Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-09-17
PEiRYS own STORY OF FINDING THE NORTH POLE

program was Tor 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
When he left I felt for a moment
panEs of regret as he disappeared in
the distance. but 1t was only momen-
tary. Ny 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 a degree and a quarter and
had covered a distance equal to the
entire distance of the Italian expedi-
ton from Franz Josefs 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 trining annoy
ances on the expeditions.
Then there was third reason. 1t
seemed to me appropriate in view of
the magnificent British record of arc
tic work. covering three centuries. that
1t should be u 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
turned to the problem before me. This
was that for which l had worked for 32
years. for which had lived the simple
life: for which I had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip; for which
I had trained myself rs for a race. crush
ing down every worry about success.
In spite of my years. I felt in trim
Mt for the demands OF the coming days
and eager to be on the trail
As for my party. my equipment. and
my supplies. ! 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. sledges. 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 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 NTH was a young man who had
never served before In any expedition
but who was. II possible. even more
willing and eager than the otherr for
the princely gifts-a boat. a rife. a 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. sur. that whatever hap
pened ! should somehow get them back
equally. / recognized that all its i'm
petus centered In me. and that whatever
pace ] set It would make good. II any
ono played out. l would stop for n short
time.
I had no fault TO md with the condi-
tions. My dogs were the best. the pick
of 1t with which We left Columbia. Al
most all were powerful males. hard as
nails. In good flesh. but without "A super
nuous 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 ~ days. and.
with the reserve represented by the dogs
themselves. could be made to last 20.
His Program Planned.
Pacing back and forth In tn Ice OF the
pressure ridge where the irioos were
built. while my men got their loads
ready for the next marches. ! settled on
my program. l decided I should strain
every nerve TO make UNe fnnrchss OF ID
miles each. crowding these marches in
such way to bring to the end of
the NTH long enough befor. noon to per
init the immediate taking OF an observa-
ton for latitude.
Weather and leads permitting be-
ii-ved I could do this. II 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
80. be-
dogs. but not to sleep.
Sccond-At the end of the NTH march
TO make forced march with light
siedgc. 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 2t-hour gale
hat. and even put US IN Imminent peril.
Al little after midnight of April !.
after n few hours OF sound sleep. hit
the trail. leaving the others to break
up camp and follow.
As ] climbed the pressure ridge back
of our igloos set another hole in my
belt. the third since I started Every
man and dog of us was lean and nat
beliied as n board and as hard.
Conditions All Favorable.
II was nnc morning The wind OF
the last two days had subsidized. and the
going was the best and most eauable
OF any ! 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 a
long lead forward by the east and
southwest of us at n distance of a 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-