davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Sleep Finally in Safety.

Never shall forget that sleep at Cape
Columbia. 1t was sleep. sleep. then turn
over and sleep again. We slept glorious
ly, with never thought of the morrow
or having to walk and, too, with no
thought that there was to be never
night more of binding headache.
Cold water to parched throat is moth
ing compared with sleep to numbed,
fatigued brain and body.
Two days we spent here in sleeping and
drying our clothes. Then for the ship.
Our dogs, like ourselves, had not been
hungry when we arrived but simply life
less with fatigue. They were different
animals now, and the better ones among
them swept on with tightly curled tails
and uplifted heads and their hind legs
treading the snow with pistonlike regu-
Ia ri
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Double Speed on Return.

AS matter of fact, we nearly did
this, covering regularly on our return
journey five outward marches in three
return marches.
Just as long as we could hold the
trail we could double our speed, and
we need waste no time in building
new igloos every day, so that the time
we gained on the return lessened the
chances of gale destroying the track.
Just above the eighty-seventh paral-
lei was a region some fifty miles wide
which caused me considerable uneasi-
ness. Twelve hours of strong easterly,
westerly, or northerly wind would
make this region an open sea.
In the afternoon of the 9TH we start
ed on our return, having double fed
the dogs, repaired the sledges for the
last time. and discarded all our spare
clothing to Tighten the loads
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Pass British Record.

We camped ten miles from Crane City
The easterly wind and low temperature
continued. In the second march we
passed the British record made by Mark
ham in May, 1S76-82 20-and were stopped
by open water, which had been formed
by wind after Bartlett passed
In this march we negotiated the lead
and reached Bartlett's third camp. Borup
had gone back from here, but missed his
way, owing to the faulting of the trail
by the movement OF the ice.
Marvin came back also for more fuel
and alcohol. The wind continued, form
ing open water all about us. At the end
of the fourth march we came upon
Bartlett, who had been stopped by a
wide lake of open water. We remained
here from March to March IL
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Supplies Left for Eskimos.

AS for my faithful Eskimos, I have
left them with ample supplies Of dark.
rich walrus meat and blubber for their
winter, with currants, sugar, biscuits,
guns. rifles, ammunition, knives, hatch
cts, traps, etc.
For the splendid four who stood be-
side me at the pole boat and tent
each to requite them for their energy
and the hardship and toll they under
went to help their friend Peary to the
north pole.
But all of this-the dearly bought
years of experience, the magnificent
strength of the Roosevelt, the SPLEEN
did energy and enthusiasm of my party.
the loyal faithfulness of my Eskimos
could have gone for naught but for
the faithful necessaries of war fur
nished so Loyalty BIZ me members and
friends Of the Peary Arctic club.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Supplies Moved to Base.

In the February moon Bartlett went to
Cape Hecla, Goodsall moved some more
supplies from Hecla to Cape Colan, and
Borup went to Markham inlet on a hunt
ing trip On February Is Bartlett left
the Roosevelt with his division for Cape
Columbia and Parr bay.
Goodsall, Borup, Macmillan and Han
sen followed on successive days with
their provisions. Marvin returned from
Cape Bryant on February II and left for
Cape Columbia on February II. brought
up the rear on February %.
The total of all divisions leaving the
Roosevelt was seven members of the
nartY 20 ESLkimns LAO dogs and % sladgeS
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Strike Ice and Fog.

From this point we had clear run
through the middle of Robson channel
uninterrupted by either ice or fog, to
Lady Franklin bay. Here we encoun-
tered both Ice and fog. and while
working along in search of practi-
cable opening were forced across to
the Greenland coast at Thank God
Harbor.
The fog lifted there and enabled us
to make out our whereabouts and we
steamed north through a series of leads
past Cape Lupton, and thence south
ward toward Cape Union. few miles
off that cape we were stopped by i'm
practicable ice and we drifted back
south to Cape Union, where we stopped
again
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Make Ready for Dash.

