The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-16
.Peary's Negro Lieutenant Bears
Testimony for Cause.
Reiterates That "Stars and
Stripes Twaddle.
HE LED THE CHEERS.
While EskimOs Danced Around
Pole.
Parts Of the Narrative Are
Really Interesting.

| Battle Harbor, Labrador, Sept 49,
| (By wireless via Cape Ray, N FL
I'VE hoisted the stars and stripes twice
| at the North Pole" said Matthew Hen
son, Commander Robert e. Peary's col
ored Lieutenant who Peary claims is the
only other civilized man who ever reach
| ed the pole.
Henson last night gave to the Associ-
ated Press an account of the one night
and two days he and Peary and four
Eskimos camped at 80 degrees north
latitude. Henson personally assisted in
raising the American flag and he led
the Eskimos in the cheers
| Having spent IS years with Com
mander Peary and considerable por-
ton of that time in the Arctics," said
Henson, II have acquired a knowledge
OF the dialect of the Northern Green
land EskiE1os who probably are super
Tor to any other. AS is commonly
known to travellers in the far north
the Eskimo entertains a strange preju-
dice toward any tongue but one, and
| 1t Is therefore necessary for successful
dealing with them to study their I'M
" ritten language.
I'VE arrived at the pole just before
noon, April 6, the party consisting of
the commander, myself. four Eskimos
and So dogs, divided into two detach-
ments equal in number and headed re-
spectively by Commander Peary and
myself. We had left the last support
ir-g party at 81 degrees SO minutes,
where he separated from Captain Bart
lett who was photographed by the com
mander. Captain Bartlett regretted
that he did not have a British flag to
erect on the ice at this spot so the
photograph might show this as the
farthest north to which the banner of
Britain had been advanced.
Il kept personal diary during this
dash across the ice field. Our first task
On reaching the pole was to build two
prevented taking accurate observations
to confirm the distance Travelled from
Cape Columbia. Having completed the
snow house, we had dinner, and then
retired to rest, thus sleeping one night
at the North Pole.
1.-The Arctic sun was shining when
awoke, and found the commander al
ready up. There was only wind enough
to blow out the small flags. The en-
signs were hoisted toward noon from
tent poles and tied with fish lines. We
figured out the distance pretty closely
and did not go beyond the pole. The
flags were up about midday April Z and
were not moved until late that evening.
The haze had cleared away early but
servations. We made three close to-
gether. ~
when we first raised the American
flag its position was behind the |
1RlOOS, WHICH, dCCOTQ1nR TO our |
initial observations was the position |
of the pole but on taking subsequent |
observations the Stars and Stripes |
was moved and placed $50 yards west !
of the first position The difference |
in the observation being due perhaps !
to the moving ice.
when the flag was placed. Com |
mander Peary exclaimed in English: |
Stripes at the North Pole In the ]
native language I proposed three |
cheers which were given in the
Eskimo tongue.
all around and we had a more
liberal dinner than usual each man |
eating as much as he pleased The |
Eskimos danced about and showed |
was reached. For years the Eskimos |
had been trying to reach that spot, |
but it was always with them |
"Tiquelgh' which translated, means
exclaimed in their own language:
1--WE have got there at last"
Henson, who reached the farthest
north with Peary three years ago
said that conditions were about the
same at the pole as else wherein the
Arctic circle.
All was a solid sea of ice with a
two foot lead of open water two miles
from the pole; tn The en Eski Ian w wne
Ootah, Egingwah and Ouzaueeah and
Sigleoo, the first two named being
brothers. Commander Peary took
photographs of Henson and the
Eskimos waving flags and cheering
Continuing his story, Hensen said:
1.-THE report is absolutely untrue
that dod not go to the pole. I went
the whole distance. side by side with
the commander and Just as far as he
did"
Hensen added that he knew that
some on board did not wish him to
go to the pole If they could prevtnt
it but he knew that before he started.
He also said that he saw Peary's
record which was left in the ice.
Eskimos with them with tint ex-
ception of Ouzaueeah understood
English.
cat the pole" continued Hensen,
1--WE could see no land and we went
no distance beyond the flags The ice
near the Ignloos was at least ten rect
high and the flags were placed on
hummock 20 feet in height. The
ice at the pole is about the same
Invitation to Visitors
We would be pleased to have state
fair visitors or others visit our pant
and see the home of Banquet Hams
a |