The independent-reporter., 1910-02-24
COMRADE OF PEARY'S
PER|L0US WAY
Large Crowd Turned Out to Hear Ex-
pl0rer.

Probably the most interesting speak
er who has visited Skowhegan up to
this time of the present season Ia
Prof. Donald Macmillan, who lectur-
ed with stereopticon views Thursday
night on Peary's Trip In to the Arctic.
Prof. Macmillan was the scientific
member Of the great explorers party,
and though he did not go all the way
to the pole he was side by side with
Peary through the most hasardous
miles OF the Journey, and only three
men live who have been as far north
40 he.
Prof. Macmillan opened his lecture
by showing map Of the Arctic region
plotting ont foutss taken BY famous
explorers such 20 Nanssn and contsm-
poraries and back TO the nrst paths
made across the polar ice by the earli-
est explorers. He told Of the many
attempts to reach the pole, and gave
practical reasons for the failure Of
these.
The garb of the exploring party
was described In detail and pieces
were exhibited showing the method OF
sewing different furs In different
places, 20 that completed covering
should be a. nearly frost proof ~ hu-
man ingenuity could make 1t.
Prof. Macmillan explained carefully
the method Of carrying supplies.
Peary's system Of food supply seems
to have been by far the best ever put
IN use. Over $40 dogs started ON the
journey across the Ice packs. and the
time came when all but thirty had to
be shot when they had drawn the
sledges to the required points and
were consuming dog rations that they
could no ltnger earn. The lecturer
expressed regret that the faithful
brutes had to be put out Of the world 70
summarily without reward for their
share in the only successful polar
0xpoultlOu 0SoI oSVOAaPlo<As
People who have read of the delight
full diet Of shoe strings and leathern
mittens often indnigsd In by short-ra-
toned explorers were surprised to
learn how royalty Peary's party dined
In the North. TO hear the lecturer
tell Of the hot chocolate served away
up there where the sun either shines
all the time or not at all for six
months at stretch made many wish
that they might be great explorers just
for the sake of the bill -of-fare to be
enjoyed en- route.
Prof. Macmillan told how he once
mixed up some pies into which he put
for shortening by mistake some blue
ribbon brand salye. The Eskimos
thought the pies were pretty fine.
A few illustrations Of the antics of
Eskimo tongue proved interesting and
amusing. To most Of the listeners
the language was quite 40 unintelligt-
bic az Greek. and far less euphonious.
Surely these dwellers In the North
are nicely particular about what they
call thing: for instance. they have q
certain word (The spelling Of which
we Judge, would be done in English
with ! few Ms. ks, U's and Psi
which they use when they speak Of q
hole in blanket; but in speaking Of
! hole In the ground another distress
sing mess of sounds must be used to
express the hole. Various instances
of this multiplicity Of terms for one
thing under different conditions were
elven.
Il was reported that in his lecture
Ii Biddeford Friday evening Prof.
llaelGillsa said thst hs and Captain
eerslttt wsrs 10 make an expedition
u sxe1h ~ 81 nllimos ard doss for
& III Ssmino AnSrican Antarctic sxpsd-
NO. Csn1n ~ rsety said satur-
w that " hsd ~ tnowiedes of such
~ ~ 6Itiop ~ iznaglusd tAat Prof.
llse1l ~ ~ - NissSsssd.
10 ,33 X tl Isl