Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-02
THE ARCTIC Peril
Peary's Method OF Battling With
Polar Conditions.
THE USE OF RELAY PARTIES.
Without This System, the Explorer
Says, II Would Be a Physical Inn
possibility For Any Man to Reach the
Pole and Return to Tell the Tale.


II Pcary got TO the pole. II was impos.
siblc for Cook 10 do so will find an
answer In Commander feary's own
story In Hampton's. Although he does
not mention DR.. Cook by name, Peary
shows how impossible II would be for
n man without his equipment and sys-
TEN TO surmount the difficulties OF
such Journey He says:
"Fortitude and endurance alone are
not enough IN themselves TO carry a
man TO the north pole. Only with
years OF experience in travelling those
regions. only with the aid OF large
party also experienced in that charac-
ter of work. only with the knowledge
of arctic detail and the equipment
necessary to prepare himself and his
party for any and every emergency.
is 1t possible for man TO reach that
long sought goal and return.
"ln order that the reader may I'M
derstand this journey over the ice Of
the polar sea II Ii necessary that the
theory and practice of pioneer aud
supporting parties should be fully un.
derstood.
THE use of relay parties in arctic
work Is not new. but the idea was
carried further In the last expedition
OF the Peary Arctic club than ever
before.
without this system it would be a
physical impossibillty for any man to
reach the north pole and return to tell
the tale.
First. Because single division.
comprising either small or n large
number of men and dogs. could not
possibly drag all the way TO the pole
and back (some 900 miles, as much
food and liquid fuel us the men and
dogs of that division would consume
during the many weeks of the journey.
"Second.-lt Is absolutely necessary
that the arduous work of trail break
ing for the first two-thirds of the dis.
lance should be done by Que division
after another In succession In order
10 save the strength of the main party
for It's final dash alone.
Third When the supplies of one
sledge after another have been con
sumed the drivers OF these slcdgcs and
the dogs ARE superhuous mouths which
cannot be fed from the scanty supply
OF provisions being dragged forward
over the Ice.
Fourth. Each division being an In
dependent unit. these divisions can be
withdrawn nj intervals from the main
party without affecting the main party.
''Fifth.-At the very end when the
supporting parties have performed
their important work of trail breaking
and transportation of supplies. the
main party for the final dash must be
small and carefully selected. as small
party can travel SO much faster than
n large one.
'"The pioneer party was one unit dsyi-
sion. made up of four of the most ac.
tive and experienced men of the cxpe-
dition. with sledges lightly loaded with
| five or six days provisions. drawn by
| the best dog teams that could be Sc.
lectcd from the entire pack. When
we started from Cape Columbia this
pioneer party. headed by Bartlett. went
out twenty-four hours In advance of
| the main party. Later on. when we
reached the time of continuous day
light and sunlight through the twenty
four hours. the pioneer party was but
twelve hours In advance of the main
party.
The duty of this pioneer party was
10 make n march in every tweniy-fouT
hours In spite of every obstacle. eN
ceptlng. OF course. some impassable
lead. Whether there was a deep snow
| or violent winds 10 bc faced or noun
famous pressure ridges 10 he climbed
over. the march Of the pioneer party
must be made. for past experience had
| proved that whatever distance was
covered by the advance party with its
| light sledges could he covered in less
| time by the main party even with
heavily loaded slcdges. because the
main party. having the trail 10 follow,
was not obliged 10 waste time In recon
noitering.
| "In other words. the pioneer party
was the nacemaker Of the expedition,
| and whatever distance Il made was
the measure OF accomplishment for
the main party. The leader OF the
pioneer party. In the first instance
Bartlett. would start out ahead of his
| division. usually Of the snowshoes.
Then the light sledges of the party
would follow after. Thus the leader
OF the pioneer division was pioneering
ahead OF his own party. aud that
whole division was pioneering ahead
Of the main party.
zone great advantage which ] had
on this expedition was that, owing to
the size Of my party. whenever the
mon IN this pioneer division became
exhausted with their arduous labor
and lack Of sleep could withdraw
them into the main party and send
ont fresh division TO take their place.
4 large party Is absolutely necessary
10 success"
|
A..-a,.,;,c tina Field