but got no bottom at 1900
fathoms.
Ptary staid at the pole for "a hours
and then started on his return journey
the afternoon of April {.
On the return the marches were con-
tinuous and Peary and the Esquimaux
suffered greatly from fatigue. They
had their first sleep at the end of the
eighth march from the pole, in the
lg'oos left by Bartlett Here there was
a violent snowstorm.
On April % the party reached the
vertical edge of the land ice west Of
Capt Columbia. The Esquimaux were
delighted to reach land and the party
slept for two days. They repaired their
sledges. rested the dogs and, resumine
the journey, reached the Roosevelt
April q.
Continued on Page Eighth