BY February N such of the Cape Colan
depot as was needed had been brought
up to Cape Columbia, the dogs were
rested and double rationed and harnessed,
and the sledges and other gear over
hauled.
Four months Of northerly winds during
the fall and winter instead of souther-
ly ones, as during the previous season,
led me to expect less open water than
before, but great deal of rough ice, and
1 was prepared to hew road through
the jagged ice for the first hundred miles
or so, then cross the big lead
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Members of Crew Lauded.

The mcmbers Of the crew and the
firemen were distinct Improvement
over those of our last expedition. Every
one of them was willing and anxious
to be Of service in every possible way.
Connors, who was promoted to be
bos'n in the absence of Murphy, proved
to be practically effective.
Rarnes seaman, and Wiseman and
Jovce. firemen, not only assisted Mar
win and Mcmillan in their tidal and
meteorological observations on the
Roosevelt, but Wiseman and Barnes
went into the field with them on their
trips to Cape Columbia and Condor
and Cody covered 1000 miles hunting
and sledging supplies.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Few Handbags Are Faced.

A few hours sleep and we were on
the trail again. AS the going was now
practically horizontal, we were I'M
hampered and could travel as long as
we pleased and sleep as little as we
wished.
The weather was fine and the going
like that of the previous day, except
at the beginning. when pickaxes were
required. This and a brief stop at an
other lead cut down our distance. But
we had made 20 miles in ten hours and
were half way to the eighty-ninth
parallel.
The ice was grinding audibly in every
direction, but no motion was visible.
Evidently it was settling back into
equilibrium and probably saggilg due
northward with its release from the
wind pressure.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Put Up for Winter.

The season was further advanced than
in 1905; there was more snow on the
ground and the new ice inside the foe
bergs was much thicker.
The work of discharging the ship was
commenced at once and rushed to COM
pletion. The supplies and equipment we
sledged across ice and sea and deposited
on shore. A house and workshop were
built Of board. covered with sails, and
fitted with stoves, and the ship was
snug for winter in shoal water, where it
touched bottom at low tide.
The settlement on the stormy shores OF
the Arctic ocean was christened Hub
hardville.
Hunting parties were sent out on Sep
TENDER 10 and bear was brought in on
the 18th and some deer a day or two
LATER
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Going Improves on Way.

Again there was a few hours sleep
and we hit the trail before midnight.
The weather and going were even bet
ter. The surface, except as interrupted
by infrequent ridges, was as level as
the glacial fringe from Hecla to Column
bia, and harder.
We marched something over ten
hours, the dogs being often on the trot.
and made 20 miles. Near the end of
the march we rushed across a lead 100
yards wide, which buckled under our
sledges and finally broke as the last
sledge left it.
We stopped In sight of the eighty
ninth parallel in q temperature of 40
degrees below. Again 9 gcant sleep
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Goal of Centuries Reached By Marvelously Swift
Travel, Smooth Ice and Mild Weather
Helping -Sensations of Intrepid
Commander at Climax of
His Life Work.

cut down by the last two short ones.
Marvin carried out his instructions i'm
plicitly. A considerable amount of young
Ice assisted in this.
At the end of the tenth march, latitude
1923, Borup turned back in command Of
the second supporting party, having trav-
eled a distance equivalent to Nansen's
distance from this far to his farthest
north.
1 was sorry to lose this young Yale
runner, with his enthusiasm and pluck.
He had led his heavy sledge over the
foes in a way that commanded every
ones admiration and would have made
his fathers eyes glisten
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
THE TROUBLE.

Don't take it so hard" said the
sympathetic friend; remember that
though your daughter is married you
have not lost her."
Il know it," sobbed the brides moth
er. That's the trouble. Julia and
her husband have already picked out
the best room in the house for theirs"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Macmillan Turns Back.

