THE STORY OF PEARY'S GREAT EXPLOIT 59 



show this as the farthest north to which the banner of England had 

 been advanced. I kept a personal diary during this historic dash 

 across the ice field. 



"Our first task on reaching the Pole was to build two igloos, as 

 the weather was hazy and prevented taking accurate observations 

 to confirm the distance traveled from Cape Columbia. Having com- 

 pleted the snow-houses we had dinner, which included tea made on 

 our alcohol stove, and then retired to rest, thus sleeping one night at 

 the North Pole. 



"The Arctic sun was shining when I awoke and found the 

 Commander already up. There was only wind enough to blow out 

 the small flags. The ensigns were hoisted toward noon from tent 

 poles and tied with fish lines. 



"We had figured out the distance pretty closely and did not 

 go beyond the Pole. The flags were up about midday April 7th and 

 were not moved until late that evening. The haze had cleared away 

 early, but we wanted some hours to take observations. We made 

 three close together. 



"When we first raised the American flag its position was behind 

 the igloos which, according to our initial observations, was the posi- 

 tion of the Pole, but on taking subsequent observations the Stars 

 and Stripes were moved and placed 150 yards west of the first posi- 

 tion, the difference in the observations being due perhaps to the 

 moving ice. 



"When the flag was placed Commander Peary exclaimed in 

 English : 



" 'We will plant the Stars and Stripes at the North Pole.' 



"In the native language, which I thoroughly understood, I 

 proposed three cheers, which were given in the Eskimos' own 

 tongue. Commander Peary shook hands all around, and we had a 

 more liberal dinner than usual, each man eating as much as he 

 pleased. 



"The Eskimos danced about and showed great pleasure that the 



