Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27
PEARY INTRODUCED TO
ENGLISHMAN BY BRYCE
Story Of Dash Toward South Pole
Thrillingly Told.
MANY HARDSHIPs ENDURED
But for Lack of Food Ninetv-Sev.r
Miles Could Have Been Covered
and Goal Reached.

Following his thrilling and dramatic
story of his dash toward the south poIe.
toiu last night by Sir Ernest Shackleton
In convention Hall. the daring explorer
was given gold medal by the National
Geographic Society. The presentation ad-
oress was by President Taft, who called
attention to the fact thar Civil Engineer
Peary was a member OF the organization
which was awarding the medal, and he
thought that for that reason the token
would be all the more appreciated by Sir
Ernest.
The appearance of President Taft from
| one OF the side entrances was the Sig
nal for prolonged outburst of applause.
the whole assemblage standing on his
being recognized
Gathered in the huge hall to listen to
the young English explorer was one Of
the most brilliant audiences ever under
the same roof in Washington Besides
President Taft. the members of his cabi-
! net, the foreign representatives of ali
nations. the American who discovered the
north pole, Civil Engineer Robert T.
Peary. about 1900 other persons. inciud-
/ ing members of Congress and leaders In
Washington social world, were present.
President Taft's Remarks.
| The president said:
| Sir Ernest Shackleton-It is my pleas
ant duty TO represent the National Geo
graphic Society in presenting to you this
evidence of its appreciation of the marvel
Gus work that you have done in the
cause of science. and the endurance,
L
pursuit of a definite object. / am sure
that you will the more appreciate this
medal as it comes from the National
| Geographic Society that has among its
prominent members. that distinguished
American, Commander Peary, who. while
you were working at the south pole, was
himself surrounding the north pole.
Il do not know that nature had In mind
the variety that was to be added to the
| lectures by the difference between her
at the north pole and at the south pole
but certainly the differing character of
4 the position of the surroundings of the
north pole and the south pole make OF
enhancing interest the stories with re-
| spect to both You will permit me, there
fore to have the honor of handing you
| the medal of the society, which gives its
evidence of how highly they appreciate
your services to science and to mankind"
In reply Sir Ernest expressed his appre-
citation of the honor which had been done
him by the society and by the President
of the United States.
And while l am on my legs, he said.
81 would like to say that if Commander
Peary will come to England ne will find
just as warm a welcome from my people
as | have received here. Commander
PearyS work belongs not only TO Amer
lea, but to the whole world
Shakes Hands With Peary.
After the lecture Civil Engineer Peary
was presented to Sir Ernest Shackleton
by Ambassador Bryce. The two explorers
shook hands cordially and congratulated
each other upon the work which each
had accomplished Peary had entered
Convention Hall before Shackleton. AS
soon as the American explorer was recog-
nized he was given a round of applause.
and a similar greeting was accorded Sir
Ernest when he arrived
Sir Ernest was introduced to the au-
dience by President Henry Gannett of
the National Geographic Society, under
whose auspices the lecture WAS given
I'VE are living in an age of discoveries.
said President Gannett. Il take pleasure
in introducing to you the Englishman
who has discovered the south magnetic
pole and who was the leader OF the party
which has come closer to the south geo
graphical pole than any other man or
group of men,
Sinunly, without credit to himself for his
great achievement. but giving full credit
to his subordinates for the success OF the
expedition, Sir Ernest told his story. He
spoke of the many times he and his
party had faced almost certain death.
the little less than marvellous escapes
which fell to their lot, and of the final
dash by four men which brought them
within ninety-seven miles OF the south
pole There was in his voice no trace OF
the bitter disappointment which he must
have experienced when he realized that
there was not food enough to carry the
ar4xv 90 Ia ND N ha -
Within Ninety-Seven Miles.
I'VE reached IS degrees minutes south
January g. 1909, ninety-seven miles from
the pole We hoisted the flag which had
been intrusted to US. With the food we
had we could have reached the south
pole. But we could not have returned
With fifty pounds more food we could
have made 1t. 1t would not have done US
any good to have reached the pole il we
could not have returned"
Then he told of the terrible journey
over the snow and ice back to safety,
when the food ran out and only salt and
pepper was left.
Not much for hungry men," said Sir
Ernest.
The English explorer has a dry a,umor
that is irresistible. He kept his audience
continually laughing or thrilled with the
interest of his narrative OF the almost
superhuman accomplishments OF the de-
voted band of Englishmen who had set
out to reach the southern extremity Of
the earth.
Sir Ernest Illustrated his lecture with a
series of remarkably good stereopticon
views. He had, too. number OF moving
pictures depicting the life I'm the camps
and on the journey. None was more
graphic than that which showed the men
harnessed to the sledges, plodding mile
after mile over the snow.
Il am going to describe the British am
arctic expedition OF 1907-1909," said SlV
Ernest. in opening. "It was in February.
1907, organized and launched the expedf-
tion when j had sufficient money prom
ised Some Of the money promised didn't
come off, which handicapped me greatly.
i was forced to buy small ship, the
Nfmrod. the smallest ship that ever rnado,
g. trip into the antarctic regions. She