114 PEARY'S FINAL DASH 



as a frozen sea. Peary tried to take a sounding, but got no bottom at 1,500 

 fathoms. 



Peary stayed at the pole for thirty-four hours and then started on his return 

 journey the afternoon of April 7. 



The flags hoisted at the pole were : 



Silk American flag presented to the Commander fifteen years ago, and a 

 piece of which he left at his northernmost point on each of his expeditions. 



The naval ensign. 



Flag of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 



A flag of peace. 



Peary's attendant, Henson, told a story that gives some graphic details of 

 the supreme moment when the pole was reached. Said he : 



"We arrived at the pole just before noon, April 6, the party consisting of 

 the commander, myself, four Eskimos, and thirty-six dogs, divided into two 

 detachments equal in number and headed respectively by Commander Peary 

 and myself. We had left the last supporting party when we separated from 

 Capt. Bartlett, who was photographed by the commander. Capt. Bartlett 

 regretted that he did not have a British flag to erect on the ice at this spot, so 

 that the photograph might show this as the farthest north to which the ban- 

 ner of Britian had been advanced. 



"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 completed the snowhohses, 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 line, 



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

 pole. The flags were up about midday on April 7 and were not moved until 

 late that evening. The haze had cleared away early, but we wanted some 

 hours to make 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 position of the pole, but 

 on taking subsequent observations the stars and stripes were moved and placed 

 150 yards west of the first position, the difference in the observations being 

 due perhaps to the moving ice. 



