Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-09
NEW WORKERS GIVE
PEARy $4,000 CHECK
Poe=Finder Is rendered Appreciative
Demonstration, but Donates All
Money Presented to Him to
Bartlett Expedition

NEW YORK, Feb. 8.-Before an au-
dience of more than 1000 persons in
the Metropolitan opera house Com
mander Robert E. Peary, discoverer
of the north pole, was presented With
a $4,000 check on behalf of the citi-
zens of New York, but instead of re-
tanning it for himself the commander
announced Immediately that he would
contribute it toward the south pole
expedition planned by the National
Geographic society. The check was
presented to the commander by Gov
ernor Hughes of New York in the first
national testimonial in the explorers s
honor.
Accepting the gift Peary advanced to
the front of the stage and said:
Here is a check for $4,000. This
check will be deposited tomorrow as
joint contribution of members of this
audience, the officers and members of
the Civic Forum and myself toward
an American Antarctic expedition for
the purpose of exploration and scien-
tific investigation, and to enter the
stars and stripes in a splendid, manly
International race for the south pole
with our British cousins
The standing room only" audience
which greeted the commander tonight
was representative and enthusiastic.
The gathering was held under the aus
pices of the Civic Forum.
Taft Sends Message
President Taft Photographed he was
sorry he was unable to attend, but
said he sincerely hoped that congress
will take some substantial notice of the
great achievement of Commander
Peary."
The assemblage adopted a resolution
presented by Seth Low, former mayor
of New York setting forth that this
meeting respectfully and earnestly pc
titions the congress of the United
States to make some special and ap-
propriate recognition of the achieve
ment of Commander Peary in reaching
the north pole and winning for the
United States the prize striven for cen=
tury after century by a company of
brave and adventurous men,
Peary delivered his illustrated lee
ture, showing his progress to the pole,
and Capt. Bartlett spoke briefly.
The house was draped in American
flags and the footights of the stage
were buried in -furs and skins, relics
of Commander Peary's arctic trip.
The sled on which he journeyed to
the pole was displayed in front of the
stage, while the Stars and Stripes that
Peary raised at the pole hung above.
Under the flag We're the illuminated
initials in red and blue, ''R. e. P"
Guests of Honor
In the commanders party, occupy
ing seats of honor were three of the
Roosevelts crew, Capt. Robert A.
Bartlett, master; DIR. j. w. Goodsell,
surgeon, and Charles Percy, steward.
and Capt. George Bartlett of the re-
lief ship Erik.
The committee had guaranteed
Peary a cash purse of $4,000 for the
testimonial, but the proceeds tonight
exceeded $4,000, all of which will go
to the commander.
AS Governor Hughes spoke the audi
ence broke into cheers. The COVER
nor said, in part:
81 have no sympathy with those
who inquire of what utility may be
the discovery of the north pole, or a
visit to those frozen regions They
may seem far removed from the life
of the workman in the shop or the
clerk in the office. or the busy profess
sional man, but unless that workman
and that clerk, or that professional
man now and then feels the stimulus