Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], September 09, 1909, Page 8, Image 8

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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SPRINGFIELD. THURSDAY. SEPT. 9. 1909
SIXTEEN PAGES.
simultaneity In Discovery.
That the two independent discoveries of
the north pole, nearly a year apart, should
be announced to the world within six days
of each other is certainly a most remark
able coincidence —more remarkable, indeed,
than the fact that the long quest for this
prize should have ended as it has with a
double capture by unrelated explorers.
Most of the great scientific discoveries of
the world have been fallen upon simul
taneously by two or more men working
independently. This is as true of astron
omy, mathematics, physics and biology as
of applied science or mechanical inven
tion.
The discovery of the planet Neptune,
which has been called the most remark
able astronomical achievement of the 19th
century, was made through several tele
scopes directed by a hypothesis worked out
independently by the Englishman, Adams,
and the Frenchman. Leverrier. Leibnitz
and Newton independently of each other
developed at the same time the infinitesi
mal calculus which has been of vast value
in broadening human knowledge. The hon
ors for the discovery of anesthesia are
divided, both as to the use of ether and
of chloroform. When or about when
Franklin was flying his kite in America
tc establish the identity of atmospheric
electricity with the electric sparks obtained
by artificial means, a monk in central Eu
rope was conducting similar experiments
with similar success. From independent
investigation Alfred Russel Wallace and
Charles Darwin developed and announced
at the same time the theory of struggle
and natural selection in support of the doc
trine of organic evolution. For nearly a
hundred years before Morse made his
practical demonstration of the telegraph
the possibility of transmitting words by
wire and electricity had been under dis
cussion and not without somes successful
experiment. The telephone, or transmis
sion of the voice by wire, was hit upon so
ciosely in point of time by several men.
that a fire to four decision of the United
States supreme court ha A to settle the
question of priority.
So it has been with most great discov
eries, and the explanation lies in reason
and not fortuity. Human knowledge and
achievement from knowledge advance and
rise step by step, and each successive dis
covery or advance broadens and hightens
the vantage ground for a succeeding army
of investigators to work from. One great
secret wrested from Nature is certain to
unfold others to many investigators hav
ing a common start, and it can be only a
matter of brief time which separates in
dividual priority in the discovery from a
general discovery of the same thing along
pretty much the whole line of the investi
gation.
Much so has it been with Arctic ex
ploration, culminating now in a dupli
cate attainment of the great end sought.
Step by step the advance northward pro
ceeded—now to 80 degrees of latitude, then
to S 3, then to 86, and then Peary's attain
ment of 87 in his last expedition before
this; each of these steps establishing a
higher and higher vantage ground of
knowledge and experience for others to
work from. It is not therefore amazing
that, when the way had been explored to
the very edges of the unknown spot, the
last jump should have been taken by
more than one explorer, if it was within
human possibility to be taken at all.
And so it must be said that in all these
directions of effort and achievement, the
great prizes bestowed by the world upon
particular individuals are too often with
out justice. They seldom belong to one
more than to a number of those working
In the same line, and the achievement is
more the product of those who have gone
before in building up the accumulated ex
perience of the world than to those who,
boosted higher and higher by that accumu
lation, place on the capstones here and
there.
Custom* Espionage at New York.
There is much complaint from incom
ing travelers at the port of New York
against the rigorous methods employed
there in enforcement of the customs laws,
Not only are trunks and hand bags
searched with unusual thoroughness and
disregard of privacy, but purses and pock
ets are looked at closely, the skirts and
bodices of women are scrutinized carefully
and many are detained for further ex
amination by matrons in the employ of the
service. The New York newspapers are
taking up the matter with some indigna
tion and Collector Loeb is being roundly
denounced. He declares that he has no
apologies to make; that he is there to en
force the customs laws; and that the
fact that over 200 seizures have been made
in the last three weeks is snfllcient proof
of the wisdom of his rigorous methods.
His attitude seems to be commendable.
There is the law; its terms are explicit;
and he is there to apply it without fear or
favor. It obliges customs officials to as
anme that every returning traveler is a
thief or a smuggler, and the much lower
prices obtaining abroad for many of the
things which appeal to the wants of citi
zens of the United States tend to make
the assumption more generally sound than
not. One of the chief subjects of con
versation among returning passengers on
shiphoard is how to net certain little
dutiable purchases through the customs
without detection. The aggregate amount
of this smuggling is unquestionably enor
mous: and in all justice it should not be
allowed more than smuggling in other
ways. As long as people too poor or too
much occupied to visit Europe are obliged
' to pay high tariff prices for clothing and
so on. those who can gn abroad cannot
fairly be allowed to escape the imposition.
