Willmar tribune., 1909-09-22
PEARYS OWN STORY OF FINDING THE NORTH Pole

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 60 back from
here in comn.acd Of the fourth sup
porting party, ano saere were no sup
plies for an increase In the main party.
In this march we encountered high
wind for the first time since the three
days after we left Cape Columbia. It
was dead in our faces, bitter and in
sistent. but had no reason to COM
plain. it was better than an easterly
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-
bing US of hundred miles of advan-
tage.
Eiehty-Four 10 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 Ave or six miles to
the north to make sure of reaching the
gone selected the 40 best dogs in the
outfit and had them doubled.
I picked out Ave of the best sledges
and assigned them expressly to the
captains party. I 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
sition 87.48. and that showed that the
continued north wind had robbed US
of a number of miles of hard-earned
distance.
Bartlett took the observation there,
as had Marvin five camps back. partly
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 1S dogs.
Bartlett Did Good Work.
When he left I felt for a 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 Josefs 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 trifling 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 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 80
years, for which I had lived the simple
life; for which I had conserved all my
energy on the upward trip; for which
had trained myself as for a race, crush
ing down every worry about success.
In spite of my years. 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 20 any,
where with my immediate party, and
willing to risk themselves again in any
supporting party.
The fifth was a 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, q rifle. q shot
gun, ammunition, knives, etc., which 1
had promised to each Of them who
reached the pole with me; for he knew
that these riches would enable him to
wrest from 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 should somehow get them back
to land. But I dealt with the party
equally. I recognized that all it's i'm
npfnS conferred n hot
pace I set 1t would make good, If any,
one played out, I would stop for a short
time.
I had no fault to find with the condi-
tions. My dogs were the best, the pick
Of l22 with which we left Columbia. AL
most all were powerful males, hard as
nails In good flesh, but without SUPER
fluous 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 10 days. and,
with the reserve represented by the dogs
themselves. could be made to last so.
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, 1 settled on
my program. decided should strain
every nerve to make five marches of Is
miles each. crowding these marches in
such way as to bring us to the end of
the fifth long enough before noon to per-
NIT the immediate taking Of an observa-
ton for latitude.
Weather and leads permitting, I be-
lieved could do this. II my proposed
distances were cut down by any chance
l had two means in reserve for making
up the deficit:
Ffrst-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
sIedge, double team of dogs, and one
or two of the marty leavins. 4l,a xaa4 ix.