3 2o THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



the goal he had been fighting to reach through many 

 years and under tremendous difficulties. His dogged 

 perseverance and stern determination must excite the 

 warmest admiration of every one. During the twenty- 

 three years from 1886 to 1909 he passed fifteen summers 

 and eight winters in the Arctic regions. No matter 

 what view we may take of Dr. Cook's great achievement, 

 we must admit that Commander Peary, much more than 

 any other man, deserved the great honour of being the 

 first to reach the North Pole. 



The return journey was begun on the afternoon of 7th 

 April. The distance from Cape Columbia had been 

 travelled in thirty -seven days, but Peary in returning 

 wished to cover five of the outward marches in three, 

 and he practically succeeded. For a large part of the, 

 way he was able to return on his former track, and he 

 had therefore the further advantage of not requiring to 

 build snow-huts. Cape Columbia was reached on 23rd 

 April, so that the distance of 475 English miles from 

 the Pole had been travelled in the astonishing time of 

 sixteen days — an average of about 30 miles per day. 



On arrival at the Roosevelt, Peary learned that Professor 

 Marvin had been drowned. Returning in command of 

 the third supporting party, Marvin had reached within 

 45 miles of Cape Columbia. He had gone on ahead of his 

 Eskimo, and had broken through young ice covering a 

 recent lead. When the Eskimo arrived, they found 

 Marvin's body floating in the water some distance out 

 from the ice. 



On 18th July the Roosevelt left her winter quarters, and 

 reached Cape Sabine on 8th August. 



Peary's final expedition brings out in a striking manner 

 the contrast between his methods and those of the British 

 Expedition of 1875-76. Commander Markham and Sir 

 George Nares were emphatic in their opinion that it was 



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