TOWARDS THE NORTH POLE. 61 



very important scientific observations. But here we have only to record 

 that it covered yet another stage of the long journey to the Pole. In 

 April, 1882, Lockwood, with eight companions, started north from 

 Newman Bay. Repulse Harbor was reached in five days after great 

 exertions. From this point the conditions of travel were most trying, 

 but the little party pressed on to Cape Bryant, where Lockwood decided 

 to continue the journey with only Brainard and one of the Eskimo. 

 Gradually they crept northwards. Towards the end "floes so high 

 that the sledge was lowered by dog traces," ice so broken that the axe 

 cleared the way, and widening water cracks in increasing numbers im- 

 peded progress; but, despite all obstacles, they reached, May 13, 1882, 

 Lockwood Island, 83 24' N., which remained the highest northing 

 until Nansen made so great an advance towards the Pole. 



Commander Peary 's magnificent record has already been detailed in 

 these columns. Here we need only recall that Peary set out on his last 

 great expedition in the summer of 1898. Having come to the con- 

 elusion that no further advance was to be effected by way of the Green- 

 land inland ice, he determined to push north through the great water- 

 way that lies between the west coast of Greenland and the vast island 

 masses lying to the north of the Dominion of Canada. Peary sailed 

 in the Hope, and was followed by the Windward, which had been 

 generously presented to him by Mr. Alfred Harmsworth. The two 

 ships obtained some walrus in Whale Sound, between Hakluyt Island 

 and Littleton Island, and then, while the Hope returned south, Peary 

 turned the prow of the Windward northwards and endeavored to reach 

 Sherard Osborne Fiord in Kennedy Channel. But the season was 

 unfavorable, and Peary was compelled to winter 150 miles south of his 

 objective, near Cape d'Urville. Leaving the ship towards the close of the 

 year, Peary journeyed by land to Fort Conger, the headquarters of 

 Greely's famous expedition, mentioned above. But this attempt to 

 utilize the winter months for travelling delayed rather than advanced 

 the expedition. In a terrible snow storm which overtook the little 

 party, on New Year's Day, Peary suffered badly from frost bite, and on 

 his arrival at Fort Conger it was found necessary to amputate seven 

 of his toes. After this it was, of course, impossible for him to make 

 any serious attempt to reach the Pole in the spring of 1899. Peary, 

 however, had himself drawn about in a sledge, so that he might become 

 accustomed to the conditions of travel in that region, and then, return- 

 ing to the Windward, sailed for the Eskimo encampment at Etah, near 

 Cape York. Here he found the Diana awaiting him with supplies. 

 These were landed, and then both the Diana and the Windward sailed 

 south, leaving Peary to winter at Etah and make an attempt to reach 

 a high northing in the spring of 1900. A start was made from Etah 

 on April 15 of that year. Following, apparently, the west coast of 



