144 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



declared their conviction that it was impossible under 

 any circumstances for a sledge-party, even without boats, 

 and with all possible resources, to reach 1 degree 

 beyond that reached by the expedition. It was an 

 American naval officer, Commander Pearv, who proved 

 in 1906 that a point nearly 4 degrees farther north could 

 be attained over the same sea ; and in 1909, starting from 

 the coast a little to the west of his previous route, he 

 succeeded in reaching the Pole itself. 



