Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-16
Peary's Own Story
OR CONQUEST AND DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE

Of the march we rushed across a lead
100 yards wide, which buckled under
our sledges and finally broke as the
last slcdge left It.
We stopped in sight OF the eighty
ninth parallel in temperature of 40
degrees below. Again a scant sleep
and we were on our way once more
and across the eighty-ninth parallel.
This march duplicated the previous
one as TO weather and going The last
few hours IT was on young ice, and
occasionally the dogs were galloping.
We made twenty five miles or more
the air. the sky and the bitter wind
burning the face TIL It cracked 1t was
IKE the great Interior ice cap Of Green
land. Even the natives complain ed Of
the bitter air. 1t was as keen as fro
Zen steel
little longer sleep than the pre-
viouS ones had to be taken here, as we
were all in need Of il. then on again.
Up TO this time, with each successive
march, our fear Of an impossible lead
had increased. At every inequality of
'h' NC ! Ibuuu Ill NNii iiip biCi'i'-
Icssly forward, fearing that it marked
lead. and when arrived at the sum-
init would catch my breath with re-
def, only to find myself hurryins on in
the same way at the next one.
But on this march, Ivy some strange
shift Of feeling, this fear fell from mo
completely. The weather was thick,
but 1t gave me no uneasiness.
Before | turned In | took an OBJ
servation which indicated our position
as s925. dense, lifeess pail hung
overhead. The horizon was black, and
the Ice beneath was ghastly, chalky
white, with no relief. A rise in TEN
pcrature to II below reduced the fric-
ton of the sledEcs and gave the dogs
the appearance Of having caught the
spirits OF the party. The more spright-
~ ones as they went along with tight.
ly curled tails, frequently tossed their
heads, with short. sharp barks and
yelps. In twelve hours we made forty
miles. There was no sign Of lead in
the march.
1.-THE Pole at last!"
l had now made my five marches
and was in time for a hasty noon OBJ
servation through temporary break
in the clouds, which indicated our po-
sitlon as 1857. I quote an entry from
my journal some hours later:
THE pole at last-the prize Of three
centuries. my dream and goal for
twenty years. mine at last. cannot
bring myself to realize IT."
The first thirty hours at the pole
were spent in taking observa tons. in
going some ten miles beyond our camp
and some eight miles to the right Of
IT, in taking photographs. planting my
flags depositing my records. studying
the horizon with my telescope for pos
sible land and searching for a prac-
ticahie place to make sounding
Ten hours after our arrival the clouds
cleared before a light breeze from our
left. and from that time until our de-
parture in the afternoon Of April I the
weather was cloudiess and tlawless.
The minimum temperature during the
thirty hours was 33 below, the maxi
mum II
The Return Journey.
We had reached the goal, but the
return was still before us 1t was
essential that we reach the land before
the next spring tide, and We must
strain every nerve to do this
! had brief talk with my men.
From now on 1t was to be a big travel,
little sleep and n hustle every minute.
We would try. | told them. To double
march on tho return that Is, to start
and cover one Of our aorthward
marches, make tea and eat our lunch
in the igloos, then cover another march.
eat and sleep a few hours. and repeat
this daily.
AS a matter Of fact, we nearly did
this. covering regularly on our home
ward journey five outward marches in
three return marches Just as long
as we could hold the trail we could
double our speed and We need waste
no time in building new igloos.
In the afternoon OF the 9TH we
started on our return, having double
fed the dogs. repaired the sledges for
the last time and discarded all our
spare clothing to tighten the loads.
Five miles from the pole a narrow
crack filed with recent lee. through
which we were able 70 work a hole
with picknx, enabled me- 10 make a
sounding. All my wire. 800 fnthomS.
was sent down. but there was no bot
tom. In pulling up the wire parted a
few fnthoms from the surface, and
lead and wire went to the bottom. OF
went rec! and handle. tightening the
sledges still further. We had no more
use for them now.
Three marches brought Ms back to
The igloos where the captain turned
back. The last march was in the wild
sweep OF a northerly gale. with drift
Ing snow and the ice rocking under us
as we dashed over It.
Traces Of Marvin.
South Of where Marvin had turned
back we came to where his party had
quilt several igloos while delayed by
open leads. Still farther south We
round where the captain had been held
up by an open lead and obliged to
camp Fortunately. the movement Of
'hese leads was simply open and shut,
ana II took considerable water motion
10 iault the trail seriously.
while the captain, Marvin and. as !
round out later, Borup had been de.
layed by open leads, we seemed TO bear
a patent charm, and at no single lead
were we delayed more than connie