Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-11
ARCTIC EXPLORER PEARY
AGAIN QUESTIONED
Committee on Naval Affairs Asks for
More Light.

Washington, Jan. 10.-Admitting
that the North pole is just as much
lost as ever, and that all future at
tempts to find it must be independent
enterprises unaided by his own work,
Capt Robert E. Peary the Arctic ex-
plorer, answered a crossfire of ques-
tions at a hearing before the house
committee on naval affairs today. He
told how he wanted the glory of the
polar achievement for himself, declin-
ing to let any member of his expedi-
ton, other than the negro, Henson
so on the last dash with him; how his
publishing contracts had precluded him
from testifying before the committee
last spring, and how members of his
expedition had been prohibited from
writing about the trip
Captain Peary was asked to throw
light on why, as a naval officer. he
made no report to the navy depart
ment. Representative Roberts of Mas
sachusetts asked him if it was not
customary for an officer to report on
matters for which he was detailed.
Captain Peary said he had made some
report to the coast and geodetic sur
vey and had advised the navy depart
ment of that fact. 1t was his i'm
preston that the superintendent of
the survey had made a report to the
navy. Pressed by Mr.. Roberts, Cap
tain Peary said there was a letter of
his on file somewhere, asking secrecy
for his written report to the survey
as to the soundings.
why, being detailed to get certain
information for the government, did
you ask the government not to use
this information until later?'' insisted
Mr.. Roberts.
II would rather not give the infor-
nation except to the committee" re-
piled Captain Peary, who objected to
testifying in the presence of news
fra+ IJ1
permission to file his reason in writ
ing.
why did you not take white MEM
bers of your party with you on the
final stage of your trip northward, SO
that there might bs creditable corrob-
orative evidence?' asked Mr.. Roberts.
I'm the first placo." replied Captain
Peary, II have always made the final
squirt, with one exception, when Lee
was with me, with one man and the
Esquimaux, because the man l took
with me (Henson) was more effective
for combined demands of extended
work than any white man. The pole
was something to which 1 have de-
voted my life, for which / had gone
through such hell as l hope no man
in this room will ever experience, and
L did not feel that l should divide it
with a young man who had not the
right to it that / had
Mr.. Roberts asked if any injunction
Of secrecy had been made as to what
members of the expedition might say,
and Peary replied that members of the
party were not free to write or lee
ture after their return, except with his
written permission, explaining that
they were paid for their services.
Mr.. Macon of Arkansas interjected
that Captain Peary also was paid for
his services through the salary paid
him as a naval officer.
Captain Peary, replying to repeat ted
questions as to the results of his Arc
tic trip, said that he had not yet pre-
pared such a chart as would enable
anyone to follow in his footsteps to
the pole, but he Imagined that he
had data by which he could prepare
such a chart He said the position
of the North pole could be determined
just the same as the equator. but the
trouble was the comparative low aIti-
tude of the sun, which never gets
higher than % IL degrees above the
horizon. For that reason ordinary OBJ
servations could not be relied on with
accuracy.
The committee will continue the
hearing of Captain Peary tomorrow,
when Representative Macon of Arkan-
sas is expected to question him at
length