At night Marvin and Borup came spin
ming in with their men and dogs steam
ing in the bitter air like a squadron of
battleships. Their arrival relieved me
of all anxiety as to our oil supply.
In the morning 1 discovered that Mac
Millan's foot was badly frost bitten. The
mishap had occurred two or three days
before, but Macmillan had said nothing
about it in the hope that it would come
out all right.
A glance at the injury showed me that
the only thing was to send him back to
Cape Columbia at once. The arrival of
Marvin and Borup enabled me to spare
sufficient men and dogs to go back with
h
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Prepare for SIedqe Trip.

On September Is the rulI work of trans
ferring supplies to Cape Columbia was
inaugurated. Marvin with DR.. Good
sail and Borup and the Eskimos. took is
sledge loads of supplies to Cape Belknap
and on the 9th the same party started
with loads to Porter bay.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Chances His Plan.

From this point the expedition COM
prised 20 men, 10 sledges, and 70 dogs. It
was necessary for Marvin to take a
sledge from here, and I put Bartlett
and his division in advance to pioneer
the trail.
The continual daylight enabled me to
make a moderation here that brought my
advance and main parties closer together
and reduced the likelihood Of their be-
ing separated by open leads.
After Bartlett left camp with Hender-
son and their division, Marvin and I re-
manned with our division 20 hours long
er and then followed. When we reached
Bartlett's camp he broke out and went
on and we turned in. By this arrange
ment the advance party was travelling
while the main party was asleep, and
vice versa, and / was in touch with my
advance party every "a hours.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Make Forced Marches.

The next morning I put Marvin in the
lead to pioneer the trail. with instruc-
tons to make two forced marches to
bring up our average which had been
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16

and we were on our way once more
and across the eighty-ninth parallel.
This march duplicated the previous
one as to weather and going. The last
few hours it was on young ice and oc-
casionally the dogs were galloping.
We made twenty-five miles or more,
the air, the sky, and the bitter wind
burning the face till it cracked. 1t was
like the great interior ice gap of
Greenland. Even the natives COM
planned of the bitter air. 1t was as
keen as frozen steel.
A little longer sleep than the previ-
Gus one had to be taken here, as we
were all in need of it. Then on again.
Up to this time, with each successive
march, our fear of an impossible lead
had increased. At every inequality of
the ice l found myself hurrying breath
lessly forward, fearing that it marked a
lead, and when L arrived at the summit
would catch my breath with relief-only
to find myself hurrying on in the same
way at the next one.
But on this march, by some strange
shift of feeling, this fear fell from me
completely. The weather was thick, but
it gave me no uneaSineSS.
Before / turned in 1 took an observa-
ton which indicated our position as SO
degrees Is minutes.
A dense, lifeless pail hung overhead.
The horizon was black and the ice be-
meath was CHASTITY, chalky white, with
no relief-a striking contrast to the glim-
mering, sunlit fields of 1t over which we
had been travelling for the previous four
daVS
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16

Battle Harbor, Labrador (via Marco
nj wireless. Cape Ray, N. F.), Sept. o
The steamer Roosevelt, bearing the
north polar expedition Of the Peary
Arctic club, parted company with the
Erik and steamed out of Etah ford late
In the afternoon of August IS, 1908,
setting the usual course for Cape Sa-
bine. The weather was dirty, with
fresh southerly winds. We had on
board % Eskimo men, II women, and
10 children, 226 dogs. and some forty
odd walrus.
We encountered the ice a short dis
tance from the mouth of the harbor,
but it was not closely packed, and was
negotiated by the Roosevelt without
VpriQua dif1au1tV
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Rise in Temperature Aids.

The going was even better, and there
was scarcely any snow on the hard,
granular, last summers surface of the
old foes, dotted with the sapphire ice
of the previous summers lakes.
A rise in temperature to Is degrees be-
low reduced the friction of the sledges
and gave the dogs the appearance of
having caught the spirits of the party.
The more sprightly ones, as they went
along with tightly curled tails, frequent
ly tossed their heads, with short sharp
barks and yelps.
In u hours we had made 40 miles.
There was no sign of a lead in the
march.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Fine Morning for Start.

