New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-09
STARTS SOUTH POLE
TRIP FUND.
Gorernor Hughes Leads T'r7b-
ate to Epplorer-Nr. Taft
Sends Message.

of the civic Forum and the citizens who
arranged the demonstration. The COM
| n1ander announced at once that he would
deposit il 70 start fund 70 send an eE-
petition into the Antarctic, 10 enter
the Stars and Stripes in a splendid,
brotherlv race with our British cousins
for the South Pole"
The commanders action is the first
definite step toward actually preparing
an expedition for work in the Antarctic.
Il followed the action of the National
Geogra phfc Society in Washington yes
terday which decided to send an expedi-
ton TO the South Pole. provided the nee
essarv funds could be raised.
The house was filed to the doors when
Governor Hughes escorted Commander
Pearv to his seat on the platform. The
crowd arose and cheered and the band
struck up The star Spangled Banner.
The Governor gave him vigorous intro
duction.
y have no sympathy" he said. with
those who inquire of what utility may
be the discovery Of the North Pole. or
visit to those frozen regions. When
the time comes that knowledge will not
be sought for its own sake and men
will not press forward simply in a de-
sire Of achievement without hope OF
gain. TO extend the limits Of human
knowledge and information, then, in
deed. viii the race enter upon its de-
cadence. All that We have to-day by
way Of material benefits and all the
blessings Of our richly favored clvfiiza-
ton are due to those noble souls who
in their first endeavor were unable to
see aught of gain, but pressed forward
because of the uncouquerable ambition
Of manhood to achieve
TAFT SENDS MESSAGE
a telegram from President Taft evoked
further applause sIn II the President
expressed the hope that, as is now pro-
posed. Congress will take some substan-
tial notice Of the great achievement OF
Commander Peary, which has reflected
such great credit. on American enter
prise. persistence courage and endur-
enCe'
Following the reading of this senti-
ment from President Taft d petition was
offered bv Seth Low, and approved by a
rising vote Of the whole meeting, asking
Congress TO make some special and ap-
propria te recognition Of the achievement
of Commander Peary in reaching the
North Pole"
Percy Mackaye read an original poem,
ITO the Commander and His Men.
whereupon the Governor introduced the
members Of the expedition. Matt Hen
son. Macmillan and Borup we're not
there, but Wardwen the chief" Dr..
Goodsell and Piercy. the steward, all re-
sponded TO their names and bowed 10 the
applause of the crowd. Then Captain
Bob Bartlett made a speech. It was a
short speech. that of Captain Bob but
II shook the crowd up more than any
thing else that happened.
Ladies and gentlemen. he began.
when I left Washington to-day I had
no idea I was going to make d speech
in the Metropolitan Opera House In
1897 ! first went with Commander Peary.
and I have never regretted that DAY.
And"-here the captain scratched his
head thoughtfully-"I wanted TO be IN
on II
Now. you know. ladies and gentlemen.
! aIn-well. IS sailor
Here he took new start with a sweep
OF = brown hand that said volumes.
Ladies and gentlemen. 7 rejoice with
YOU tonight in honorins brave man
like Cornman nder Pesry- He's al there
everv time. He's all right here, ladies and
gentlemen, but you ought TO see him out
on the ice and hear him talk.
As I said. it is 3 great honor TO be
here. commander Peary's stimulants
and his words TO us boys
That broke I'D the audience completely
and they had their laugh out, the captain
enio1ing the zitua ton as heartily as any
one
Really. ladies and gentlemen" he
wound I'D. I'D like to he an orator and
use words: but then. ladies and gentle
men. YOU understand il all, and I mean
every word Of it
PEARY TELLS HIS STORY.
When the Governor introduced Com
mander Peary as the. discoverer of the
North Pole To deliver his lecture on how
he reached the top Of the earth the au-
.dleuce applauded and cheered to the limit
of its ability.
II WAS the story which the discoTerer
has told before. and this time he pressed
If into \ short compass. But he told Il
.vfyjdlv with frequent rattles Of hand
clapping as Interruptions and with the
dramatic story he presented a series OF
remarkable pictures OF everything that
,sas 10 be photoera phed beyond the
arctic Circle
The pictures of huge headiands Of the
ice-worn coasts. the Esquimaus, the dogs
and the wild life OF the region generally
we're all greeted with enthusiasm But
ycben the pictures Of the Polar Sea Itself
we're thrown on the screen there was q
tightening OF interest, and now and then
= gasp would rustic through the house
at the cruei mountain chains OF the ice
barriers and pressure ridges and the
snarls of straining dogs and struggling
men and stretched traces, tumblng the
dead weight of sledge up wall OF ice.
Few imagined that the path to the pole
could be so forbidding as that
Mrs. Peary and her children we're in
hoy at the centre of the grand tier The
,uenbers OF the PeaTy Arctic Club were
IN boxes or on the stage. Just behind
The footights was laid one Of the sledges