• CHAPTER XII. 

 PEARY'S FIRST VOYAGES. 



The determination to probe the mysteries of the far north which throbbed 

 in Peary's blood found full vent when, in 1 891, he set out on a journey which 

 was to comprehend an overland journey to the north coast of Greenland. 

 Owing to the disasters that had overtaken several government expeditions, 

 Peary was unable to secure support for his scheme from the navy department. 

 This support, however, he secured from the Philadelphia Academy of Nat- 

 ural Sciences. He had already gained experience by a short journey in 1886. 

 The trip of 1891 was momentous in several respects; and in one way it 

 was unique: a woman was in the party. This was Mrs. Peary, the same 

 woman who cried out her delight eighteen years later over her husband's at- 

 tainment of his life ambition. 



The accounts of the journey which follow are taken from G. Firth Scott's 

 book, "From Franklin to Nansen." Describing the start of the expedition, 

 the writer says : 



"The party left New York on June 6, 1891, on board the steamer Kite, 

 for Whale Sound, on the northwest coast of Greenland. The voyage was 

 satisfactory in every way until June 24, when an unfortunate accident befell 

 the leader. 



^The Kite had encountered some ice which was heavy enough to check 

 her progress, and, to get through it, the captain had to ram his ship. This 

 necessitated a constant change from going ahead to going astern, and, as there 

 was a good deal of loose ice floating about, the rudder frequently came into 

 collision with it when the vessel was backing. Lieutenant Peary, who was on 

 deck during one of these maneuvers, went over to the wheelhouse to see 

 how the rudder was bearing the strain. As he stood behind the wheelhouse, 

 the rudder struck a heavy piece of ice and was forcibly jerked over, the tiller, 

 as it swung, catching Lieutenant Peary by the leg and pinning him against the 

 wall of the house. There was no escape from the position, and the pressure 

 of the tiller gradually increased until the bone of the leg snapped. 



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