The Semi Weekly Messenger

PEARY RETURNS
IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES MADE BY THE PARTY
DID NOT REACH THE POLE

The Windward Arrived at North Sydney on Thursday—Trouble Between Dr. Dedrich and Lieutenant Peary Has Not Been Settled.
Abandoned Library and Instruments of the Greely Expedition Were Brought Back—He Sends Report to the Arctic Club, Giving a History of the Trip—Some of the Party Could Not Stand the Cold. Perry Himself is in Fine Health.

Sydney, N. S., September 18.—The Peary Arctic Club's relief steamer Windward, with Lieutenant Robert E. Peary on board, arrived at North Sydney at 8:15 this morning from Greenland.

Lieutenant Peary did not succeed in reaching the pole but he announces that he made important discoveries.

When Peary stepped from the Windward to the wharf no one would have supposed that he had braved the rigors of a winter in the Polar regions. His face was bronzed but he looked the picture of health.

Mrs. Peary and her daughter, who had gone with the Windward to meet him, looked well, although the former is just recovering from a recent illness.

Dr. Dedrich was on board and quite well. As far as can be learned, the difference between him and Lieutenant Peary has not been patched up. Dr. Dedrich declined to say anything further at present than that the difficulty between him and Lieutenant Peary had not been settled.

Lieutenant Peary recovered and brought back the instruments and library abandoned by the Greely expedition. He also brought numerous and rare specimens of natural history.

Lieutenant Peary sends to the Arctic Club the following report of the operations of the expedition since August 19, 1901:

"Left at Erick harbor, on the Ellesmere coast August 29th. The party reached Payer harbor September 16th, crossing Roose bay partly by sledge and partly by boat, then walking across Bertfort Pim. About a week later my Eskimos began to fall sick, not one escaping. By November 19th six adults and one child were dead, nearly all the others very weak but out of danger.

"Early in January Eskimos came across from Anviklak, bringing news of the ravages of a fatal epidemic through the tribe. Word was sent back by these scouts for as many of the survivors as could to come to me and by the end of the month they began arriving. In February a large depot of dog-food was established near Cape Louis Napoleon, some sixty miles north of Sabine.

On March 3rd my advance party of six sledges in charge of Henson left for Conger. March 6th started with the main party of eighteen sledges, leaving Percy in charge at Payer harbor.

"Conger was reached in twelve marches, arriving within an hour or two of the advance party. My supporting party of Eskimos returning from Conger brought down instruments, chronometers and Arctic library. Eight marches more took us to Cape Hecla.

"The north end of Robertson channel was all open across to the Greenland coast, lakes of water extending northward as far as could be seen from Black Cape and Cape Fanshawe. From Hecla another supporting party returned.

"April 1st started northward over the Polar sea with Henson, four Eskimos and six sledges. Old floes covered deep with snow and intersected with rubble ridges and lanes of young ice were encountered from the moment we left the ice foot.

"The same kind of traveling, except the lanes of young ice, as found by the English expedition of 1876.

"After six marches open leads, floes in motion were encountered. Two natives were sent back. As we advanced the floes became smaller, the pressure ridges on a grander scale, and the open leads more frequent. Each day's march was more perilous and our general course deflected west by the character of the ice. Finally at 84.17 N., latitude northwest of Hecla, the Polar pack became impracticable and further efforts to advance were given up. New leads and pressure ridges with foggy weather made our return in some respects more trying than the advance. Hecla was regained April 29th and Conger May 3rd. Leaving Conger May 6th Cape Sabine was reached on the 15th. A few days later went north as far as Cape Louis Napoleon to complete the survey of Bobbin bay returning the first of June. A proposed trip across Ellesmere land was prevented by open water in Buchanan bay.

"The ice broke up earlier than in 1901 and Payer harbor was blockaded almost continuously.

"The Windward bored her way through the ice and entered the harbor the morning of August 5th and got out again the same afternoon with scarcely fifteen minutes to spare before the harbor was closed by the ice. Forcing our way across Smith sound, my Eskimos with their belongings were landed in Uglifield gulf. Several days were devoted to hunting walrus, then the Windward started south, reaching and leaving Cape York the afternoon of August 29th.

"Calling at Godhavn, Greenland and Cape Haven, Baffinland, the Windward arrived at Chateau bay, Labrador, September 14th and sent despatches. The summer voyage has been without mishap and the Windward, with her engines has made as good time as the larger and more powerful ships that have been going north the last years.

"The year at Payer harbor was passed comfortable though an anxious strain caused by the ravages of disease among my faithful people was not light. Food was abundant and our supply of musk ox and deer meat continued throughout the year. The northern sledge trip in the spring was arduous, but not marked by special exposure, suffering or danger more than is necessarily incident to serious arctic work.

"Equipment and personnel were satisfactory and further advance was vetoed by insuperable natural conditions. The Windward has on board the instruments, chronometers and Arctic library abandoned by the Greely expedition and numerous specimens of natural history, bear, musk ox, reindeer and walrus skins.

"The skeleton of a two-horned narwhal, a rare Arctic specimen, also living specimens of musk ox, walrus, Arctic hare and Eskimo dog, also are on board. The anchor and chain lost by Erik is on board. The Fram left Godhavn about August 20th home bound. She has been in Sound sound, from whence it is understood explorations were made to the northwest. One death (a fireman) is reported since. Others on board said to be well. The little schooner Forget Me Not, which was caught in the ice at Cape Haven last year is now on her way to St. John's.

This report, signed by Peary, is addressed to Secretary H. L. Bridgman, of the Peary Arctic Club. Peary will go to New York tomorrow and the Windward will probably go to Newfoundland for the winter.