1t was a fine morning. The wind Of
the last two days had subsidized, and the
going was the best and most eQuable
of any I had had yet. The foes were
large and old, and clear, and were sur
rounded by pressure ridges, some OF
which were almost stupendous.
The biggest of them, however, were
easily negotiated, either through some
crevice or up some huge brink. I set
a good pace for about ten hours.
Twenty-Five miles took me well be-
yond the eighty -eighth parallel.
While I was building my igloos
long lead forward by the east and
southwest of us az a distance of few
mil
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16

Many a man is the moving picture
of an unpaid tailor bill.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16

PERRY DAVIS PAINKHLER
Dyspepsia often results from ycRlectlnR slighA
attacks of indigestion. Avoid trouble by taking
for 1t and cramps. 25c a5c aud 600 aBes
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Peary Denies Cook Claim.

Battle He-bor, Labrador (via Marconi
wireless, Cape Ray, N. F), Sept. 10.-Do
not trouble about Cooks story, or at
tempt to explain any discrepancies in his
statements. The affair will settle itself.
He has not been at the pole on April
81, 1903, or at any other time. He has
simply handed the public gold brick.
These statements are made advisedly,
and / have proof Of them. When he
makes a full statement OF his journey
over his signature to some geographical
society, or other reputable body, ii that
statement contains the claim that he has
reached the pole, / shall be in posi-
ton to furnish material that may prove
distinctly interesting reading for the pub
lie ROBERT e. PEARY.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
First Handicap on Return.

IgIoos there disappeared completely
and the entire region was unrecogniz-
able. Where on the outward journey
had been narrow cracks, there were
now broad leads, one of them over five
miles in width, caught over with young
ice.
Here again fortune favored US, and
no pronounced movement Of the ice
having taken place since the captain
passed, we had his trail to follow. We
picked up the old trail again north of
the seventh igloos. followed it beyond
the fifth, and at the big lead lost it
finally
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
EiuhtV-Four Is Passed,

We concluded we were on or near
the eighty eighth parallel, unless the
north wind had lost us several miles.
The wind blew all night and all next
day.
At this camp, in the morning, Bart
lett started to walk five or six miles to
the north to make sure of reaching the
eighty-eighth parallel. While he was
gone I selected the 40 best dogs in the
outfit and had them doubled
picked out five of the best sledges
and assigned them expressly to the
captains party. broke up the sew
enth for material with which to repair
the others and set Eskimos at this
work.
Bartlett returned in time to take a
satisfactory observation for latitude in
clear weather. and obtained for our DO
sition S7.4S. and that showed that the
continued north wind had robbed US
of number of miles OF hard-earned
distance.
Bartlett took the observation there.
as had Marvin i've camps back, partly
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Moves ExpeditiouSIy.

I had no reason to complain OF the
going for the next two marches, though
for less experienced party, less adapt
able sledges or less perfect equipment it
would have been an impossibility.
At our position at the end of the sec
ond march, Marvin obtained a satisfac-
tory sight for latitude in clear weather,
which placed us at 85.48. The result
agreed satisfactorily with the dead reck-
oning of Marvin, Bartlett and myself.
Up to this time, the slight altitude of
the sun had made it not worth while to
waste time in observations.
On the next two marches the going i'm
proved, and we covered good distances.
In one of these marches a lead delayed
us a few hours. We finally ferried across
fha caLxeS
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Eskimos Wild with JoY.

From here we followed the captains
trail, and on April % our sledges
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Dancer Is Encountered.

But 1 was not deceived by the appar-
emily favorable outlook, for available
conditions never continue for any dis
tance or any length of time in the arc
tic regions
The next march was over good GO
ing, but for the first time since leaving
land we experienced that condition, fire.
quent over these ice fields, of a hazy at
mosphere, in which the light is equal
everywhere. All relief is destroyed, and
it is impossible to see for any distance.
We were obliged in this march to make
a detour around an open lead. In the
next march we encountered the heaviest
and deepest snow of the journey, through
thick, smothering mantle lying in the
depressions Of heavy rubhle ice
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Thanks to Dead Friend.

