The Green Forest tribune., 1909-09-17
PEARY DESCRIBES DASH TO POLE


 and 23 sledges. By February 27 such of the Cape Colan depot as was need ed had been brought up to Cape Co lumbia, the dogs were rested and double rationed and harnessed, and the sledges and other gear over hauled.
 On the last day of February Bart lett, with his pioneer division, ac complished this, and his division got away due north over the ice or ty got away on Bartlett's trail, and I followed an hour later. The party now comprised seven members of the expedition, 17 Eskimos, 133 dogs and 19 sledges. One Eskimo and sever dogs had gone to pieces.
 Start in Drifting Snow.
 A strong easterly wind, shifting snow and temperature in the minus marked our departure from the camp at Cape Columbia, which 1 had chris tened Crane City. Rough ice in the
 
 and smashed two beyond repair, the teams going back to Columbia fol other sledges in reserve there. We camped ten miles from Crane City. The easterly wind and low tenn perature continued In the second march we passed the British record made by Markham in May, 1876 (82.20), and we were stopped by open water, which had been formed by the wind after Bartlett passed. In this march we negotiated the lead and reached Bartlett's third camp Bo rup had gone back from here, but missed his way, owing to the faulting of the trail by the movement of the ice.
 Delayed Week by Water. Marvin came back, also, for fue and alcohol. The wind continued forming open water all about us. Al the end of the fourth march we came upon Bartlett, who had been stopped by wide lake of open water. We remained here from March te March II.
 At little after midnight of Apri 1, after a few hours of sound sleep 1 hit the trail, leaving the others tC break up camp and follow. As climbed the pressure ridge of oul the third since started. Every mar and dog of us was lean and flat bel lied as board and as hard.
 set a good pace for about ter hours. Twenty-Five miles took me we'll beyond the 88th parallel While was building my igloos long lead formed by the east and southwest oi us at a distance of few miles.
 The ice was grinding audibly ir every direction, but no motion was visible. Evidently it was settling back into equilibrium, and probably sagging due northward with it's re lease from the wind pressure.
 Again there was a few hours sleep and We hit the trail before midnight The weather and going were even better. The surface, except as inter rupted by infrequent ridges, was as level as the glacial fringe from Hec la to Columbia, and harder.
 We stopped in sight of the 89th parallel, in temperature of 40 de grees below. Again a scant sleep and we were on our way once more and across the 89th parallel,
 Made Rapid Progress,
 We made twenty-five miles or more, the air, the sky and the bitter wind burning the face till it crack led. It was like the great interior ice cap of Greenland. Even the na tives complained of the bitter air. IL was as keen as frozen steel.
 A little longer sleep than the pro. vious ones had to be taken here, as we were all in need of it. Then on again,
 In twelve hours we made forty miles. There was no sign of lead in the march.
 The pole at last.
 l had now made my five marches, and was in time for a hasty noop observation through temporary break in the clouds, which indicated our position as S957. I quote an en. try from my journal some hours lat CT:
 "The pole at last. The prize of three centuries; my dream and goal for twenty years; mine at last. can not bring myself to realize it.
 Tt all seems so simple and com, monplace. As Bartlett said when turning back, when speaking of his being in these exclusive regions, which no mortal has ever penetrated before:
 "'It is just like every day."
 Of course, had my sensations that made sleep impossible for hours, de. spite my utter fatigue-the sensa- tions of lifetime; but have no room for them here.
 Ten hours after our arrival the clouds cleared before light breeze from our left, and from that time until our departure in the afternoon of April the weather was cloudless and f1awless. The minimum temper. ature during the thirty hours was B halow the maximum 12