CHAPTER VIII. 



PEARY'S SUCCESSFUL VOYAGE. 



The start of Commander Peary's victorious journey to the pole was far 

 different from that of Dr. Cook. The latter kept his plans secret from all 

 but a few intimates ; his ship went north in the guise of a hunting expedition. 

 Peary, on the other hand, set sail with acclaim of crowds and the Godspeed of 

 hosts of friends. Furthermore, he received the enthusiastic best wishes of 

 Theodore Roosevelt, then president, after whom Peary's vessel was named. 



Peary and his party left New York July 6, 1908. Forty guests of the 

 Peary Arctic Club, along with Commander and Mrs. Peary, accompanied the 

 steamer to City Island and returned to the city later on the navy tug Narkeeta. 



Commander and Mrs. Peary and Herbert L. Bridgman, secretary and 

 treasurer of the Arctic Club, left later for Oyster Bay to have luncheon with 

 President and Mrs. Roosevelt. President and Mrs. Roosevelt inspected the 

 vessel and Capt. Bartlett continued upon his long journey, heading for Sydney, 

 Cape Breton. 



The crowd that lined the pier cheered Peary enthusiastically as the boat 

 left New York. 



Peary took off his hat and waved a handkerchief in acknowledgment. 

 Most of the guests had gotten there ahead of him. Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard, 

 president of the Arctic Club, and Mr. Bridgman were in charge. Among 

 those present were : John W. Flagler, Anton Raven, Henry Parish, Mr. and 

 Mrs. William Guggenheim, Arva B. Johnson, president of the Philadelphia 

 Arctic Club ; Dr. Theodore Le Boutillier, secretary of the Philadelphia Arctic 

 Club; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Guggenheim, and C. K. G. Billings. 



Just before sailing Peary went below to see that all the gifts he was taking 

 to the Eskimos were safely aboard. Money does not look good to those in 

 the far north and it takes looking glasses, silver thimbles, shot guns and things 

 like that in the way of presents to coax them along. Likewise Peary dropped 

 in to see if Dave Henson, the negro cook, was in his proper place. 



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