Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-09-16
.Gamped at 80 e.
North Latitude
"WE HoIsTED THE STARS AND
STRIPES TWICE.
PEARY's coLORED LIEUTENANT
Gives an Account of the Night and Two
Days Spent at Top-6uiIt Two Snow
Houses-ceIebration Banquet.

F1ouses-Sclebratlon 6anQuer.
Battle Harbor, Labrador (by Wire
less Telegraph via Cape Ray. N. FL,
Sept. 1--we hoisted the Stars and
Stripes twice at the North pole" said
Matthew Henson, Commander Robert
E.. Peary's colored lieutenant and the
only other civilized man, according to
Peary, who ever reached the pole.
Henson gave the Associated Press
tonight an account of the night and
two days he and Commander Peary
and four Eskimos camped at 80 de-
grees north latitude. Henson per-
sonally assisted in raising the Ameri-
the cheers, and an extra cheer for
Old Glory in the Eskimo tongue.
Arrived at the Pole About Noon.
Having spent IS years with Com
mander Peary, and a considerable
portion of that time in the Arctics,'
said Henson, Il have acquired a
knowledge of the dialect of the north
ern islands Esklmos, who are proba-
bly, superior to others.
"As is commonly known to travel
ers in the far north, the 'Eskimos en-
tertain strange prejudice toward any
tongue but one, and it is therefore
necessary for successful dealing with
them to study their unwriten Ian
guage.
we arrived at the pole just be-
fore noon, April g. the party consist
ing of the commander, myself, four
Eskimos and 36 dogs. divided into
two detachments equal in number, and
headed respectively by Commander
last supporting party at 81 degrees,
SO minutes. where We separated from
Captain Bartlett, who was hoto-
graphed by the commander. Captain
Bartlett regretted that he did not
have a British flag to erect on the ice
at this sport SO that the photograph
might show this as the farthest north
to which the banner of England had
been advanced.
Built Two Snow Houses and Had Din
ner.
Il have 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 accurate OBJ
servations to confirm the distance
Travelled from Cape Columbia.
Slept One Night at North Pole.
sHaving completed the snow houses,
we had dinner, which included tea
made on our alcohol stove, and then
retired to rest. thus sleeping one night
at the North pole.
'TheF Arctic sun was shining when
l awoke and found the commander al
ready up. There was only wind
enough to blow out the small flags.
The ensigns were hoisted toward noon
from tent poles and tied with fishlines.
Did Not Go Beyond the Pole.
I'VE had figured out the distance
pretty closely and did not go be-
yond the pole. The flags were up
about midday April I. and were not
moved until late that evening. The
haze had cleared away early, but we
wanted some hours to take observa-
tions. We made three close together.
When we first raised the American
flag its position was behind the igloos,
which. according to our initial Obser-
vations, was the position Of the pole,
but on taking subsequent observations
the Stars and Stripes were moved and
placed $50 yards of the first position.
the difference in the observations be-
ing due perhaps to the moving ice.
Eskimos Cheered in Pi Line Lam
euage.
when the flag was pleaced. Com
mander Peary exclaimed in English:
We viii plant the Stars and Stripes
at the Gorth pole In the native Ian
guage / proposed three cheers which
were given in the Eskimos' own
tongue. Commander Peary shook
hands all around and we had more
liberal dinner than usual, each man
eating as much as he pleased. The
Eskimos danced about and showed
great pleasure that the pole at last
was reached. For years the EsfSimos
had been trying to reach that spot,
but 1t was alwayas with them Ti-
quelgh.' which translated means get
so far and no closer They exclaimed
in chorus. Ting negh timah ketish
err meaning We have got there at
last"
Conditions at the Pole.
Henson, who reached "the farthest
north with Peary three years ago,
said that conditions were about the
same at the pole as elsewhere in the
Arctic circta. All was a solid sea of
ice with a two-foot lead of open water
two miles from the pole. The Eski-
mos who went along on the final dash
were Ootah, Egingwah, Ouzauccah and
Sigloo, the two first named being
brothers. Commander Peary took
photographs of Henson and the Eski-
mos waving flags and cheering.
Henson Had Enemies on Board Ship.
Continuing his story. Henson said:
The report is absolutely untrue
that l did ~ go to the pole. l went
the whole distance. side by side with
the commander. and just as far as
he did,
Henson added that he knew that
some on board did not wish him to
get to the pole, if they could prevent
it, but he knew that before he started
He also said that he saw Peary write
the records which were left in the ice.
All the Eskimos who were with them,
except Ouzaueeah, understood English
and one of them could count a hum
| dred.
coIdest Day 81 Below.
AT the pole,'' continued Hensen.
I'VE could see no open lead and we
went no distance beyond the flags.
The ice near the igloos was at least
! ten feet high and the flags were
placed on q hummock twenty feet in
height The ice at the pole is about
the same as on the journey up. all
rifted in between with small floes.
Nearly all the winds we had were
| from the northeast. Commander
Peary had three Thermometers and
the coldcst day was 81 degrees below
zero Fahrenheit. l believe there is a
little difference in the temperature at
the pole from that some distance
south"
Saw Smoke, Snnelled Birthstone.
Henson learned from the Eskimos
that for three days in Whale sound
] hast month they saw cloud of smoke
4 and there was an odor like birthstone.
The natives were greatly frightened
and Henson thought a new volcano
had eruuted and so informed them.
Praises Commander Peary.