THIRTY HOURS AT THE POLE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2648, 2 November 1909, Page 5

THIRTY HOURS AT THE POLE

HOW PEARY EMPLOYED HIS TIMS 4^

The following is a summary o'f Commander ■ Peary’s 'experiences at the Pole:— , ' U'; When Ills- observations showed that bo had reached the prize of three centuries, his dream and goal for 20 years, •, ho could nob bring himself to realise it. It was all so simple and commonplace. The thirty hours passed at the Pole Aj;’ were spent in observations, taking photographs, planting flags, depositing cl; records, and studying the horizon with a telescope for possible land Ten hours after the arrival the clouds cleared, and from that time till the departure on the afternoon of April 7 the weather was cloudless. / The minimum temperature during /the thirty hours was minus 33, and the maximum minus 12. )

On the afternoon of the 7th, having double fed the dogs, repaired the sledges, ami discarded all spare clothing to lighten the loads, the return, journey was started. The party that made the final dash to the Pole Peary describes as ideal. Four of them had the most intimate knowledge of dogs sledges, ice, and cold as "their heritage , while the fifth was a young man who, though he had never before been on any expedition, was, if possible, even more willing than the others for the gifts of a boat, a rifle, knives, etc., promised to all who reached the Pole, would enable him to wrest from a. stubborn father the girl whose image he bore in his heart.