Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-07-20
THE ARCTIC Peril
Peary's Method Of Batting Nth
Polar Conditions.
THE USE OF RELAY PARTIES.

Without This System, the Explorer
Says, u Would Be Physical I'm
possibility For Any Man TO Reach the
Pole and Return 20 Tell the Tale.
Many persons who have asked why.
n Peary got 70 the pole. It was impos-
sible for Cook 60 do so viii hnd an
answer I'm Commander Peary's own
story IN nampton's. Although ne dO>s
not mention Dr Cook by name. Peary
shows how impossible II would be for
a man without his equipment and sys-
tenn to Surmount the difficulties OF
such journey. He says:
"Forutudc and endurance alone are
not enough I'm themselves TO carry
man TO the north pole. Only with
years OF experience In travelling those
regions. only with the aid OF a large
party also experienced in that charnc-
ter OF work. ouly with the knowledge
Of arctic detail and the equipment
necessary TO prepare himself and his
party Tor any and every emergency.
IS il possible for n man TO reach that
long sought goal and return.
"In order that the reader may I'M
derStand this Journey over the ice Of
the polar sea II is 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 Poary Arctic club than ever
before.
Without this system II would be
physical imposSib.lity for any man 10
reach the north pole and return to tell
the tale
"First.-Because single division.
comprising either small or large
number OF men and dogs. could not
possibly drag all the way To the pole
and back 1Some 900 miles, rs much
food and liquid fuel as the men ard
dogs of that division would consume
during the many weeks OF the Journey.
"Sccond-It * absolutely necessary
that the arduOus work OF tr-si brcaA-
ing for The first twO-thirds q; ihv els
lance should be done 10y one division
sAANA tAANAAANHt AAA EhNNtiNoANU ia Al.AltI
to save the strength of the maia party
for its final dash alone.
Third Nhcn the supplies of our
Slcdgc after another nave been con
sumed the drivers OF these slcdgcs and
the dogs are susCrfiuouS 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withdrawn at Intervals from the main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. rs a small
party can travel so much faster than
large one.
The pioneer party was one unit divi-
sion. made UP OF four OF the most ac-
tive and experienced men OF the expo.
dition. with sledges lightly loaded with
FIVE or six days provisions. drawn by
the best dog teams that could be Sc
lected from the entire pack When
we started from Cape Columbia this
pioneer party. headed 10y 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 or the main
party.
The duty OF this pioneer party was
10 make Il march In every twenty-four
hours in spite OF every obstacle. ex
cepung, OF course, some impossible
lead Whether there was deep snow
or violent winds TO be faced or noun
famous pressure ridges To be 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 It's
light sledges could be covered IN less
time by the main party even with
heavily loaded sledges, because the
main party. having the trail 10 follow
was not Obliged 10 waste time in recon
noitering.
Al WOlOSs tue IlouttI llIltN
was the pacemaker of the expedition
and whatever distance 1t made was
the measure of accomplishment for
the main party. The leader OF tire
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. and 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
men in this pioneer division became
exhausted with their arduouS labor
and lack Of sleep ] could withdraw
them into the main party and send
out n fresh division 10 take their place
a large party is absolutely necessary
10 success"