PREPARATIONS 23 



The personnel of the expedition, as finally com- 

 pleted when the Roosevelt left Sydney on the 17th of 

 July, 1908, included twenty -two men, as follows: 

 Robert E. Peary, commanding expedition; Robert 

 A. Bartlett, master of the Roosevelt; George A. Ward- 

 well, chief engineer; Dr. J. W. Goodsell, surgeon; 

 Prof. Ross G. Marvin, assistant; Donald B. MacMillan, 

 assistant; George Borup, assistant; Matthew A. Henson, 

 assistant; Thomas Gushue, mate; John Murphy, boat- 

 swain; Banks Scott, second engineer; Charles Percy, 

 steward; William Pritchard, cabin boy; John Connors, 

 John Coady, John Barnes, Denis Murphy, George 

 Percy, seamen; James Bently, Patrick Joyce, Patrick 

 Skeans, John Wiseman, firemen. 



The supplies for the expedition were abundant in 

 quantity, but not numerous in variety. Years of ex- 

 perience had given me the knowledge of exactly what I 

 wanted and how much of it. The absolutely essential 

 supplies for a serious arctic expedition are few, but 

 they should be of the best quality. Luxuries have no 

 place in arctic work. 



Supplies for an arctic expedition naturally divide 

 themselves into two classes: those for the sledge work 

 in the field; those for the ship, going and returning, 

 and in winter quarters. The supplies for sledge work 

 are of a special character, and have to be prepared and 

 packed in such a way as to secure the maximum of 

 nourishment with the minimum of weight, of bulk, 

 and of tare (that is, the weight of the packing). 

 The essentials, and the only essentials, needed in a 

 serious arctic sledge journey, no matter what the 

 season, the temperature, or the duration of the journey 



