NORTH POLAR EXPLORATION: FIELD WORK OF THE 

 PEARY ARCTIC CLUB, 1898-1902/' 



By Comnmiuler K. E. T'eahy, U. S Xavy. 



INTRODUCTION. 



. In January, 1897, 1 promulgated before the American Geographical 

 Society of New York City 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 Morris K. Jesup, now president of 

 the Peary Arctic Club, became interested in the matter and suggested 

 the idea of this club. His example was followed b}^ other prominent 

 men, and late in Maj^, through the persistent personal efforts of Charles 

 A. Moore, backed by letters from these and other influential men, five 

 years' leave of absence was granted me by the Navv Department to 

 enable me to cany out my plans. 



It being too late that season to get the main expedition under way, 

 the summer of 1897 was devoted to a preliminary trip to the Whale 

 Sound region to acquaint the Eskimos with 1113^ plan for the coming- 

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

 These objects were successfulh^ accomplished, and, in addition, the 

 great "Ahnighito" meteorite of Melville Bay, the largest known mete- 

 orite in the world, was brought home. In December, 1897, while in 

 London, the schooner yacht W/ndward, Avhich had been used in his 

 Franz Josef Land expedition, was tendered to me by Alfred Harms- 

 worth, who offered to have her re-engined and delivered to me in New 

 Y^ork. This generous offer I acce'pted. In the spring of 1898 the 

 Peary Arctic Club was organized, Morris K. Jesup, Henry W. Can- 

 non. H. L. Bridgman, all personal friends of mine, forming the nucleus 

 about which the rest assembled. In May the Windward arrived, but to 

 my extreme regret and disappointment she still retained her antiquated 

 and puny engine (the machinists' strike in England prevented the 

 installation of new ones), and was practically nothing but a sailing craft. 

 The lateness of the season was such that nothing could be done but 



" P>oiii inanufcript, as read before the Peary Arctic Club, by courtesy of the National 

 Ck'ographic Society. 



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