The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-31

The wintry blasts of the icy Potomac
contain no hidden dangers for Com
mander Robert f. Peary. Lest there be
any doubt in the minds of hopelessly
biased persons on this subject, the fol-
lowing facts are presented for consider
alton
Ten days ago the discoverer Of the
north pole now a naval engineer at
tached 10 the Department of Justice"
received orders to prepare for the ninety
mile riding test that is prescribed for
naval officers. Meditatively the com
mander stroked his tawny mustache and
frowned polar frown as he said
Il haven't been astride a horse for sew
enteen years, and have almost forgotten
how to mount a saddle. But I'm going
% make that ninety-mile ride if l die
!n the attempt"
II was typical of Commander Peary 10
make a determination OF this sOrt-and
TO carry it out Wednesday morning he
started out on the course, a three and
one-half-miie loop around the Speedway
He knew he had 10 complete the ride in
three days, and was a Tihe worried by
the thought
Smiles at Finish.
But at 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
after eleven hours Of hard riding in all.
Commander Peary crossed the finish line
with Just the suspicion Of a smile on his
lips. He had demonstrated he knew
feW 'landlubber" tricks as well as those
o. plain seaman. He had used eleven
horses IN his riding relays. had never
once allowed them 10 slacken down in
their ten-mile-an-hour gait, and had
emerged from the test with ll0 miles 10
his credit
Incidentally the test ride was climaxed
with the spice Of excitement After com
plotting the ride, the north pole discov-
sEsE made a littIa recnnnoig1naa 10 a
place or refresh shment, where he might find
a little spiritual" nourishment. The
little journey" was successful. Then
Commander Peary found he had brought
TO money with him. His pockets were
empty.
u m afraid / can't pay you for that
drink just now, my man" he said TO the
man behind. Il haven't any money. But
I'm Commander Peary"
The - you are" replied the man in
the apron. well. I'm DR.. Cook, and I
have proofs, specifications. ana docu-
ments 10 show you bought a drink and
didn't pay for il. / should advise you 10
come across with some cash, Mr. Com
mandeT PeaTy
Thereupon an excited colloquy ensued,
but the commander was So decisiveiy
worsted in the argument that he be-
ly, a happy thought struck him.
OYercoht for Security.
I'm going to leave this overcoat here
as a guarantee that I'll pay for this
drink. That ought TO satisfy you. A
man can't wear an overcoat in this kind
OF weather. anyway" he added
So the overcoat was held hostage until
late in the afternoon. Commander Peary
might have given certain polar watch {
charm of his Instead Of the overcoat.
bat ne would not run the risk Of losing
IL, IL Is altogether too valuable for that 1
Commander Peary astride a horse is a /
picturesque figure. When he started out
Wednesday morning. any u-ro could
have seen that he would feel far more
al home at the north pole than on horse 4
back. II was the first time In seventeen
years he had mounted
Peary made all possible effort to con-
ceal his test rides from his friends and
the public, and he nearly succeeded. As
matter Of fact he Was never once rec
ognized while galloping fast laps around /
the Speedway. Part Of the time he Was
accompanied by an aid on the first day
he wore a business suit, but Thursday /
he added leggings TO his attire, and the /
sartoriaI effect was most picturesque. to /
say the least.
Starts Out Strong.
Starting out at O'Clock Wednesday
morning, the north pole man reeled off /
thirty miles by noon. and declared he |
didn't show the slightest symptoms of /
-'charley-horse. He took an hour off
for dinner and then completed an even
fifty miles by O'clock
He made exactly the same record Thurs
day. That rounded off 100 miles on the
third and last day. had ne chosen he
might have allowed his horse TO finish
like draft horse on a muddy Virginia
road and still come under the wire ahead
OF time
But Peary does not do things that wav
He kept his eleventh horse right ND to
the ten-mile-an-hOuT notch and finished
his ride at II o'clock. No naval officer
who has taken the test ride this year has
a better record than the distinguished ex-
plorer. And Peary is not as young as a
majority OF the other officers who rode.