New-York tribune., 1909-09-16
HENSON ALSO At POLE
ANOTHER VERSION TOLD
or PEARYS TRIP.
Negro attendant Says That He and
-Four ESquimaus We're an the
PARTY on Final Stage.

Battle Harbor, Labrador (by wireless via
Cape Ray. N. F). Sept. live hoisted the
Stars and Stripes twice at the North Pole,
said Matthew Henson, Commander Robert T.
Peary's colored attendant. and the only other
civilized man, according to Peary, who ever
reached the pole Henson tonight gave TO The
Associated Press an account of the one night
and two days which he and Commander Peary
and four Esquimaus camped at 90 degrees north
latitude. Henson personally assisted in rails
ing the American flag and led the Esquimaus
in the cheers, and extra cheer for the flag in
the Esquimau tongue.
Having spent eighteen years with Commander
Peary, and considerable portion of that time
i'm the Arctic" said Henson. II have acquired
q knowledge of the dialect of the Northern
Greenland Esquimaus. who probably supe
rior to any other. As is commonly known TO
travellers in the Far North. the Esquimau en-
tertains strange prejudice toward any tongue
nut one. and IT is therefore necessary for sue
cessful dealing with them TO study their
written language
We arrived at the pole just before noon
April s. the party consisting of the commander.
mysef four Esquimsus and thirty-six dogs
divided into two detachments equal in number
and headed respectively by Commander Peary
and myself We had left the last supporting
party at 81 degrees IS minutes. where we sep
arated from Captain Bartlett, who was photo
graphed by the commander Captain Bartlett
regretted that he did not have a British flag TO
erect on the Ice at this spot so that the photo
graph might show this as the furthest north 70
which the banner Of England had been ad-
vanced.
SLEPT ONE NIGHT AT THE POLE.
y kept personal diary during this histori,.
dash across the ice field. our first task on
/ chi he v.oia
The weather was hay and prevented taking
accurate observations 10 confirm the distance
travelled from Cape Columbia Having com
pleted the snow houses. had dinner which
I included tea made on our alcohol stove and then
retired 70 rest, thus sleeping one night at the
North Pole.
( The Arctic sun shining when awoke.
and found the commander already up. There was
only wind enough 60 blow out the small flags.
The ensigns were hoisted toward noon from tent
poles and tied with fish lines
/ We had figured out the distance pretty close
~. and did not 20 beyond the pole The flags
were up about midday April :, and were not
moved until late that evening The haze had
cleared away early. but we wanted some hours
20 take observations. We made three close TO-
sether.
1 When We Hrst raised the American nax. It's
position VS. behind the isloos. which accorahr
1 "a our initial observations. was the position of
I the pole. but on taking subsequent observations
the Stars and Stripes was moved and placed
$50 cards west of the first position. the differ
ence In the observations being due. perhaps, 20
the moving ice
LEADS THE ESQUIMAUs IN CHEERS.
when the flag Was placed. Commander
Pesry exclaimed in English: we will plant the
Stars and Stripes at the North Pole In the
] luf Ian Y
were given in the Esquimaus' own tongue
| Commander Peary shook hands all around. and
we had more liberal dinner than usual each
man eating as much as he pleased. The E,soui-
mauS danced about and showed great pleasure
that the pole at last was reached For years
| the Esqumaus had been trying to reach that
spot. but it always with them .tiaueICb
which. translated. means, get so far and no
closer They exclaimed IN a chorus, Ting neigh
Hmah ketisher meaning, we have got there al
last"
Henson. who reached the furthest north with
feary three years ago said that conditions
were about the same at the pole as elsewhere i,,
the Arctic Circle. All was q solid sea OF ice
with two-fOot lead of open water two miles
from the pole. The Esquimsus who went along
on the final lap ootah E.ging Wah
ouzauesah and SigIoo the two first named he
ing brothers
commander Peary took photographs OF Hem
son and the Esquimaus waving flags and cheer
ing Continuing his story. Henson said:
THE report is absolutely untrue that did
not go TO the pole. went the whole distance
side by side with the commander. and lust as
far he did
ALLEGED JEALOUSY IN PARTY.
Henson added that he knew that some mn
board did not wish him TO get to the pole If
they could prevent IL, but he knew that .afore
ne started. He also said that he saw Pear,y
write the records which left in the Ice.
The Esquimaus who were with them, with .l.e
exception of Ouzaueeah. understood English
and of them could couns hundred
AT the pole" continued Henson, I'VE could
see no open lead and we went distance he
yonc the flags The ice near the igloos was al
least ten feet high, and the flags were place
hummock twenty feet in height The ice
at the pole is about the same as on the Journey
up. all RATED In between with small foes
Nearly all the winds we had were from .he
northeast. Commander Peary had three Their
mometers and the coldest day was 81 degrees
below zero. Fahrenheit. / believe there Is a
little difference in the temperature at the pole
from that some distance south"
Henson learned from the Esquimaus that for
three days in Whale Sound last month they saw
a cloud of smoke. and there was an odor like
birthstone The natives were greatly frightened.
and Henson informed them that he thought a
new volcano In eruption.
Henson made his FIRST trip North in 1891 He
went there because he was interested, and kept
ON going year after year. OF Commander Peary
he said:
"He is the best man that We could have for
Arctic expeditions. He has wonderful endur-