South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-21
ADMIRAL PEARY
DISCOVERER OF
NORTH POLE DIES
Intrepid Arctic Explorer Made
Many Attempts to Reach
Top OF World.
~ United Press:


TRANSMISSION. the admiral showed a
slight change for the better and was
taken TO his home where ne appear
ID 10 be recovering Thursday Peary
seemed quite strong II was learned
- his residence A relapse was suf-
rered during the night.
Peary's wife, son. son-in-law and
daughter and a niece were az his
home when he died
Robert Edwin Peary. intrepid Arc
tic explorer and discoverer OF the
north pole. although born in Penn
sylvania and IN later life a resident
or washington. d c., was claimed
as a son of Maine.
Owns Several Islands.
The Roosevelt, the ship that car
ried the Peary party north through
the frozen waters TO the pole. was
built in a Maine ship yard and Peary
for many years lived during mis- sum-
mers on an island In CascO Bay,
near Portland. Maine. In fact he
owned several islands in that neigh
borhood.
II was in 1886 that Peary. then
but 80 years old, made his first trip
north and caught the Arctic fever,
"a "maIady'' he was never able 10
cure. From that date 10 September,
1909. was a continuous period OF
planning and effort TO reach the Top
of the world
His initial trip was for the pur-
pose of making a reconnaissance Of
the Greenland ice cape.
IL was on Sept. 10. 1909. that Com
mander Peary cast the first shadow
of SUSPICION over the claims OF DR..
Frederick a. Cook, that he had dis
covered the north pole. Il have him
nailed" he telegraphed Mrs. Peary
who from the first had disbelieved
Dr. Cooks story OF finding the pole.
Discovers North Pole.
II was on Sept. 6. 1909. that
Peary's announcement that ne had
nailed the stars and stripes TO the
pole" was received I'm America. That
was FIVE days after DIR. Cook had
sent a telegram TO Denmark declar-
ing he had found the pole.
Born in Cresson. Pa. May s, 1856,
Peary got his early education at
North Bridgeton, Maine. academy
and later entered Bowdoin college
from which he was graduated in
1917. He entered the United states
navy in 1881 as a civil enginecr.
tn 1893 Peary went north 10 study
Inc habits OF a tribe OF EskimOs
Tnis voyage lasted until 1895.
The fourth and ff.h journeys
were in reality summer trips 10 the
north lands TO enlarge the explorers
I5nowledge OF the habits and Gus
toms OF the people. IN 1898 Peary
took his sixth trip.
Peary's most serious attempt TO
reach the pole. with the exception
~ the trip on which he actually
reached the goal, was on his eighth
Journey, begun In July. 1905. IL was
ON this journey that ne and his party
travelling on the Roosevelt encoun-
tered so many obstacles and suffer
ed such privations
Reaches "FarthcSt North
Peary reached "farthest north"
on April q. 1906. just three years
10 a day before the day DR.. Cook
4srribed as his date OF alleged dis
rovcry Of the pole Peary's readings
showed he was then at latitude OF
Sc degrees and L minutes. Forced
To- leave most OF his supplies behind
TO tighten the load on the dogsleds.
Peary realized that If he attained
his ambition and dashed for the
pole, he and every man and dog in
the party would die Of starvation
and exposure on the way hack.
The final dash for the pole that at
asst proved successful was started
on July 8. 1908. His date OF discovery
was given as April 8, 1909.
Peary has been In failing health
for two years. but the fact was not
generally known until he was taken
10 the naval hospital for the last
blood TRANSMISSION operation.
When he left the hospital for his
home last week. however. IL was
understood by his family that death
was a matter Of months or weeks.
He could only be kept alive by re-
peated blood transfusions and in
spite OF these he was steadily grow
ing worse.
Pearys mind was clear until very
near the end. II was stated at his
residence. During Thursday he talk
ed with number or people and ap-
parently took lively interest in all
that was going on. During the last
two years Peary has undergone be-
tween 40 and so blood transfusions.
IL was learned. In spite OF this the
desperate fight for life he was max
ing was known only TO his doctors
and members OF the family
Those offering their blood for the
TRANSMISSION operations were enlisted
men Of the navy and attaches OF the
naval hospital.
The relatives with him when ne
died we're the widow, HIS daughter
Mrs. Edward Stafford, famous as the
snow baby" born in the Arctic; his
son, Robert r. Peary. IT.. and his
niece. Miss Madge Dieditsch.
Peary's last public appearance
was in February. 1919. when he In
troduced Stefansson. the Arctic eI-
oiorer 10 the National Geographic
society at a meeting here.
Peary has been a close follower
OF aviation dcveIorment and was "A
member OF the Aerial league OF
America and member OF the board
OF governors OF the Aero League OF