Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1891 — THE NORTH OF GREENLAND. [ARTICLE]

THE NORTH OF GREENLAND.

Ident. Peary's Coming Expedition ft* Find the Terminus of the Island . Hew York Sun. / \. J:-' ~ Lieut. R. E. Peaty, U. S. M., who is soon to start with a party of six to find the northern extremity of Greenland, is less than forty years of age. He is a native of Maine, and was appointed as a civil engineer in the navy In 1881. In appearance he is rather slender, although very strongly built, and is capable of great endurance. The proposed trip’is not the first one that Peary has made into the Arctic region. His interest in explorations of this kind was excited soon after he entered the navy. Greelys party had started out in 1881, and was no|; rescued until 1884. The report of that party showed that Lockwood and Brainard had gone overland, and had reached the highest point north. Lieut. Peary then conceived the idea of making an Arctic trip overland, but not for the purpose of reaching the north pole. He had a theory that Greenland was not the huge continent it was supposed to be but rather an island. In 1886 Peary had his first opportunity to test the soundness of his theory of the availibility of the inland fee for travelling. He landed in Disk’s Bay, and with his one companion, instead of following the coast line, struck directly into the interior of Greenland. This preliminary reconnoissance convinced Peary that an expedition might safely and successfully traverse the whole interior length and thus attain the northern extremity of Greenland. In 1888 Dr. Nansen crossed Greenland at a point 200 miles south ol where Peary landed. Nansen’s reg>rt verifies the theory of Lieut. eary as to the interior of Greenland:

It is now Peary’s intention to start from; Whale Sound in about latitude 77 deg. 30 m. His expedition has received no aid whatever from the Government, and is purely a private venture on the part of Lieut. Peary, assisted by some scientific bodies. The following is the outline of Lieut. Peary's- plan: _— - The party numbering six is to be landed by a whaler in June or early In July at Whale Sound, the remainder of the season to be spent in putting up winter quarters in Whale Soune, laying in a supply of meat, making scientific collections, making reconnoisances of the island ice, and, if the season be favorable, establishing an advance depot of supplies near the southern angle of Humboldt glacier. The winter is to be occupied in making and fitting sledges, clothing and traveling equipment, and in snowshoe and “skier” practice, for which the- head' of Whale Sound is well adapted. In the spring four or five of the party will ’ start over the inland ice to Humboldt glacier with sledges, leaving one or two persons in charge of the house. If favorable progress is made the party will go from Humboldt glacier to the head of Peterman Fjord.