The tariff policy of the government being
as extreme as it is. an extreme policy of
customs espionage necessarily follows if
a rule of justice is to be observed.
No one can therefore make fair ques
tion of the attitude taken by the new col
lector at New York. We may question,
however, whether it will last a great while.
Every little while there is just such a
bracing up of the customs inspection serv
ice as is now complained of. only to be
followed by relaxation. Too many per
sons of wealth and influence fall under the
indignities and harassments involved.
There is an uproar which threatens re
venges through the agency of politics; and
the responsible administrative officials hear
and are made afraid. Time and again
this has happened, and it will no doubt
happen this time. There is but one cer
tain way out of the difficulty, and that is
through abandonment of our extreme tariff
policy. One effect of that would be to
make less glaring and tempting the great
difference in prices of clothing and so on
between the United States and Europe.
POST-OFFICE INVESTIGATION.
Every Department Will Be Scrutinized
by Experts With a View Ultimately
of Placlnu Post-Office on a Self
^n'telning Basis.
Postmaster-General Hitchcock had an
important conference with President Taft
at Beverly last week Wednesday regarding
the plans he has formulated for cutting
down expense in the postal establishment.
The postmaster-general told the president
that according to the latest estimates the
post-office department will show a deficit
for the fiscal year endeK June 30 last of
more than $20,000,000. ’This is the larg
est deficit that has ever been known in the
postal service, and Mr Hitchcock informed
the president that it was his purpose and
ambition to show a material decrease in
the amount every year that he has control
of the department. The deficit for the
fiscal year ending June 30, -908. was
about $16,000,000. The increase as nearly
as can be ascertained was due in part to
extensions of the service, in part to the
business depression during the first part of
the fiscal year, and also to cumbersome
and expensive methods of handling the
mail, and other departments of postal
work.
Secretary Hitchcock is facing the problem
of how to cut down expenses so as to ma
terially reduce the deficit, and at the same
time to keep the postal service up to its
present high state of efficiency. To this
end he is to have a complete examination
of the methods in vogue in every branch
of the service to be made by the most able
and efficient men in the service, men who
are rated as experts in their respective
fields of labor. The postmaster-general has
now at work in Washington a commis
sion of some odd 40 experts in the reg
istry department, which has been showing
a growing deficit year after year. The
registry division has far outgrown the
methods that were first employed in it. and
it is Mr Hitchcock's intention to bring it
down to a more business-like institution.
MR BALLINGER AT BEVERLY.
President and Meyer Lose to Draper
and Frothinshum.
Secretary Ballinger of the interior de
partment arrived at Beverly Monday aft
ernoon, armed with three portfolios filled
with reports regarding the Cunningham
coal land entry cases in Alaska which have
been the subject of serious charges pre
ferred by Louis R, Glavis, an inspector of
tlie field division, against higher officials of
the general land offices and the interior
department. Mr Ballinger intended also
to take up with the president the contro
versy between the Interior department and
the forestry division of the department of
agriculture, headed by Gifford Pinchot.
The president had accepted an invitation
to attend and present the cups at the
horse and gymkhana show of the Myopia
hunt club Monday afternoon, however,
and while Secretary Ballinger lunched with
him at the club and spent the greater part
of the afternoon in the throng about the
president on the crowded horse show
grounds there was no opportunity to talk
over official matters. Mr Ballinger will
remain in Boston for several days more. It
is expected that the matters in controversy
will be settled before Mr Ballinger returns
to Washington Thursday or Friday.
Mr Ballinger could not be drawn into a
discussion of the Pinchot controversy over
the policy of the interior department re
garding the Roosevelt conservation plans,
or of the Glavis charges, which involve
the integrity of certain officials of the de
partment in defending ths government s
interest against the patent of some 135,000
acres of valuable coal lands in the far
northwestern territory. The secretary re
peated what he had said in Washington
after a hasty perusal of several reports
which were laid before him, and which
had been called for by the president fol
lowing the presentation of the Glavis
Charges to the effect that the interior de
partment had nothing to fear from the
closest scrutiny of the conduct of anv cf
its officials. “We are anxious to learn all
we can and to do the right thing." sug
gested one of Secretary Ballinger’s inter
viewers. "You will have the opportunity
of telling the right thing," replied the sec
retary with grim determination. "Just at
this time, ’ he added, "there is nothing
that I can say.”
