The Siege and Conquest of the North PoleBryce, George
History
The Siege and Conquest of the North Pole
Bryce, George
Arctic regions; North Pole; Scientific expeditions
At Fort Conger, Peary decided to make a sledge-journey along the north
coast of Greenland. He left on the 11th April with seven sledges, and
followed very much the same route taken by Lockwood, but did not go
overland. The northern part of Cape Britannia Island was reached on the
4th May. From here he sent back the last of the supporting party, and
pushed on north with Henson and one Eskimo. Lockwood Island was reached
on the 8th May, and from the cairn erected by Lockwood, Peary took the
record, which had been perfectly preserved. From here one march carried
the party to Cape Washington, the farthest point seen by Lockwood. On
rounding this cape, Peary saw another headland still farther north. Near
this cape were very large glaciers which Peary believes are the
birthplaces of the “floebergs.” Still farther north another cape was
found, to which Peary gave the name “Cape Morris Jesup.” This was the
most northern point of the Greenland Archipelago. From this point Peary
started over the ice-pack towards the north, but found the ice
impracticable. He reached 83° 50′, and returned. He then travelled
eastward along the coast, which soon began to trend to the south-east.
In the same latitude as Cape Washington was found a magnificent cape,
which Peary named “Cape Bridgman.” Two marches beyond this cape brought
Peary to a point from which he recognised a mountain he had seen from
the ice-cap south of Independence Bay. The weather was now very foggy,
and Peary was compelled to stop at what he believed was an island in the
mouth of a large fiord. To this island he gave the name “Clarence
Wyckoff Island.” He had now reached the 83rd degree on the east coast.
After waiting two nights and a day for the fog to lift, he found it
necessary to start on the return journey. He left records at this camp,
and also at Cape Morris Jesup and Cape Washington. Quite a large number
of musk-oxen were seen along this most northern land.
The return journey was begun on the 22nd May, and Cape Morris Jesup was
passed on the 26th. They reached Fort Conger on 10th June.
The most northern point of the land to the north of Greenland had now
been determined, and Peary arrived at the conclusion that it was not a
favourable one from which to reach the Pole. The ice was very much
broken, and there was a comparatively rapid motion towards the East
Greenland current.
Peary now decided to winter at Fort Conger and make another attempt on
the Pole, starting from Cape Hecla, on the north coast of Grant Land.
During the autumn no fewer than 101 musk-oxen were killed.
On the 5th April 1901, Peary left Fort Conger with Henson, one Eskimo,
two sledges, and twelve dogs for his northern trip. A few days after
starting, he found that the condition of the party and of the dogs was
such that he could not hope for success, and he therefore returned to
Fort Conger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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