PEARY AS A LEADER 



301 



PEARY S ARCTIC SHIP ROOSEVELT 



Photograph from Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary 

 ICEBOUND IN ROBESON CHANNEL 



The Roosevelt was 184 feet long, 35.5 feet broad, 16.2 feet deep, with a gross registered 

 tonnage of 614 tons. The frames of the hull were of oak; the planking was double, yellow 

 pine inside and oak outside. Its engines developed 1,000 horse-power, driving a single eleven- 

 foot propeller. In addition, it carried 14 sails, with a sail area somewhat less than that of a 

 three-masted coasting schooner of the same size. 



In 1906 Peary arrived in America, re- 

 porting that he had failed to reach the 

 Pole, but declaring that he would make 

 another and last attempt. 



NO MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OE 

 PEARY'S ASSOCIATES 



What young man with red blood 

 wouldn't follow such a man and spend 

 every ounce of his energy to help place 

 him at the goal of his ambition? Not 

 one who signed his contract in the old 

 Grand Union Hotel in New York ex- 

 pected to go to the Pole ; not a man went 

 north for that purpose. Each wanted to 

 do his little and that little his best to 

 place Peary there. Such was our admi- 

 ration for this great explorer. I write 

 this in answer to the oft-repeated state- 

 ment that Peary's men were very much 

 disappointed in not being permitted to 

 accompany their commander to his last 

 camp. 



We entered upon this enterprise with 

 no misunderstanding. We knew what 

 we were facing, for we had followed him 

 in our reading for years. We knew that 

 this was probably his last attempt, and 

 that he might go beyond the limit of 

 safety, but, if so, then we all wanted to 

 be with him and were eager for the start. 



As we steamed along the Labrador 

 coast and out into the ice of Baffin Bay. 

 we began to know our commander and 

 were drawn strangely toward the man 

 whom we recognized as one thoroughly 

 versed in ice technique — a master of his 

 profession. We often recalled the part- 

 ing words of President Roosevelt at 

 Oyster Bay : "Peary, I believe in you, 

 and if it is possible for man to get there, 

 I know you'll do it!" 



We all had this same faith in the man, 

 and now that we saw him in action, that 

 faith was even strengthened. 



Decks were cleared for our battle in 



