The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-27
Peary's Explorations in The Far North.
nY GrLBERr GRosyEsoR.


M GILBERT GR0svEN0R.
president OF the National Geographic
Society ~
1t has been my privilege to know
Admiral Peary intimately for twenty
years. and / and 1t difficult to express
my admiration and affection for HIS
personal qualities. the bignsss of his
heart and personality. his loyal devo-
tion to hts friends. his rugxed integ-
rtty and his love for everything Amer :
lean.
The struggle for the North Pole be-
gan Zoe years before the landing OF
the Pilgrim fathers st Plymouth Rock,
being inaugurated (1537) by that king
OF many distinctions. Henry VIII. OF
Eng land.
scores Of hardy navigaters. British,
French. Dutch. German. scandinavian
and Russian. followed Davis, all seek :
ing to hew across the polo the much
coveted short route to China and the
IEdtcs. The rivalry was keen and
ccatly in lives. ships and treasures.
but from the time of Henry VIII. for
three and one-half centuries. or until
1874 with the exception Of 15e4-lS06,
when. through William RArents, the
Dutch held the record. Great Britain
flag was always waving nearest top
OF the ghse.
Immense treasures OF money ana
lives were expended by the nations to
explore the northern Ice world and to
Attain sh apex Of the earth. But all
efforts to reach the pole had failed.
notwithstanding the unlimited sacri-
Ace of gold and energy and blood
which had been poured out without
stint for nearly four centuries.
A brief summer excursion To Green
land in 1856 aroused Robert Il. Peary.
civil engineer In the United States
navy, to an interest ~ the polar prob
lem. PeaFy a few years previously
had been graduated from Bowdoin col
iege second In his class. a position
which means unusual mental vigor IN
an institution which is noted for the
fine scholarship and intellect of its
alumni. lie realized at one\ that the
goal which had eluded 80 fhany hun
dreds of ambitious and dauntless men
could be won only BY a new method
of attack.
HIS FIRST EFFORT.
The first Arctic problem with which
Peary grappled was considered at that
time in Importance second only to the
&C inquest OF the pole. namely. to de-
te-inine the insularity OF Greenland
and the extent of it's projection north
ward. At the very beginning of his
first expedition to Greenland. in 1891,
ne suff cred an accident which sorely
taxed his patience a. well az mis- body
and which is mentioned here as it H.
illustrates the grit and stamina of his
moral and physical makeup. Al his
ship. the Kite, was working Its way
through tile ice fields off the Green
land shore. a cake of ice became
wedged in the rudder, causing the
wheel TO reverse. One of the spokes
TANNED Pearys leg against the case
ment. making 1t Impossible to extri-
cate himself until both bones of the
leg were broken. The party urged
him to return to the United States for
the winter and to resume his expiora-
ten the following year. But Peary
insisted On being landed ~ originally
planned at Mccormick Bay. stating
that the money Of his friends had been
invested in the project. and that he
must make good" to them. The as
sidious nursing Of Mrs. Peary. aided
by the braeing air. 80 speedily re-
stored his strength that at the ensuing
Christmas festivities, which were ar
ranged for the Eskimos. he OUTRAGED
on snowshoes all the natives and his
own men.
In the following May. with one com
panion. Astrup, he assembled to thu
summit OF the great Ice cap which
covers the interior of Greenland
S. 600 to 5000 feet in elevation. and
a region where the foot Of man had
never trod before. in temperaturef
ranging from 10 to 80 degrees belov
zero. Imagine his surprise on dc.
scending from the tabieland to entel
little valley radiant with gorgeou,
flowers AID alive with murmurins
bees. where musk oxen were lasil,
browsing.
This shedding journey. which no du
plicated by another equally remark
able crossing of the ice cap three year
later. defined the northern extension
Of Greenland and conclusively provet
that it Ia an island instead OF cen
tinent extending to the pole. IL
holiness of conception and brillianc,
OF results these two crossings o.
Greenland are unsurpassed in Arctic
history. The magnitude of Peary''
feat is better appreciated when II i.
recalled th;t Nansen's historic cross
ing Of the island was below the Arctic
circle. 1000 miles south of Psary'i
latitude. whore Greenland Is some 35s
miles wide.
AFTER THE POLE.
Peary now turned his attention u
the pole. which lay 596 geographical
miles farther north than any man hat
penetrated on the Western Hemis
phere. To yet there by the American
route he muat break virgin trai
every mile north from Greeiy's "a de
grees. "a No one had pioneered 81
great distance northwxrd. Mark
ham and others had attained enduring
fame by advancing Dag considerably
less than 100 miles. Parry had pho
neered $50 miles. and hansen 12s from
his ship,
His experiences in Greenland ha,
convinced Peary. II possible, NOR,
firmly than before. that the only wa,
Of surrounding this last and mos
formidable barrier was to adopt thu
manner Of life, the food. the snow
houses and the clothing OF or tas Es
kimos. who by centuries of experience
had learned the most effective metho,
| of combating the rigors Of Arctt
weather: to utilize the game OF thu
nerthland. the Arctic reindeer. musl
| OK etc. which his explorations ha,
proved comparatively abundant. thu
! with fresh meat keeping his men a
and d-tenpered through the de
pressing winter night: and lastly 4
train the Eskimo to become his sledg
| ing crew.
| In his rirst north polar expedition
which lasted for four years. t2aS
ls02, Peary failed to get nearer thai
s<s miles to the pole. Each successive