Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-07

; in temperatures ranging from 10
deg. to SO deg. below zero. Imagine
his surprise on descending from the
table-land to enter little valley
radiant with gorgeous flowers and
alive with bees. where musk oxen
were 1azily browsing. This Shedding
journey, which he duplicated by an
other equally remarkable crossing of
the ice cap three years later, defined
the northern extension of Greenland
and proved that it is an island in
stead Of continent extending to the
; Pole.
Peary then turned his attention
to the Pole, which lay 296 geo.
graphical miles farther north than
any man had penetrated on the
Western Hemisphere. To get there
by the American route he had TO
break virgin trail every mile north
from Greely's So deg. "a see. No
one had pioneered so great distance
northward. Markham and others
had attained enduring fame by add
vancing the flag considerably less
than one hundred miles. Peary had
pioneered 100 miles and Manson 12J
from his ship.
His experiences in Greenland had
convinced Peary that the only way
of surmounting this last and most
formidable barrier was to adopt the
manner of life, food. snowhouscs
and clothing of the Esliimos who, Ey
centuries of experience. had learned
the most effective method of COM
=
to utilize the game of the northland.
which his explorations had proved
comparatively abundant, thus with
fresh meat keeping his men fit and
good tempered through the depress-
ing winter night; and. lastly, to train
the Eskimo to become his sledging
crew
In his first North Polar expedition,
which lasted from 1S9S to 1902.
Peary failed to get nearer than 81;
miles to the Pole. Each successive
year dense packs of ice blocked the
passage to the Polar ocean, COM
polling him to make his base APP
proXimately 100 miles from the Pole
or POO miles south of the head
Quarters of Mares, too great dis
lance from the Pole to be overcome
in one short season. During this
trying period. by slcdging feats
which in distance and physical OBJ
stacles overcome, exceeded the OK
traordinary records made in Green
land, he explored and mapped hun
dreds of miles of coast line of Green
land and of the islands west and
north of Greenland.
on the next attempt. Peary in
sured reaching the Polar ocean by
designing and constructing the ship
Roosevelt. whose reSistlesS frame
crushed its way to the desired haven
on the shores of the Polar Sea. From
here he made the march of 1906 to ~
deg. q sec, new worlds record.
Winds of unusual fury, by opening
big leads robbed him of the Pole and
nearly of his life. The last eXpedi-
ton 1908 to 1909, resulted in the dis
covery of the Pole and Of the deep
ocean surrounding ~
No better proof of the minute care
with which every campaign was pre-
arranged can ne given than the fact
! that though Pcary has taken hun
dreds of men north with him on his
, various expeditions, he had brought
them all back. and in good health.
! with the exception of two, who lost
their lives in accidents, for Which he
was not responsible.
Thus Peary," SAYS Gilbert eros
venor president of the National &C.
ogra phical society. and a personal
| friend OF the explorer. Crowned
life devoted to the advancement of
science by the hard won discovery OF
the North Pole. The prize of four
centuries of striving yielded at last
! to the most persistent and scientific
attack ever waged against it. Peary's
| success was made possible by long
! experience, which gave him a thor
ough knowledge of the difficulties
+, to be overcome, and by the unusual
combination of mental and physical
power--a resourcefulness which en-
abled him to find way to 'surmount
all obstacles, a tenacity ana courage
which knew.nO defeat, and physi-
! cal endowment such as nature gives
| to few men. 1t has been well said
| that the glory of Peary's achieve
| ment belongs to the world and Is
| shared by all mankind. But we, his
fellpw-countrymen, who have known
how he struggled these many years
against encouragement and scoffing
and how he persevered under finan-
| cial burdens that would have crushed
less stalwart shoulders, specially re-
joice that he made good at last and
that an American has become the
peer of Hudson, Magellan and Col
| umbus."