EARLY YEARS 
and in July, 1905, in the newly built ship, 
Roosevelt^ we were again "Poleward-bound." 
The following September, the Roosevelt 
reached Cape Sheridan, latitude 82° 27' north, 
under her own steam, a record unequaled by 
any other vessel, sail or steam. 
Early the next year, the negotiation of the 
Ai'ctic Ocean was commenced, not as oceans 
usually are negotiated, but as this ocean must 
be, by men, sledges, and dogs. The field party 
consisted of twenty-six men, twenty sledges, 
and one hundred and thirty dogs. 
That was an open winter and an early 
spring, very desirable conditions in some parts 
of the world, but very undesirable to us on the 
northern coast of Greenland. The ice-pack 
began disintegrating much too early that year 
to suit, but we pushed on, and had it not been 
for furious storms enforcing delays and losses 
of many precious days, the Pole would have 
been reached. As it was. Commander Peary 
and his party got to 87° 6"^ north, thereby 
breaking all records^ and in spite of incredible 
hardships, hunger and cold, returned safely 
with all of the expedition, and on Christmas 
Eve the Roosevelt, after a most trying voy- 
13 