The president enjoyed a regular Labor
day holiday. He motored over to the My
opia club at Hamilton early Monday
morning and remained on the grounds until
4.30 o’clock Monday afternoon. He then
returned to his cottage at Woodberry Point
and after a quick change of clothes started
out with Mrs Taft for the usual long af
ternoon automobile spin over the North
Shore roads. In the golf game Monday
morning the president and Secretary Meyer
of the navy, representing the government
of the United States, were matched in a
foursome against Gov Eben 8. Draper and
Lieut-Gov Louis A. Frothingbam. repre
senting the state of Massachusetts. The
government lost.
TAFT AT YALE FIELD DAY.
E*-»tar* of Ell Fame are the Player*
—And They Like the Rest all
Clamor for Autoarrapha.
President Taft hod another one of his
famous Yale days Tuesday. He became
plain “Bill” Taft again to many of bis
old classmates and college companions, but
was still “Mr President” to the younger
set of graduates who surrounded him dur
ing the Yale field day celebration at the
Brookline country elub.
The president motored in from Beverly
Tuesday morning, leaving the summer
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN; THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1909.
capital promptly at 9 o'clock. He returned
by the same route at 6.30 Tuesday even
ing. During the day he played in a golf
foursome with three old friends and school
mates. was the guest of honor at an out
door luncheon on the beautiful estate of
Sherman L. Whipple, adjoining the coun
try chib, got mixed up in a veritable
blue football rush during the after-lunch
eon reception and sat through the first inn
ing of a baseball game played by former
stars of Yale's best teams.
Rev Charles F. Carter, '7B. who pitched
a no-hit, no-run game against Harvard
back in the '7os, pitched Tuesday for one
of the picked nines, and was hammered
all oyer the greensward. Just to show his
old-time form as a batsman, however. Mr
Carter made a hit every time he faced rhe
opposing pitcher, a young man but recently
out of college.
The day was one of entire informality,
and was thoroughly enjoyed by the presi
dent. The Yale club of Boston had been
■waiting to hold the field day since early
in July, when the president tentatively ac
cepted an invitation to be present. The
prolonged tariff fight caused a postpone
ment of the event until Tuesday, when
the weather was well-nigh ideal. Thore
was no speechmaking, no formal ceremo
nies of any sort. Yale cheers and Yale
songs w ere the order of the day.
Arriving nt the country club shortly be
fore 11 o'clock, the president at once got
into golfing costume—grav flannel trousers,
gray shirt and gray can. pulled well down
on his forehead—and prepared for his first
play on the Brookline links. Mr Taft
was matched with Rev Mr Carter against
Samuel J. Elder, the noted Boston law
yer. and Allen Hubbard. The game was
stopped ar the 11th hole in order not to
delay luncheon, and at that time the
president and Mr Carter were 4 up.
The president motored from the dub
grounds to Mr Whipple's home, where
the latter had invited a company of nearly
300 Yale men to meet Mr Taft at
luncheon. Following the luncheon, which
was served amid a surrounding of bay
trees, palms and potted flowers, came the
reception under one of the towering elms
on the Whipple lawn. After the entire,
company had passed by in single column
and had shaken hands with the president,
some one stopped and asked for an auto
graph on his menu card. The idea was
no sooner suggested than a hundred or
more of the college men were swarming
about the president iu quest of similar
souvenirs. For 15 minutes Mr Taft was
surrounded by the clamoring throng, and
then Rev Samuel C. Bushnell, who was
acting as a sort of master of ceremonies,
decided that the only way to the baseball
diamond, several rods away, lay through
the use of a flying wedge. With some old
football men in front and good interference
on the sides, with Dr Bushnell and Cant
Archibald W. Butt, the president's mili
tary aid, pushing behind, the president
was sent through the line and landed safe
ly behind home plate on the baseball field.
Here he sat down in the midst of the
crowd, ami was again besieged for auto
graphs. finally disposing of the claims of
the last Yale man on the ground.
