Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-16
HENSON DISPUTES PEARY.
Declares He Was With Explorer Wher
Pole Mas Found

foIe was found.g
Battle Harbor, Labrador (by wireless
via Cape Ray, N. F.,) Sept. 16.-"We
hoisted the stars and stripes twice at
the north pole" said Matthew Henson,
Com. Robert E. Peary's negro lieuten-
ant.
Henson last night gave an account
of the, one night and two days he and
Commander Peary and four Eskimos
camped at 80 degrees north latitude.
Henscon personally assisted in raising
the American flag and he led the Eski-
mos in the cheers. and an extra cheer
for old glory in the Eskimo tongue.
Having spent eighteen years with
Commander Peary and a considerable
portion of that time III the arctics,"
said Henson, Il nave acquired llnowl-
edge of the dialect OF the northern
Greenland Eskimos, who PROBABLY are
superior to any other. AS commonly
is known to travellers Ia the far north
the Eskimo elrtertans a strange pre-
judice toward any tongue but one, and
it is therefore necessary for successful
dealing with them to study their un-
written language.
Negro Headed One Party.
I'VE arrived at the pole just before
noon, April 6, the party consisting Of
the commander, myself, fpur Eskimos,
and 'thirty-siX dogs, divided into two
detachments equal in number aud
headed respectively by Commander
Peary and myself. We had left the
last supporting party at 81 degrees 53
minutes, where we separated from
Captain Bartlett, who was photograph
ed by the commander Captain Barulett
regretted that he did not have British
flag to erect on the ice at this spot, so
that the photograph might show this
as the farthest north to which the ban-
ner of Britain had been advanced.
Il kept a personal diary during this
historic dash across the ice field. Our
first task on reaching the pole was to
build two igloos, as the weather was
hazy and prevented taking accurate
observations to confirm the distance
Travelled from Cape Columbia. Having
completed the snowhouses, we had
dinner. which included tea made on our
alcohol stove, and then retired to rest,
thus sleeping one night at the north
pole.
Hardly Any Wind Stirring.
"The arctic sun was shining when
1 awoke and found the commander all
ready up There was only wind enough
to blow out the small flags. The en-
signs We're hoisted toward noon from
tent poles and tied with fish lines.
1--WE had figured out the distance
pretty closely and did not go beyond
the pole. The flags were up about mid
day on April Z and We're not moved
until late that evening. The haze had
cleared away early, but we wanted
some hours to make observations. We
made three close together:
"Wl1en we first raised the American
flag it's position was behind the igloos,
which, according to our initial obser-
vations, was the position of THE pole,
but on taking subsequent observa-
tinns the stars and stripes were moved
and placed $50 yards west of the first
position, the difference in the observa-
tions being due perhaps to the moving
ice.
when the flag was placed Com
mander Peary exclaimed in English
We will plant the stars and stripes a:
the north pole In the, native Language
proposed three cheers, which were
given in the Eslkimos' own tongue.
Have More to Eat Than Usual
4 Commander, Peary shook hands al
around and we had more liberal dim
ner than usual, each man eating ais
much. as he pleased. The Eskimoe
danced about and showed great pleas
ure that the pole at last was reached
For years the Eskimos had been trying
to reach that spot. but 1t was always
with them Tiquelgh,' which, trans
lated, means, get so far and no closer
They exclaimed in a chorus, Ting
neigh timah ketisher.' meaning, swe
have got there at last"
Henson, who reached the farthesi
north with Peary three years ago, said
that conditions were about the same at
the pole as elsewhere In the Arctic cir