The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-08
Arctic Explorer Convinces Con-
gressional Committee That His
Statements Are True.
REFERENCE MADE TO COOK
Arkansas Representative Com
pares Brooklyn Doctors Mar
rative With Naval Officer 8.
sy Leased Wire to The Tribune.


what his friends declare ample proof
that he had been TO the north pole,
Captain Robert T.. Peary appeared to-
day before the subcommittee on prl-
vate bills Of the house on naval affairs
and submitted evidence, He appeared
in connection with the consideration of
the bills to promote him in recognition
of his services.
For the most part the members Of the
subcommittee were convinced, before
he appeared that he had reached the
pole. But it was deemed best to head
off any charge on the floor of the house
that his promotion had been recon-
mended without consideration of the
evidence. Moreover two members OF
the ub-committee were well known TO
be hostile to Peary's claims as an ex-
er-Representatives Macon of Ar
kansas and Roberts of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Macon insists that if Peary be
recognized and promoted then Dr.. Cook
ought to be. In spite of this, the feel
ing Of the committee generally is fa-
vorable to Peary and the opinion was
expressed among members Of the sub
committee that there would be legis-
lation for mis- promotion along the lines
recommended by the president and sec
retary of the navy.
Peary Closely Questioned.
/. In the hearing Captain Peary was
subjected TO close questioning by the
committee He told in q frank and
aightforward manner about his polar
trip. He began, az the suggestion of
the committee, at the time when Cap
tain Bartlett left him and when at a
point 1873 miles from the pole he, with
four men and FIVE sledges, with forty
dogs, started north on the last lap Of
u l.. Az1l % % G,ya
marches made toward the pole from the
point where Bartlett left. He said he
made twenty-five miles on the first
march. twenty miles on the second,
twenty-five on the third, twenty-five
on the fourth and thirty on the last.
"At the last point said he, ~
Judged I had got near enough to. the
pole so I could reach 1T from that place.
I estimated I was three or four miles
from the pole. | reached there IN the
afternoon as l had hoped to do, 80
that / could determine what to do the
next day, Observations indicated that
we were at 50 degrees 81 minutes
about three miles from the pole. I
made my last camp there. ~
Captain Peary then told Of his
marches in several directions in the
Immediate vicinity Of the pole, and
his observations at that tine-April
U,
trip, which began at 4 O'Clock the
afternoon OF April 7, On the way
back he stopped about five miles from
the pole and made soundings. At 1900
fathoms he could not reach bottom,
and on trying to haul up the apparatus
the wire broke and he lost it.
He explained that the party on the
return covered the first two outward
marches in one, and the second two
o,rtv Il rl,no Lel
northerly gale at their backs, and this
assisted them.
Trail Easy to Follow.
Among other things Captain Peay
explained was that it was not difficult
of the steel sledges, the tracks of the
dogs and the like, he said very little
snow fell, and that what was generally
termed Arctic ice was really snow The
dropped pemmican cans also helped to
mark the trail,
Captain Peary presented Captain
Bartlett's original record of observa-
by Bartlett, and was written with pen
ell. 1t was taken 133 miles from the
pole, and was dated "W," Arctic
ocean, April l, 1909. Bartlett said that
the weather was good, and Peary
should reach the pole in eight DAYS.
This record was in Bartlett's own hand
writing on leaves from his notebook
The observations showed S7.4649 The
signature is "Robert A. Bartlett, Mas
ter of S. S. Roosevelt
Peary read from his memoranda from
day to day as made during the last
stages OF the trip, and members of the
committee listened with keen interest
Whether a man could manufacture
records of observations was a point on
which the explorer was questioned. He
thought this somewhat strange. Both
Roberts and Macon found some room
for doubt over the fact that Professor
Henry Gannett when before the COM
mittee made statements as to the dogs
and sledges that did not agree numeri.
cally with Peary's own statements. 1t
appeared, however. that Gannett was
speaking from memory.
After Captain Peary had com mpleted
the reading of his memorands the sub
committee adjourned until Tuesday. No
action was taken, and he will be heard
further at that time.
Captain Bartlett, who is now in Bos-
ton, may be called. At the close of to-
days session the general feeling was
expressed that Peary had "made goodr
and that his evidence was satisfactory.