Some of the players in the baseball
game, in addition to Rev Mr Carter, were
Allen Hubbard, 'B2, who caught the fa
mous Yale pitcher, "Jumping Jack"
Jones. Samuel F. Elder and Walter Badg
er. Mr Hubbard caught Tuesday and
only had some 18 or 19 passed balls. Pres
ident Taft was urged to umpire the con
test. "Come on. Bill," pleaded Mr Bush
nell. “No. sir,” replied the president. "I
value my life too much for such a job as
that.”
The baseball game was interrupted after
the first inning so that a group photograph
might be taken, with the president iu the
center. While the big crowd was being
posed there was much good-natured chaf
fing. Mr Elder had just previously made
a thrilling slide for life at kecond base,
when the ball was bounding merrily some
where out in right field: had on an old
shirt and looked untidy, but happy. "Sam
Elder.” called the president, "you don’t
look respectable." "I don't know. Mr
President, but after looking over this
bunch. I think I size up pretty well with
the rest of them.” retorted 'Mr Elder,
amid a renewed outburst of laughter. John
Hays Hammond came in from Beverly
with the president yesterday morning and
participated in the Yale day games. He
left Boston last night for Arizona and
will join the president again at Salt Lake
or Spokane, to make the greater part of
the western trip with the presidential
party.
TO FEATURE TAFT’S COMING.
Band of Fat Musician* la Snwwested
In Chicneo.
Members of the Hamilton club commit
tee, which is arranging for the entertain
ment of President Taft at Chicago on the
16th. are trying to discover some special
feature which will outshine any similar
efforts of other cities on the route of the
Taft tour. The latest plan suggested in
cludes getting together a band of musi
cians of stature corresponding to the pres
ident's and also the costuming of a score
of tall and thin members of the Hamilton
club as golf caddies. The musicians and
the caddies would march in the parade
which is to escort President Taft from the
hotel to the West-side ball park, previous
to the Chicago-New York ball game which
the president is to attend.
SPOKANE’S “APPLE DINNER.’’
Taft to be Shown Where the Largent
and Ruddiest Grow.
Spokane is preparing to give President
Taft a dinner that may become as fa
mous as the possum dinner of the South.
In one of the finest banqueting rooms in
the world the president will be impressed
with the fact that Spokane is the home of
the big red apple. The finest specimens of
apples grown in the “inland empire” will
be used in the decorations and nearly 20,-
000 apples will be required. Apples will
be served wherever possible on the elab
orate menu and various viands will be
served in the hollowed-out shells of ap
ples. Menu cards and special table deco
rations will be beautiful and artistic de
signs of the product of the orchard, and
the “bumper crop" will be suggested by
“bumpers of cider.”
President in Antumoblle Trap.
It became known at Newburyport Sat
terday that four constables, operating an
automobile ■ trap” in the adjoining town
of Newbury, Friday night, held up the
presidential automobile for alleged speed
ing and detained President Taft for a
few minutes. The president was driving
from Beverly to Haverhill to see Associate
Justice Moody of the United States su
preme court, who is ill at his home in the
latter city. The constable who stopped the
president’s automobile did not recognize
the president at first. President Taft ex
pressed regret that his car had been trav
eling at a speed considered above the limit
by the officers, and he instructed his chauf
feur to drive slower for the rest of the
trip.
President Visits Moody.
President Taft made an informal call
upon Associate Justice William H. Moody
of the United States supreme court at
the latter's home in Haverhill late Fri
day. President Taft, with several other
members of the party, which hud gone
from Beverly in an automobile, entered
the sick room. It was stated that the
president found Justice Moody resting
comfortably. During the half-hour which
the call lasted the conversation was limit
ed to greetings, personal subjects, includ
ing the justice's illness, and other com
monplace matters, it was said.
PEARY FINDS POLE.
CABLES HIS SUCCESS.
THERE YEAR AFTER COOK.
SPECIFIC MESSAGES SENT.
NEWS IS CONSIDERED TRUE.
YANKEE GRIT WINS AGAIN.
Members of His Party Also Notify
Friend* of Great Success.
Indian Harbor, hr way of Cape Ray, N. F.,
September 0
Tj Associated Press. New York:—
Stars and stripes nailed to north pole.
PEARY.
Indian Harbor, by way of Cape Ray. N. F.,
Septetaber 6.
Herbert L. Bridgman, Brooklyn, N. Y.: —
Pole reached. Roosevelt safe. Peary.
