The Washington times., 1909-09-07
SEVENTH ATTEMPT;
STORY OF THE TRIP

STORY OF THE TRIP
II was Lieut. Robert Edwin Pearys
seventh. attempt 70 reach the North
Pole that finally brought him TO the goal
for which he had been striving for
twenty'-three years.
It was a herculcan effort to get this
seventh expedition under way. His
prior expeditions had been financed al
most wholly by the late Morris X. Jcs-
I'd, whose interest in polar explorations
and faith in Peary made him willing at
all times 10 furnish whatever money
WAS required
when Mr.. Jesup died, Peary had little
hope of making another try for the
Pole, though after his sixth expedition
Of 1866. when he reached latitude 81
degrees e minutes. or within liz miles
Of the goal Of his ambitions. he was con-
fldent that one more attempt would be
successful. he had mapped out what Is
called the American route. which has
the advantage Of approaching 100 miles
iiesrer the Pole on sand than the Spitz-
bergen route. il was this course Dr.
Frederick A. Cook followed, though ne
went further to the west than Peary
planned.
When Peary got back from his 1865
expedition in the fall of the latter year
his ship. the Roosevelt, was in bad
shape owing to the terrific strain she
had been subjected TO in an ice jam
near Cape Sheridan. Her machinery
WAS practically worthless
Peafy was anxious to start again for
the Pole IN the summer OF 1907, but the
necessary money was not forthcoming.
He had established at Etah and Ammo
fox ifFffn rl4rp miles n q
north of Etah on the northwest coast
Of Greenland. q sort Of training school
Tor dogs and EskimOs.
When Peary found he could not 30
North in 1907 and learned that his rival.
Or. Cook. had slipped up TO Annotok
with John r. Bradley, he was furious.
lie knew Dr. Cook would be in a posi-
ton TO take advantage of all OF his
bitter experiences gained on the 1866
trip and also of the trained dogs and
Eskirnos to be found at Etah and An
notok. II was then that Peary's friends
charged Or. Cook with unsportsmanlike
methods and with stealing Peary's dogs
and Eskimos.
Asked for Money.
Angered by his being unable 10 start
back north ia 1907 but undaunted, Peary
worked with tremendous energy TO be
able to start in 1905. The great Stun
bling block was Jack Of money. He
finally had 10 ask for subscriptions, an
nouncing that proper equipment could
not be had for less than $4,000. The
subscriptions came in slowly for long
time. The largest individual contribu-
ton was $1,000 and the smallest s.. In
his appeal for subscriptions he said:
THE recent death OF Mr. Jcsup, who
was my personal friend. deeply inter
ested IN my Arctic work and president
OF the Pear= Arctic Club (Which hnanc-
ed my last expedition. has given This
financial part Of my work very seri-
Gus aspect. But / cannot believe the
loss OF any. one man, however irrepar-
able that loss may be- viii be permitted
% put a StOD 70 work .Of such inter
est and magnitude. q work having for
its object the winning Of what is rec
ognized as the greatest OF international
Nv clint of hard work Pearv got
money TO make repairs on the Roosevelt
and equip her with stores bot on July
g. 1893, the day she sailed from New
York, he admitted DC had fallen 5000
short OF the needed $4,000. But ne saved
the money on things that would
be least needed. The Roosevelt was a
very shabby looking ship when she
steamed up the East river 10 the sound.
she was IN need OF paint, but Peary
figured that paint OF ships sides
wouldn't count for much m Tho arctiCs
But 81 the matter OF food presents for
the Eskimos, material Tor slcdgcs and
dog harness, coal, guns, ammunition,
and scientific Instruments the Roosevelt
was fully equipped her sides and ice
crushing bow we're strengthened and
her machinery made as good as new
Supplies for Dash.
The supplies consisted Of 5000 pounds
Of -four. "a 90 pounds of coffee. S0j
pounds Of tea, 90 hounds OF sugar. 400
cases OF kerosene oil, or about 800 gal
Ions; 1000 pounds Of bacon, 400 cases Of
biscuits. or 1000 pounds 100 cases Of
mill gtF D.
nash $4,000 pounds Of pemnican. 1900
pounds OF dried fish and 1000 pounds OF
smoking tobacco.
The great quantity Of sugar. FIVE tons.
was largely taken 20 keep the Eskimos
in good humor. Dr. Cook took two iar-
rels OF gum drops 20 cater TO their love
of sweets, bat Pesry always found
sugar just as effective iu winning their
regards.
The men who went north with Pcarv
were Capt. Robert a. Bartlett Of New
p fOundiand. master: George a. WardweU
~ Bucksport, Ne. chief engineer.
Charles Percy. steward. Matthew Hen
SON OF vs. ashinRtou, ID. g., a, negro cook ;.
Dr. J. w EluselI OF New Kensington
Pa, surgeon, Prof. ID. b. Macmillan. OF
Maine. first assistant 10 the commander.
and George Borup. 2 Yale graduate and
scientist Tho crew of the Roosevelt
consisted Of Banks Scott, second enEi-
neer. John ConnOrs. John Burns Dem
MS Murphy, John Cody. Matt Ryan.
Patrick Joyce and John Wiseman, every
one familiar with the Arctic seas.
Matthew Henson. the negro cook, has
been with Peary on his last four trips
He stood alongside Of Peary April Il,
1906. when he stuck the Stars and Stripes
on q pole iammed ~ the ice at
point f72 miles from the North Pole
and 81 alive. was probably with Peary
when the explorer reached the Pole on
April last.
Roosevelt's GOOD Luck"
Peary's ship went from her East
River pier 20 oyster Bay. where Pres
ident Roosevelt was then summenng