PEARY THE PERSISTENT.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4310, 13 November 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

PEARY THE PERSISTENT.

A FEW ANECDOTES CONCERNING A GREAT EXPI.ORER.

Thera can no longer he any doubt that the North Pole has been discovered or that the discoverer is an American, and if any man deserves the honours of victory more than another that man is Commander R )bert l'earv.

'"Peary the Persistent,' lie has been called. The name fits him admirably, for this is hi.; eighth journey towards "the splendid jewel,"' as he himself has isnid, on which he has set his heart for years.

Ho is a native of Pennsylvania and ev.te.red the United States Navy as an engineer when he was twenty-five. Five years later, in 188(3. he went on his first journey to Greenland, penetrating :i hundred miles inland. He made his first expedition to North Greenland in 1891-92. in the course of which lie had the misfortune to break hi; leg while enssing Melville Bay.

Bv this timo his d< t rmination to reach the Pole was fixed, and every moment of his life since then has been devoted to tin's ambition. NEARLY LOST HIS FEET.

The expedition of 189:1 was disastrous. Tt i-J a record of dying dogs, failing men food supplies lost in the enow, nnd sledges having to be abandoned. The whole party had a very narrow escape from death. But oven worse troubles befell him on the expedition of 1893. The final march to Foit Conger was a twenty-five hours' struggle against the most imsurmoimtable difficulties. It Wilis so dark that they had almost to feel their way. and when at last the dun outlines of the dilapidated buildin r; wers the little party almost feii through the door. But Peary had paid dearly for this terrible march. As ho entered the hut a "wooden"' sort of feeling in his feet warned him that they had been frost bitten. After six weeks' prostration the do:t"r declared that though he had paved the explorer's feet, seven or eight toes must be amniitated. and that the amputation could be done with safety only on the Windward, 250 miles behind them.

'1 he agony suffered hv Peary on that return journey was almost beyond endurance. At, tunes the sledge on which he lay was- sapped an 1 turned up on its side in order that his pain-racked limbs might have a little relief. Fortunately he recovered rapidly, and such was. his energy that in a few weeks he took the field again. 203 MILES AWAY.

Previous to his latest exploit, his most sneee-sful expedition was in 19C0, when he beat the Due d'Abrnzzi'g record by thirty-five miles. Hs had to return, however, without getting nearer the Pole than 20S miles, but in July, 1008. ho was off again, this time on a journey that tva.s to be crowned with success.

Speakieg to a reporter about this expedition, Commander Peary made some mention of "Peebles ham." The bewildered journalist asked what he meant.

"'"Oh don't you know about 'Peebles ham'?" asked the exolorer, and told this story in explanation.

''Two Scotswomen met in a country road near Peebles. One of them was carrying a queer-lot king parcel, and the other asked what was in it. " 'Oh, it's just some ham. I always buy ham from Mr. M : .s shop in Pceb'es. My husband is rather particular, and he likes M : s ham.' "'The other Sot •■woman said her husband was rather particular also and she thought she might try some of the same ham. . So she went off to M ' s shop in Peebles.

' 'f want some ham,' she said. '"What kind of ham?' M asked

her. 'Oh, tlie same kind of ham that Mrs So-and-so rrets."

■'M smiled quietly, and leaning over the counter he whispered, 'Where's voiir bottle?'