Indian Harbor, by way of Cape Ray. N. F.,
September 6.
To the New York Times. New York:—
I have the pole April 6. Expect arrive
Chateau bay September 7. Secure control
nire for me there and arrange expedite
transmission big story. I’eary.
Peary has succeeded! “Stars and stripes
nailed to the north pole.” This hiessage
Monday stunned the scientific world and
WWW® t X
wk
W
- • p
9K s—
COMDR ROBERT E. PEARY.
thrilled the heart of every layman. From
Labrador Peary gave to the world the
news that he bad attained his goal in the
far North, while at the same moment, in
far-off Denmark. Dr Woderfck A. Cook
of Brooklyn was being dine'd and lionized
by royalty for the same achievement.
Undeniably Yankee grit has conquered
the frozen North and there has been cre
ated a coincidence such as the world will
never see again. Two Americans bare
planted the flag of their country- in the
land of ice which man has sought to pene
trate for four centuries, nnd tach, ignor
ant of the other's conquest, has flashed,
within a period of five days, a laconic
message of Success to the waiting world.
Cook in his first message to his country
men was brief, but noncommittal; Peary
was even briefer, but specific. “Btars nnd
stripes nailed to the pole,” he said. That
was all, but never before have so few
words conveyed to a people a greater
meaning or a greater patriotic satisfac
tion. On September 1. Dr Cook sent
out from the Shetland islands the
first message of his success—a message
P X \ \ VtT7 7 /X ' '
—fey I NORTH \
rx k xy / / \\\ \ iJX.
\. 4 j ""T \
0 f x
/G p / y \ \ \
7 A / / 1 DAPLANDj/ \
/ peni/rk srRA / 7 I \
/ ICELAND / \ >c\ \ \
\ {^ \ \ V~, -
MAP OF THE NORTH POLAR REGIONS.
which has aroused a storm of controversy
around the world. Monday Robert E.
Peary, lost from view in the land of ice
and unheard from since August, 1068.
startled the world by a similar message
sent from Indian harbor, Labrador. There
was no qualification: it left no doubt. It
announced unequivocally that he had
reached the top of the world. Thus two
flags with the stars and stripes of the
United States are floating in the ice packs,
proving the courage of intrepid Americans.
Just as Dr Cook notified his wife, so
Comdr Peary took advantage of the brief
atop at Indian Hnrbor to assure Mrs
Peary of his safety. This message, almost
overlooked during a day of excitement
over his achievement, reached New York
Monday night from South Harpswell, Me.,
where Mrs Peary has been spending the
summer. It contained both a touch of
pathos and a quaint reference to his sue-
cess. ‘Hare made good at last,” savs the
explorer to his wife. “I have the old pole.
Am well. Love, will wire again from
Chateau.” The message is signed simply,
“Bert,” an abbreviation of Robert,
Comdr Peary's first name.
Mrs Peary sent a wife’s characteristic
reply, with love and a blessing and a re
quest for him to “hurry home.” By an
other strange coincidence in this chapter
of coincidences. Mrs Cook, too, was in
South Harpswell. Me., when she received
first news of her husband's success. Both
she and Mrs Pearv had gone for months
without word of their husbands, but had
hoped and prayed, first for their safe re
turn, and secondly, it may be guessed, for
the planting of the flag at tWe pole.
FURTHER WORD FROM PEARY.
D. R. McMillan Sends Word to Prln
clpal Abercrombie.
Dr D. W. Abercrombie, principal of
Worcester academy, received the follow
ing dispatch at 3 o’clock Monday after
noon over the Postal telegraph company's
lines:—
Ixdian Hahbor. N B . September 6. 1909.
Dr D. IV. Ambercrombie. Worcester Acade
my. Worcester. Mass.: Top of the earth
reached at last. Greetings to faculty and
boys. D. B. McMillax.
Donald B. McMillan was an instructor
in mathematics and physical training at
the academy when, at the close of the
school last year, he was granted a leave
of absence of two years to go on the Peary
expedition to the north pole. It is ex
pected lie will return to Worcester before
that time expires.
Confirmation of Peary's success in reach
ing the pole was received in Freeport, Me.,
Monday in the shape of a telegram from
D. B. McMillan. The message was seut
to McMillan's sister, Mrs W. C. Fogg,
the Freeport postmistress, and was as fol
lows:—
Mrs W. F. Fogg. Freeport. Me.: Arrived
safe. Pole on board. Best year of my life.
