The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14
NORTH POLE LOST AGAIN,
WOULD BE AS HARD TO FIND As
EVER SAYS PEARY.
Tells of His Fight Through to Frozen
North, Answering Fire Of Questions
Before Committee.


that the North Pole is just as much
lost as ever and that all future at
tempts to find it must be independent
enterprise unaided by his own work.
Capt. Robert E. Peary, the Arctic
explorer. answered a cross fire of
questions at hearing before the
mouse committee on naval affairs to-
day. He told how he wanted the
glory OF the polar achievement
Tor himself. declining to let ary mem
Der OF his expedition, other than the
negro, Henson, go on the last dash
with him; how his publishing con-
tracts had precluded him from testi-
Tying before the committee last
spring, and how members of his ex-
pedition had been prohibited from
writing about the trip.
capt Peary was asked to throw
light on why, as a naval officer, he
made no report to the navy depart
nent. Mr.. Roberts asked him if il
was not customary for an officer to
report on matters for which he was
detailed. Capt. Peary said he had
made some report to the coast and
geodetic survey and had advised the
navy department Of that fact. 1t
was his impression that the superin-
tendent Of the survey had made q
report to the navy. Pressed by Mr..
Roberts, Capt. Peary said there was
a letter on his file somewhere asking
secrecy 'or his written report to the
survey as to soundings. etc.
Why, being detailed to get certain
information for the government, did
you ask the government not to use
this information until later?" insist
ed Mr.. Roberts.
II would rather not give the infor-
nation except to the committee" re-
piled Capt. Peary, who objected to
testifying in the presence Of news
paper representatives. He was CIV
en- permission to file his reason in
writing.
why did you not take white men,
bers Of your party with you on the
final stage Of your trip northward, SO
that there might be creditable cor
roborative evidence?" asked Repre-
sentative Roberts.
In the first place" replied Capt.
Peary, 81 have always made the final
spurt. with one exception, when Lee
was with me, with one mar and the
ESqu-mauA, .Ccauso the nan took
with me (Henson) was more effective
for combined demands for extendei
work than any white man. The pole
was something to which 1 have de-
voted my life, for which 1 had gone
through such hell as I hope no man
In this room will ever experience, and
l did not feel that should divide IL
with a young man who had not the
right to it that had"
Capt. Peary was asked if any in
junction Of secrecy had been made as
to what members Of the expedition
might say. He replied that members
of lis party were not free to write or
lecture after their return except with
his written permission. Mr.. Macon Of
Arkansas interjected that Capt. Peary
also was paid for his services through
the salary paid him as a naval officer.
Capt. Peary, replying to repeated
questions as to the results Of his
Arctic trip. said that he had not yet
prepared such a chart as would en-
able anyone to follow in his footsteps
to the pole. but he Imagined" he
had data by which he could prepare
such a chart.