The log cabin Democrat., 1909-09-16
PEARYS OWN STORY IF FINDING THE NORTH POLE

porting party. and there were no sup plies for an increase in the main party.
 When he left l felt for moment bangs of regret as he disappeared in tary. My work was still ahead not in the rear
 Bartlett had done good work and had been great help to me. Circumstances had thrust the brunt of the pioneering upon him instead of dividing 1t 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- tion from Franz Josef's land to Cagnis 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 trifiing 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 1t should be a British subject who could boast that. next to an American, he had been nearest the pole
 Last Struggle at Hand.
 With the disappearance of Bartlett l turned to the problem before me This was that for which I had worked for 32 years, for which l had lived the simple life for which I had conserved all my energy on the upward trip; for which I had trained myself as for a race, crush ing down every worry about success.
 In spite of my years, I felt in trim for he of ha do, and eager to be on the trail.
 As for my party. my equipment, and my supplies. l was in shape beyond my most sanguine dreams of earliest years
 My party might be regarded as an ideal, which had now come to realization as loyal and responsive to my will as the fingers of my right hand.
 Party Ideal for Effort.
 Four of them possess the technique of dogs. sedges. ice. and cold as their heri- tage. Two of them. Hansen and Ootam were my companions to the farthest point three years before. Two others, Eginwuk and Sigloo, were in Clark's division, which had such a narrow escape at that time, and now were willing to go any where with my immediate party, and willing to risk themselves again in any supporting party.
 The fifth was young man who had never served before in any expedition, but who was, if possible, even more willing and eager than the others for the princely gifts-a boat, a rifle, shot gun, ammunition, knives. etc, which had promised to each. of them who reached the pole with me: for he knew that these riches would enable him to wrest from a stubborn father the girl whose image filled his hot young heart.
 Had Confidence in Him.
 All had blind confidence so long as I was with them. and gave no thought for the morrow. sure that whatever hap pened I should somehow get them back to land. But I dealt with the party equally. I recognized that all it's i'm petus centered in me, and that whatever pace I set it would make good. If any one played out. would stop for short time.
 I had no fault to find with the condi- tions. My dogs were the best, the pick of 122 with which we left Columbia AL most all were powerful males. hard as nails. in good lesh but without a super fiuous ounce, and, what was better yet, they were all in good spirits.
 My sledges, now that the repairs were completed. were in good condition. My supplies were ample for 40 days. and. with the reserve represented by the dogs themselves. could be made to last 50.
 His Program Planned.
 Pacing back and forth in tn ice of the pressure ridge where the igloos were built, while my men got their loads ready for the next marches. I settled on my program. I decided l should strain every nerve to make five marches of l5 miles each, crowding these marches in such way as to bring us to the end of the fifth long enough before noon to per init the immediate taking of an observa- ton for latitude.
 
 lieved l could do this. If my proposed distances were cut down by any chance l had two means in reserve for making up the deficit
 First-To make the last march a forced one, stopping to make tea and rest the dogs. but not to sleep
 Second-At the end of the fifth march to make a forced march with a light sledge, a double team of dogs, and one or two of the party, leaving the rest in camp.
 Sees Danger in Gale.
 Underlying all these calculations was a recognition of the ever present neighbor- hood of open leads and impossible water. and the knowledge that a 24-hour gale would knock all my plans into a cooked hat, and even put us in imminent peril. At a little after midnight of April l. after a few hours of sound sleep. I hit the trail, leaving the others to break up camp and follow.
 As l climbed the pressure ridge back of our igloos I set another hole in my belt. the third since I started. Every man and dog of us was lean and flat bellied as board and as hard.
 Conditions All Favorable.
 It was a fine morning. The wind of the last two days had subsided and the going was the best and most equable of any l 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 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 at a distance of few miles.
 Travel Was Easy.
 A few hours sleep and we were on the trail again As the going was now practically horizontal, we were un- 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 the hpaiDOiDr when nickaXeg