Dox.
A similar message was sent by McMil
lan to his sister at Haverhill. Miss Jennie
McMillan, a school teacher.
According to a dispatch from Indian
Harbor. Labrador, by way of Cgpe Ray,
N. F., Tuesday, Comdr Robert E. Teary
appears to be in the best of health and
spirits, despite his many hardships in the
Arctic regions. He is enthusiastic over
his success in reaching the goal for which
lie has so long striven. When told that
Dr Cook had reported finding the pole,
those on board the steamer Roosevelt ex
pressed surprise, but declined to make any
statement other than that no traces of any
previous expedition had been found.
When Comdr Peary returned to the
Roosevelt from the far north and an
nounced that he had been successful in
finding the pole, there was great rejoicing
on board of the ship, the whole crew as
sembling on the deck to welcome the dar
ing explorer and cheering him to the echo.
The scene it as a memorable one and
Comdr Peary appeared to be visibly af
fected by the warmth of the reception.
FOUND NO TRACE OF COOK.
So St Johns, N. F„ Hears From Cap
tain of the Roosevelt.
Comdr Robert E. Peary found no trace
of Dr Frederick A. Cook of Brooklyn,
who reported to the world five days ago
that he had made the same discovery in
April, 1908. This news reached St Johns,
N. F.. Monday night through Capt Robert
Hartlett of the Roosevelt, Peary's ship, on
the way to Chateau bay. Labrador.
CONGRATULATIONS POUR IN.
Mrs Peary tn Absence of Her Husband
la Showered With Them.
The task of bearing the honors attained
by the explorer on his successful quest of
the north pole fell Tuesday, in the ab
sence of Comdr Robert E. Peary, upon
his wife, who has been spending the sum
mer at Engle Island, Me., the Peary sum
mer estate. All day long Mrs Peary was
the recipient of a steady stream of tele
grams and letters of congratulation be
cause of her husband's achievements.
Up to Tuesday evening Mrs Peary had re
ceived no further message from her hus
band than that which came Monday, in
which he announced that his expedition
had been crowned with success. She was
anxiously expecting a second message, in
which the explorer would communicate to
her his wishes in regard to her meeting
him. Mrs Peary spent part of the day in
, making preparations to start for Sydney.
N. S.. immediately upon receipt of fur
ther direct advices from her husband.
Miss Marie Peary was kept busy nearly
all day answering the salutes of passing
steamers, yachts and tugboats. Every
craft possessing a whistle saluted as it
passed Eagle island, and to each salute
Miss Peary responded by dipping tire itnrs
and stripes, which were unfurled fr un the
tall flagstaff Monday upon the receipt of
the news, “Stars and stripes nailed to
north pole.” There were no visitors, ex
cept a few close friends nossing the sum
mer at South Hsrpswcll. Conidi Pearv
hns no clothing except his farthest U'>rth
costume of fnrs. and his wife will take
suitable apparel to Sydney.
"Please don’t call me ‘the snow baby,’"
said | Miss Peary Tuesday. “I don't like
It." Miss Peary, who has the distinction
of being the only white child born north
of the Arctic circle, is now 16 years old
mid n student in Western high school,
Washington, D. C. At 16 she objects to
being longer culled a baby. She proudly
called attention to the fact that “Dad may
be home to celebrate my 18th birthday
next Sunday.” Robert E. Peary, Jr., the
other child, had his sixth birthday a week
ago Sunday. Miss Marie yesterday guid
ed the correspondent through the paths
about the pine-covered islet which was
bought by Comdr Peary when a Bow
doin student 35 years ago, and is occupied
exclusively by his family nnd a keeper.
These paths were laid out by her father.
She showed his favorite walk, named
Fern Valley path, extending the length
of the island, also black forest, n thick
clump of pines, sheltered from the winds,
but always cool and refreshing, where
lie lias spent much time in reading and
study. Eagle island is one of the most ex
posed of the 365 in Casco bay. nnd is 15
miles from Portland. The Peary cottage
is a story and n half frame building, sit
uated on a 50-foot bluff and commanding a
magnificent view of the inner hay and of
the sea. An Eskimo dog. three years old',
whose Eskimo name translated means
Our Friend, makes pleasant company
for all the members of the household.
