Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-17
DETAILS OF JOURNEY TO POLE ARE
RECEIVED FROM MEMBER OF
EXPEDITION.
COMMANDER ONLY WHITE MAN
Explorer Had One Companion, an Es-
kimo, Eging Wah, When He Planted
Flag on Earth's Axis.
SUFFER GREATLY FROM FATIGUE.

BATTLE HARBOR, Labrador, Sept.
I3.-The following details of Commander
Peary's journey to the north pole have
been cleaned from the members OF the
expedition on board the steamer Roose-
welt:
The only men to reach the pole were
were Commander Peary and one Eskimo
Eging Wah by name. The other white
members of the various parties that lett
Cape Columbia were sent back one by
one as Peary drew nearer daily to his
objective. Matthew Henson and three
Eskimos. the only other members OF the
reduced party that made the final DASH
were left one march south OF the pole
Capt. Robert A. Bartlett and George
Borup started February q from Cape
Columbia. with a number OF Esklmos
and dogs on the march across the Ice,
heading north. On March /, Command
er Peary left Cape Columbia with his
party consisting of seven white men,
seventeen Eskimos and 136 dogs. On
March 4, Peary came up with Bartlett,
who had pitched his camp at the side OF
lead of water which it was Impossible
10 cross
See Sun on March 5.
The combined parties had to Walt IN
til March II, seven days, before further
progress was possible. The sun was
seen for the first time March ., ana an
observation showed that the explorers
were a short way from the Soth parallel.
The supply of alcohol was running short,
and B0rup returned to Cape Columbia
for a fresh stock. March II Borup
overlook Peary again and brought sup
ply of oil and alcohol. The division I'M
der Prof. Ross 6. Marvin joined Peary
the same day. At this point Prof no
maid B. Mcmillan was sent back, his
feet having been badly frozen. Borup
returned to land from S5.2 with two
Eskimos.
The party now consisted OF twelve
men, ten sledges and elghty-hve dogs:
Bartlett was still beating out the trail
observations at S5.4S, and then started
on his return march. On the next march
Martlett made a record trip, covering
twenty miles. This brought him to
1888.
The party now consisted of Peary,
Bartlett, Matthew Henson, the colored
man who has been Pearys personal as
| sistant OH SO many of his expeditions;
the Eskimos, seven sledges, and sixty
dogs, and the journey northward was
resumed. The ice was perfectly level as
far as the eye could see. Bartlett took
the observation on the SSth parallel on
April 2, and then reluctantly returned,
leaving Peary, Henson and three Eskl-
mos, with provisions for forty days, to
make the final dash to the pole.
Break Through Ice.
This reduced the party started the
morning of April 3. The men walked
that day for ten hours and made twenty
miles. They then slept near the seth
parallel. While crossing a stretch of
young ice 800 yards wide, the sledge
broke through. 1t was saved, but two
from drowning.
The ice was still good, and the dogs
were in great shape. They made as
much as twenty-five miles a day. The
next observation was made at $50.
The next two marches were made in
dense fog. The sun was sighted on the
third march. and an observation showed
1851.
The pole was reached April 6, and a
series of observations were taken at 80.
Peary deposited his records and hoisted
the American flag. The temperature was
30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit The
pole appeared as a frozen sea. Peary
tried to take a sounding, but got no bot
tom at 1900 fathoms.
Peary stayed at the pole for thirty
four hours, and then started on his re-
turn journey the afternoon of April {.
Oh the return, the marches were con-
tinuOus and Peary and the Eskimos suf-
fered greatly from fatigue. They had
their first sleep at the end of the eighth
march from the pole in the igloos left
by Bartlett. Here there was a violent
snOWStorm.
Delighted to See Land.
On April %, the party reached the
vertical edge of the land ice, west of
Cape Columbia The Eskimos were de-
lighted to reach land and the party slept
for two days. They repaired their
sledges rested their dogs, and resunling
the journey, reached the Roosevelt
April q.
Marvin left Peary on the way up on
Friday March 26, to return to the ship.
He had with him two Eskimos and sew
enteen dogs. The story of the professors
death was obtained from one Of the Els
kimos April 10 Marvin was forty-fye
miles from Cape Columbia. He started
out that morning, walking ahead. The
Eskim0s were delayed in packing the
sledges, fact that permitted Marvin to
get a good start on them. When the Els
kimos arrived at an open lead they no.
ticed that the young ice was broken
about % yards out, and they saw what
looked like a mans body floating in the
center of the lead. Owing to the treach
erous condition of the ice the Eskimos
could not venture out. They returned to
the Roosevelt and reported. Capt. Bart
lest then went back to the point they
designated and recovered Prof Marvin's
spare boots, clothing and personal belong
ings which were still on the ice where
the Eskimos had left them. The susper-