112 PEARY'S FINAL DASH 



pole caused a little surprise when first it became known. Yet is was recognized 

 as just that the leader and inspirer of it all should have the glory. His were the 

 risks ; then why not his the honor ? So, with bitter disappointment perhaps, yet 

 with unquestioning obedience to orders, the faithful companions of Peary 

 stopped, one by one, within a few days' march of the pole and let him go ahead 

 with his one swarthy companion. 



The expedition started in sections, as was Peary's cautious habit. 



Capt. Robert A. Bartlett and George Borup started February 2y from 

 Cape Columbia, with a number of Eskimos and dogs, on the march across the 

 ice, heading north. On March i Commander Peary left Cape Columbia with 

 his party, consisting of seven white men, seventeen Eskimos and 1 36 dogs. On 

 March 4 Peary came up with Bartlett, who had pitched his camp at the side of 

 a lead of water which it was impossible to cross. The combined parties had to 

 wait until March 11, seven days, before further progress was possible. The 

 sun was seen for the first time March 5, and an observation showed that the 

 explorers were a short way from the eighty-fourth parallel. The supply of 

 alcohol was running short, and Borup returned to Cape Columbia for a fresh 

 stock. 



On March 14 Borup overtook Peary again and brought a supply of oil and 

 alcohol. The division under Prof. Ross G. Marvin joined Peary the same day. 

 At this point Prof. Ronald B. McMillan was sent back, his feet having been 

 badly frozen. 



Peary deeply regretted the necessity of sending McMillan back, as this mem- 

 ber of the party was young and an athlete, — a valuable man on the trail. His 

 departure left a party of sixteen men, with twelve sledges and one hundred 

 dogs. These pushed on with all speed, dashing over the ice and making a hand- 

 some spectacle as they sped over the white expanse. 



Thus far little really severe weather had been encountered, but there was 

 constant peril from the "leads," which kept opening and showing startling 

 depths of black water, almost under the runners of the sledges. Once one of 

 the men — George Borup, a Yale University man — fell in, with his dog team, 

 and emerged half-frozen. Another time a huge lead opened just after the 

 whole caravan had passed over. Had it broken under them, some or all of the 

 travelers would probably have drowned in the terrible icy water. 



Indeed, tragedy was even then threatening the expedition. Prof, Ross 

 Marvin, of Cornell University, was to be the sole victim of the great polar vic- 

 tory. His last duty for Peary was performed when he broke the trail as far as 