Among the telegrams of congratulations'
which flooded Mrs Peary were the fol
lowing:—
Heartiest congratulations from Mrs Crane
and myself for commander's persistence and
vour long wait at last well rewarded.
Ze sas Craxb.
Sincere congratulations from Philadelphia
society, whose members rejoice in your hus
band's victory. Hbxry G. Bryant.
Mr Crane is vice-president of the Peary
Arctic-club. Mr Bryant is president of
— —
L-vJEj L' l / 'i o NtJw
\ Mi jF 7 ' l ,/
COMDR PEARY’S SHIP, THE ROOSEVELT.
the Philadelphia geographical society. Mrs
Peary sent word to Mr Bridgman that
she could not meet him at Portland when
he passed through this morning on the
way to Sydney, and requested him to se
cure her Regular room there with a view
of the bify. so she can see the Roosevelt
when it first puts in an appearance.
THE PEARY EXPEDITION.
It Only Left New York a Year Ago
in July—Used the American Route.
Coipdr Robert E. Peary left Sydney,
N. S„ July 17, 1908, on the steamer
Roosevelt on his third attempt to reach
the north pole. He arrived, at Cape Yoik,
Greenland. July 31. On August 11 the
Roosevelt was at Etah, which point he
left September 26. He had a good supply
of Eskimo dogs and provisions. The latest
information concerning Comdr Peary in
dicated that he was on the polar ice north
of Cape Thomas Hubbard, about ow
miles from the pole.
Comdr Robert E. Peary's friends have
for several weeks past been expressing
a belief that he had already reached his
goal, and that the news was delayed only
by the difficulties of transmission. The
receipt of the message Monday is taken
to mean that the relief ship Jeanie, which
left New York a mouth ago. has reached
Etah, Greenland, and established com
munication with Peary at that point. It
is possible, however, that Peary sent word
by a chance whaler. The last word that
came from Peary prior to his message
Monday wns received October 7, 1908,
from Harry Whitney, a wealthy resident
of New Haven. Ct., who was left by the
expedition at Etah, in charge of Peary’s
provisions. He said that the Roosevelt
left Etah on August 15 on its northern
journey. The last Peary expedition sailed
from New York July 6, 1908. Comdr
Peary's last words were: “Unless unfore
seen circumstances intervene, within the
next year I hope to plant the stars and
stripes at the pole.” From New Y’ork the
Roosevelt went to Sydney, thence to
Hawk's Harbor, where she took on sup
plies, then crossed Davis strait to Hol-
stanbarg, and followed the coast from
there to Cape York. Etah was reached
sometime in August, and from that point
the route of the expedition can only be
conjectured from the plans its commander
had already announced.
Peary's idea was to reach the pole by the
“American route,” a way which he himself
bad studied during his former expedition.
This route allows a base bf supplies ap
proximately 100 miles nearer the goal than
the Spitsbergen base which has been its
chief rival. The advantages of the route
approved by Peary's trip in. 1000. when
he attained the northernmost point hither
to reached by man,—B7 degrees. 6 minutes
at about the 40th meridian of west longi
tude. This was on April 21. Th* com
mander on bis present expedition hopes to
follow the path taken three years ago,
which lay in almost a straight line from
Cape Moas, apd supposed northernmost
extremity of Grinnell land to latitude 84
degrees and 36 minutes. At this point
Peary had discovered what he atterwaid
concluded to be "the open polar sea." In
1906 his journey over the ice was delayed
at this point for a week by an l open lane
of water two miles wide. When the ice
finally allowed him to proceed heavy gales
sprang up which forced him to abandon
the greater part of his provisions. Com
paratively smooth traveling he then tounl
until he reached latitude 85 degrees. 12
minutes. There he encountered a terrific
storm, which held him prisoner while the
ice drift carried him 70 miles to the east.
The ever-widening lanes of water and in
creasing roughness of the ice, together with
a threafeed failure of supplies forced
Peary to turn back on April 21. when he
had reached latitude 87 degrees.
On his present expedition Mr ' Peary
announced that he would take a route from
Grant land more to the west and more di
rectly north than that of his former at
tempt, heading almost as far as the 80th
meridian of longitude and thus compensat
ing for the eastward ice drift. He planned
to establish bis last base on a newly-found
island northwest of Grant land. Peary
based great hopes on the results to be ob
tained by following the Arctic currents
which he had studied ou his previous ex
pedition. One of his' theories was that the
ice nearest the pole moved farther and
farther south. For this reason in going
up to Baffins bay he expected to have to
work against the drift, but nearer the pole
he believed that the drift would be in his
favor.
