PEARY CROSSES GREENLAND 147 



bottom on her return voyage, with all on board, leaving the explor- 

 ing party marooned on Greenland's icy shores. 



An interesting incident of the first winter was the birth of a 

 daughter to Mrs. Peary, the first white child ever born in the far 

 North. "Anighito," the Eskimos called her, the "Snow Baby," 

 and the little Greenlander Marie is her American name was in 

 excellent health when her mother brought her home in the relief 

 ship. Mrs. Peary's return was necessary, for her husband found 

 himself heavily handicapped, his means being now exhausted. It 

 was the chosen task of his devoted wife to raise the money neces- 

 sary to send a ship for him in the following year. He had no 

 thought of returning himself until his task was accomplished. He 

 was sternly bent on going poleward over the great ice. 



The sailing of the relief ship left Peary almost alone in the 

 North. Only two men remained with him, Matt Henson, his faith- 

 ful servant, and Hugh J. Lee. The summer of 1894 was spent in 

 preparations for the crossing of the Greenland ice-cap, several 

 caches of provisions being made at successive distances inland, 

 chiefly composed of pemmican and alcohol, the two absolute essen- 

 tials to a successful Arctic sledge journey. The caches were marked 

 by upright poles in the usual way, and when the spring of 1895 came 

 round the time for the great journey was at hand. The greater 

 part of a year had been employed in providing what seemed the 

 assured means of success in the coming journey. The explorer 

 little dreamed of the misfortune that awaited him, the dismay into 

 which he would be thrown. 



In April, 1895, the journey began, half a dozen Eskimos being 

 joined to the party of three, while the equipage consisted of six 

 sledges and sixty dogs. They ascended as before to the ice-cap. Lee 

 in the lead, followed by Henson, the Eskimos, and the sledges, Peary 

 bringing up the rear. They were none too well provided with sup- 

 plies and fuel, but were full of hope in view of the fact that they had 

 made such plentiful provision on the route. 