And 1t is no detraction from the liv-
ing to say that to no single individual
has the fine result been more signally
due than to my friend, the late Morris
K. Jesup, the first president of ths club.
Their assistance has enabled me to
tell the last of the great earth stories,
the story the world has been waiting
to hear for 800 years-the story of
the discovery of the north pole.
nnREnT Z Deadly
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Wind Helps Out.

During the last few miles I walked
beside him or in advance. He was SOL
emn and anxious to go further, but the
program was for him to go back from
here in command of the fourth sup
porting party. and there were no sup
plies for an increase in the main party.
In this march we encountered a high
wind for the first time since the three
days after we left Cape Columbia 1t
was dead in our faces bitter and in
sistent but I had no reason to COM
plain, it was better than an easterIy
or southerly wind, either of which
would have set us adrift in open wa
ter, while this was closing up every
lead behind.
This furnished another advantage of
my supporting parties. True, by so
doing it was pressing to the south the
ice over which we travelled, and so rob-
bling US of a hundred miles of advan-
tage.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Makes Record Run.

The next day Bartlett let himself out,
evidently, for record, and reeled off 20
miles. Here Marvin obtained another
satisfactory sight latitude, which gave
the position as S6.S8 Cor beyond the farth-
est north Of Nansen and AbruzzD, and
showed that we had covered SO minutes
of latitude in three marches.
In these three marches we had passed
the Norwegian record of S614, by Nan
sen, and the Italian record of 1884, by
Cagni.
From this point Marvin turned back in
command of the third supporting party.
My last words to him were: BE care
full of the leads, my boy"
The party from this point comprised
nine men, seven sledges, and 60 dogs.
The conditions at this camp and the ap-
parently unbroken expanse of fairly level
ice in every direction reminded me of
Cagni's description of his farthest north.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Temporarily DISCOURAGED.

came upon Bartlett and his party,
tagged out and temporarily discouraged
by the heartracking work of making
road.
l knew what was the matter with
them. They were simply spoiled by the
good going on the previous marches 1
rallied them a bit, lghtened their sledges
and sent them on encouraged again.
During the next march we travelled
through a thick haze drifting over the
ice before biting air from the north
east. At the end of the march we came
upon the captain camped beside a wide
open lead with a dense black water sky
northwest, north and northeast.
The next march was also a long one.
1t was Bartlett's last hit. He let him
self out over series of large old foes,
steadily increasing in diameter and
with how'd
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16
Bartlett Did Good Work.

When he left I felt for moment
pangs Of regret as he disappeared in
the distance, but 1t was only momen-
tary. My work was still ahead, not in
the rear.
Bartlett had done good work and had
been a great help to me. Circumstances
had thrust the brunt of the pioneering
upon him instead of dividing it among
several, as I had planned.
He had reason to take pride in the
fact that he had bettered the Italian
record by degree and a quarter and
had covered a distance equal to the
entire distance of the Italian expedi-
ton from Franz Josef's land to Cagni's
farthest north.
I had given Bartlett this position and
post of honor in command of my
fourth and last supporting party, and
for two reasons: first, because of his
magnificent handling of the Roosevelt;
second, because he had cheerfully stood
between me and many trifing annoy
ances on the expeditions.
Then there was a third reason. It
seemed to me appropriate in view of
the magnificent British record of arc
tic work, covering three centuries, that
it should be a British subject who
could boast that, next to an American,
ha had been nearest the mole.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-16

to save my eyes, but largely to give
an independent record and determine
ton of our advance.
The observations completed and two
copies made, one for him and the other
for me, Bartlett started on the back
trail in command of my fourth sup
porting party, with two Eskimos one
sledge and Is dogs.