Comdr Peary has stood in rhe fore
most ranks of Arctic explorers for nearly
two decades. He was born at Cresson
Springs. Pa., in May. 1856. He entered
the navy in 1881. His first polar experi
ence was acquired in 1886 whe he made
a reconnaisance of the Greenland ice.
In June. 1891, he sailed from New York
on the Kite, and making his headquarters
at McCormick bay. penetrated as far north
as latitude 82. In 1894-95 he reached the
78th parallel on the west Greenland coast.
In 1898-99 he went to between the 79th
and 80th parallels on the east coast of
Ellsmere land. In 1900 he reached the
82d parallel on the east coast of Grinnell
land. In 1905-06 he skirted the north
coast of Grinnell land and made an attack
on the pole from Cape Sloss. This was
the expedition which reached what was
at that time "farthest north.”
GREAT FAITH IN PEARY.
Belief In Washington Is That He
Reached the Pole.
“That dispatch from Peary means that
he has finally achieved what he has so
long been after,” said Henrj- Gannett, an
old friend of Peary and vice-president of
the National geographic society at Wash
ington Monday. “I am awfully glad that
he has gotten to the north pole, whether
he was the first to reach there or not. He
certainly worked hard enough to get
there.” Peary is personally very popular
with the scientists in Washington, and a
movement will be launched at once to give
him a rousing reception when he gets
back to this country.
Comdr Robert E. Peary was detached
from regular duty with the navy depart
ment July 2, 1908, and assigned to special
duty with the coast and geodetic survey.
His explorations in the Arctic regions be
fore that date had been conducted under
technical leaves of absence from the navy
department. This status was satisfactory
neither to Comdr Peary nor to his asso
ciates in the naval corps of civil engineers,
and it was believed that he could prosecute
his scientific investigations with a freer
hand if he were attached to one of the
government's scientific bureaus nnd re
lieved from the tedious form of naval re
ports al set intervals, which had embar
rassed him in the past. One point of su
preme importance in this report of his suc
cess which has attended his last effort to
reach the north pole is that the statement
must remain absolutely unchallenged 'in
all probability: there can'be no question of
the fact, because Peary undoubtedly is
able to confirm statements by credible
white witnesses who made up the per
sonnel of his party.
Rear-Admiral W. S. Cowles, chief of the
bureau of equipment of the navy at Wash
ington, expressed his delight over the an
nouncement. “It was my understanding.”
said Admiral Cowles, “that when he left
here it was his hope to reach the pole
about this time. Peary is a most deserv
ing officer. 'He has pursued his purpose
under all sorts of adverse conditions and
only a man of his energy and persistence
could hope to win so great an undertaking.
Peary had an exceptionally fine equipment.
Very much mdney was spent on his outfit,
and he has been able to take advantage of
all the mistakes and successes of his prede
cessors. It would be no great wonder at
all if he has at last achieved what he set
out to do. The only fear is that even if
he had discovered the pole sufficient time
has not elapsed to get the news to the out
side world. I hope, however, it is true.”
Admiral Cowles also said he believed
that Dr Cook discovered the pole lost year.
“At any rate,” he said, “I believe in tire
interest of fair play; adverse judgment
should be suspended until it hns been dem
onstrated that he hns not made the dis
covery he claims.”
ALWAYS LIKED ADVENTURE.
Comdr Peary From Boyhood Was In
terested in Frozen North—Sketch
of His Life.
Comdr Robert Edwin Peary has achieved
the ambition of a lifetime in reaching the
north pole. As a boy his day dreams were
of an unexplored land far to the no-*h
ward, and such printed matter concerning
the polar regions as fell into Ills hands
was rend with absorbed interest. He was
boru at Cresson. Pa., May 6, 1858, but
in his early youth the family removed to
Maine, where he received his education.
His parents, Charles N. and Mnry (Wiley)
Pearv, saw to it that he received an early
training befitting n life which promised to
be filled with wholesome activity.
Instructed first in private schools, be
subsequently entered Bowdoln college,
from which he was graduated with the
class of 1877. Throughout his college ca
reer and in the year’s following, he made
a close study of Arctic exploration, the
peculiar fascination which the subject held