CHAPTER III 



The Story of Peary's Great Exploit 



IF the ist of September, 1909, had been a great day in the history 

 of polar research, the 6th of September was a greate-r one. The 

 startling tidings which had so disturbed the world on the former 

 date were repeated on the latter from another and, as many consid- 

 ered, a more trustworthy source, and the public pulse was set throb- 

 bing again at feverish speed. 



On the latter day came over the wires from Indian Harbor, 

 Labrador, via Cape Bay, Newfoundland, the following astounding 

 despatch : 



"STARS AND STRIPES NAILED TO THE NORTH POLE. 



"PEARY." 



What did it mean? Could it be correct? Was this fanciful way 

 of expressing a great fact the one that would be chosen by a dignified 

 naval officer like Robert E. Peary? Such were the questions that 

 many asked. It was far from certain that this was not a hoax, the 

 outcome of the sense of humor of some fantastic individual at Indian 

 Harbor. 



Men waited in suspense hope mingled with doubt. They had 

 not long to wait. An hour later a second message w r as received by 

 Herbert L. Bridgman, Secretary of the Arctic Club of America. It 

 was to the following effect : 



"Pole reached. 'Roosevelt' safe. 



"PEARY." 



These startling and laconic messages, flashed from the coast of 



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