Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16

sportsmen who went as passengers on
board the steamer Erik. The party in
cluded Whitney w. Norton of New York,
a man named Harmed and G. j. Crafts
of Washington who came for the purpose
of taking magnetic observations for Dr.
Bauer. head of the department OF ter
restrial magnetism OF the Carnegie lnstl-
tute at Washington.
At Etah. where II was determined to
land a party and supplies for the reiief
of DR.. Cook. particularly in view OF the
fact that Rudolph t'rancke was being IN
valided home. Whitney asked If he might
remain on the station to hunt walrus and
polar bear in the spring and make a trip
to Ellesmere Land with Eskimos after
musk oxen. This was decided on
In order to provide against the con-
tingency of the Roosevelt not coming
down from the north in the summer of
1900. in which event he would be obliged
to remain in the arctic for two years,
Mr.. Whitney made arrangements for
ship to come up for him this summer.
Whitney Transferred to Jeanne.
while 1 am not in a position to go
into the details of the plans in regard to
this relief ship Commander Peary con-
tinued, Il was informed by Whitney and
Norton that the general proposal was
that Norton should get up another party
of sportsmen and that this party, who
were to be Whtney's friends or relatives,
should pick him up
Whitney had no doubt as to this ship
coming north. When the Roosevelt was
sighted by Eskmos at E.tah August IL
last Whitney started out at once in
sailboat for the Roosevelt under the i'm
preston that she was his ship.
LAS a matter of fact, the party or
sportsmen did not materialze, but the
relief vessel Jeanne was sent north to
bring Whitney back. On her arrival
Whitney was transferred from the Roose-
welt to the Jeanne: and he is now prob
ably engaged in hunting bears some
where on the west side of Baffin bay or
Davis strait"
Asked If DR.. Cook was aware that Whit
ney expected a ship. and what his rea-
sons could have been for not returning
to the United States on that vessel if he
wanted to go back, Commander Peary
said he did not know.
He explained that Whitley might have
expected his ship at Etah about August s.
If the Jeanne had returned at once, after
taking Whitney on board, the commander
continued. she could have reached Sgd
ney August ID or 30 last.
Asked how DIR. Cook had made his way
from Etah to South Greenland, Command
er Peary replied that he probably trav-
eled by dogs and sledges south and across
Melville bay.
Peary's Comrades Would Return.
All the members of Commander Pearys
party agree that the far north has a mys-
ferrous fascination for them. They say
they would like to go back.
Prof Mcmillan declared today that the
Eskimo language is not confined to
few hundred words, as he had been led
to suppose. but that 1t probably contained
a thousand words at least.
He believes there is great field here
for the ethnologsts to determine where
the Eskimos come from. He hopes to go
north again to take up this study.
DR.. Goodsell. another member of the
expedition, is of the opinion that the Jap
anese and the Eskimos are of the same
racial stock.
The Eskimos Of northern Greenland are
the most northerly people of the world.
They are called 'Peary's tribe" A CEN
sus taken by Prof. Mcmillan shows that
their numbers are increasing. Some years
ago they were threatened with extinction,
but now they number us.
When the Roosevelt left their shores no
member of the expedition would tell them
that this was her last visit.
They seemed to understand this fact, in
asmuch as the pole had been reached.
Gathered on the shore. they wept at her
departure and waved signals as long as
she was in sight.
Bartlett Commended by Crewe.
The following dispatch was received to-
day by Capt. Bartlett of the Roosevelt
from Gov. Williams of Newfoundland:
Il transmit with pleasure the Enclosed
message from the Earl of Grewe, secre-
tary Of state for the colonies:
"I congratulate Capt. Bartlett and his
men on their safe return from the arduous
enterprise in which they, as Newfound-
landers. have taken so important a part.