The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08
TELLS HIS STORY
OF FINDING POLE
Captain Robert E, Pcary Faces
House Committee on
Naval Affairs.
ANSWERS MANY QUESTIONS
Macon Wants Especial Light on
Thirty Hours" Spent on
Top of Earth.
ANSWERS MANY QUESTIONS

Washington, January 7.-Captain
Robert L. Peary told the story of tho
trip to tho frozen North at a hearing
to-day before the House Committee on
Naval Affairs. the purpose being 10 fur
nish proof OF his attainment of tho
North Pole on April 6, 1909. In connec-
ton with pending legislation for
national recognition of his achieve
ments. lie produced all of his orig
inai memoranda and answered numer-
ous questions. Cross examination by
Representative Macon. who has an
nounced his unalterable opposition to
recognition of the explorer. was de-
ferred on account of the timo taken In
reading data. The committee ad-
journed until next Tuesday.
Asks Especial Light.
Mr.. Macon asked especial light on
the thirty hours Peary was at the
pole. and Peary read from his log
book, detailing his four hours sleep.
ais journeying beyond and back to the
camp. Peary said he made no entries
in his hook on his return march, April
S, and not until the afternoon OF the
9th.
lust at the close Of the hearing Mr..
Roberts handed the explorer a copy of
a pamphlet on how Peary discovered
the Pole. printed in Washington, and
headed by Robert T.. Peary,". and
asked Peary If he had ever seen 1t be-
fore. Peary replied that he had writ
ten IT. The significance of this was
mat the Naval Committee wanted
Peary TO appear last spring He de-
clned because of his publishers rights.
and that this pamphlet, the date of
whose publication he could not recall,
is claimed to have appeared at that
time
Captain Pcary told of his hnai
marches. his camping at what he re-
garded as the Pole. about his marches
Beyond the Pole one midnight obser-
walton indicating the Pole between him
and the sun. He told of the return
irip. OF his loss Of sounding apparatus.
after his lead had gone down 300
feet in the Arctic water I'VE miles this
side of the Pole.
He said there was very little snow
on the trip; that the snowfalls there
are not excessive. and that without the
trail over which they had come his
party could not have found the igloos,
where they camped on the return.
The trail was made hy footprints of
men and dogs, sledge marks. pemmican
tins. etc.
Submits Memoranda.
ANY objection to allowing the com
mittee 10 see your original notes while
in the vicinity of the pole?" asked
Representative Rawson, OF Iowa
II have not" replied Captain Pcary
who then submitted memoranda al
ready published. Captain Peary also
submitted his original log book and
journal.
Was it absolutely necessary for you
10 be at the North Pole to make THESE
observations ?" asked Chairman Butler.
That IS question on which there
has been some discussion, replied
Captain Pcary observations have
never been made yet except where they
are stated 10 have been made"
Would there be any way 10 detect
such efrorts?' insisted Mr.. Butler.
That is thing I could not an
swer," replied Peary There has been
a difference of opinion. Some experts
Will say observations can be arranged
and others say not