PURSUIT OF THE POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 181, 22 July 1908, Page 4

PURSUIT OF THE POLE.

PEARY'S PROSPECTS. HIS LAST DASH AND HIS NEW iPLAN. Commander l'oary, perhaps the greatest of Arctic explorers, established on his last trip the farthest north record. In the banpie Roosevelt he arrived at Hebron, Labrador, on October 13th, and Sydney, Cape Breton, on Noveinlier 23rd, 11)05. "The vessel was ice-bound at Cape Sheridan. On February 21st, lIIO'I, Pearv started for Hie i'ole. On April 21st'be reached 87deg. fimin. N., thus passing by about thirty miles the Duke of Abruzzi's farthest north in 1000. Supplies being almost exhausted, and communication with the relief parties being cut off by the ice opening, be was obliged to return.

Peary, the Duke of Almizzi, anil Nansen were really within telephoning distance of the Pole, Peary was distant little more than 2UU miles. "l'eary" says one writer, "might actually have reached the Pole, but, for a sudden break in the Polar Sea, which left him idle, eating his provisions, for just the right length of time to ensure failure. Nansen might have got there if he hadhad a few more dogs." Commander l'eary was to have gone north last year, but delay in lilting out the Koosevelt compelled him to postpone his effort till this On her last trip "tin; Hoosevclt (writes the Manchester Guardian)proved a powerful ice-breaker, and made her way, in spite of unfavourable weather, to the appointed destination, about two miles beyond the Alert's winter quarters. During the winter of I'JUS-li Mr. l'eary, with his crew and Ihe Kskinios whom he nad brought I'rn'n Greenland, remained, in good health. The scurvy that almost destroyed Admiral Xarcs's expedition in the Alert did not trouble Mr. Peary, thanks to the progress of modern science and to the supplies of game found in Grant Land. The first piece of ill-luck was the loss of about eighty dogs through poisoning. This weakened the sledge, parties to a very serious extent. The march began late in I'ebruary, 1900. Mr. Peary's plan seemed to be working well. The parties easily reached 84 degrees north latitude, and fine weather prevaSlfed. Here, however, they were stopped by a | wide 'lead'-—the channel made by the I tide between the land ice and the central Polar pack, which had stopped Mr. Peary four years earlier. Having no boats, they were forced to wait for the 'lead' to close up. '•' The loss of time was fatal. After a week Mr. Peary was able to cross and push northward. But he was again delayed for days by a, violent storm, lie advanced once more, for about ten days, and on April 21, 11)00, reached latitude ■ 87deg. Groin.—the highest on recur;]. Here, however, he was compelled to turn back. He was cut off from his base by the 'lead,' and the unexpected delays had caused his provisions to ruu low. He regained the ship after a very long and arduous march, half starved. If be could Imvo taken boats with him to cross the 'lead,' as Nares's men did in 1870, and if the Jine weather had lasted a little longer, there seems no doubt at all thai Mr. Peary would have reached the Pole. His rale of travelling proves that dogs are indispensable for Arctic work. The British sailors from the Alert, who dragged their own sledges and boats, could not advance, three miles a day, but Mr. Peary sometimes marched thirty miles. An equally resolute an! experienced man, if good luck attends him, will attain the Pole some day by following Mr. Peary's route and adopting his methods." Peary was recently interviewed as '.o his present plans. "J mean this time," be said in his resolute tone, "when 1 start from the northern shore of Grant Land, in the sledging part of the expedition, to set mv course to the north-westward, in order to counteract the easterly drift of the ice. and not to head directly for the Pole due north. 1 shall bear, as it were, to windward, and trust to the drifting: ice-pack to help me eastwards, to the j Pole." . !

■■ You haven't any doubt of the ice field stretching right across the Polar region'; There is no open sea likely lo Ik-"found at the Pole itself, or any land':" " Xo; the old theories of that sort are ab-olule nonsense."