CHAPTER XV 



REPORT OF COMMANDER PEARY, ON WORK DONE IN THE 

 ARCTIC IN 1898 -1902 



President Jesup, and Members of the Peary Arctic 

 Club: 



In January, 1897, I promulgated my plan for an 

 extended scheme of Arctic exploration, having for its 

 main purpose the attainment of the North Pole. 

 During the spring of 1897, your President, Morris K. 

 Jesup, became interested in the matter, and suggested 

 the idea of the present Club. His example was fol- 

 lowed by other prominent men, and late in May, 

 through the persistent personal efforts of Chas. A. 

 Moore, backed by letters from these and other in- 

 fluential men, five years leave of absence was granted 

 me by the Navy Department, to enable me to carry 

 out my plans. 



It being too late that season to get the main expedi- 

 tion under way, the summer of 1897 was devoted to a 

 preliminary trip to the Whale Sound region, to acquaint 

 the Eskimos with my plan for the coming year, and set 

 them to work laying in a stock of skins and meat. 

 These objects were successfully accomplished, and in 

 addition the great "Ahnighito" meteorite of Melville 

 Bay, the largest known meteorite in the world, was 

 brought home. 



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