50 THE STORY OF PEARY'S GREAT EXPLOIT 



Before the explorer left on his trip a year ago he had assured 

 Mr. Osborn that if he reached the Pole he would come back with a 

 sack full of curios that would probably make some interesting 

 exhibits. Mr. Osborn cabled his thanks to Peary upon receiving the 

 message, and despatches came to Peary from other sources, con- 

 veying the congratulations of foreign and American geographical 

 societies and former polar explorers on the accomplishment of the 

 great feat, including one from the International Polar Commission, 

 signed by Cagni, Nordenskiold and Lecointe, officials of the com- 

 mission. 



Going back a little, let us tell from its beginning the story of 

 the final expedition of the persistent explorer, the claim of whose 

 success followed so quickly that of Dr. Cook. When Commander 

 Peary planned the trip with which we are here concerned he 

 announced that he would remain in the ice until the Pole had been 

 reached, even if it took the three years for which his ship was pro- 

 visioned, to succeed. His experience on his former trips was such 

 that he now felt sure of accomplishing the design to which so many 

 years of his life had been devoted. With this in mind, he set out to 

 raise the money necessary to equip the expedition. 



He needed $50,000, and this he had considerable difficulty in 

 obtaining. He put in all the money he had himself, and relied upon 

 popular subscription and his friends to furnish the remainder. Zenas 

 Crane, of Dalton, Mass., gave $10,000, and others contributed 

 liberally. Even when he lacked half of the necessary amount Peary 

 went ahead characteristically to get his ship in order, feeling sure 

 that the money would come. It came, and when it did the explorer 

 was all ready to weigh anchor and proceed north. 



The ship, the "Roosevelt," which the Peary Arctic Club built 

 for the explorer for his journey north in 1905, was completely over- 

 hauled. New engines and boilers were installed and many changes, 

 suggested by the explorer's previous experience, carried out. The 

 "Roosevelt" was first launched in Bucksport, Me., on March 23, 



