HIS RETURN FROM THE ARCTIC
The familiar story of his welcome at Copenhagen needs not to be retold here. Meanwhile came a despatch to the New York Times:—
“I have the Pole, April 6. Expect arrive Chateau Bay, September 7. Secure control wire for me there and arrange expedite transmission big story.
“Peary.”
At Battle Harbor, Commander Peary learned of Cook’s claim to have reached the Pole. But Peary had carried northward a number of Eskimos, with their wives and children, and these he had led safely back again to Etah. However, the Greenland winter was approaching, and he lingered at Etah, organizing a walrus hunt which supplied his faithful company with food for the coming year. Not till this provision was made did he set his face toward the United States.
A shadow of doubt, hardly bigger than a man’s hand, which was cast by a part of the scientific world at the Doctor’s first announcement, soon grew into what eventually proved to be a cloudburst. No controversy in the history of modern times has caused more general excitement. Soon the two principals were pursuing their separate activities under very dissimilar conditions. Dr. Cook was lecturing in the United States, facing packed houses, interviewing reporters, asserting his claims, promising proofs of his assertions. Peary preferred to present his own claims to the discovery of the Pole in terse language, the first announcement published in the New York Times reading:—
“Summary of North Polar Expedition of the Peary Arctic Club: The steamer Roosevelt left New York on July 6, 1908; left Sidney on July 17; arrived at Cape York, Greenland, August 1; left Etah, Greenland, August 8; arrived Cape Sheridan, at Grant Land, September 1; wintered at Cape Sheridan. The sledge expedition left the Roosevelt February 15, 1909, and started for the North. Arrived at Cape Columbia, March 1; passed British record, March 2; delayed by open water, March 2 and 3; held up by open water, March 4 to 11; crossed the 84th parallel, March 11; encountered open lead, March 15; crossed 85th parallel, March 18; crossed 86th parallel March 23; encountered open lead March 23; passed Norwegian record March 23; passed Italian record March 24; encountered open lead March 26; crossed 87th parallel March 27; passed American record March 28; encountered open lead March 28; held up by open water March 29; crossed 88th parallel April 2; crossed 89th parallel April 4; North Pole April 6. All returning left North Pole April 7; reached Cape Columbia April 23; arriving on board Roosevelt April 27. The Roosevelt left Cape Sheridan July 18; passed Cape Sabine August 8; left Cape York August 26; arrived at Indian Harbor with all members of the expedition returning in good health, except Professor Ross G. Marvin, unfortunately drowned April 10, when forty-five miles north of Cape Columbia, returning from 86° north latitude in command of the supporting party.
“Robert E. Peary.”
Immediately upon his return to the United States, Peary joined his family at their summer home in Maine, offering to submit his proofs at once to any competent body. The National Geographic Society accepting the offer, pronounced favourably upon his claims. In the meantime, he took no active part in the trend of affairs, but waited quietly for the dust to settle.