Age, weight, and measurements of the Northern sledge party, returning April 27, 1909

During his earlier polar expeditions, Peary devised a relay system of crossing great distances across the ice: Trailblazing parties would carry provisions, forge a trail, build igloos, then turn back at varying intervals, enabling the main party to travel faster and lighter. This document lists and describes the main party crossing the last 270 miles of ice to the North Pole; it consisted of Peary; Matthew Henson, who assisted Peary throughout nearly 20 years of polar explorations; and four Eskimos, Ooqueah, Ootah, Egingwah, and Seegloo. This document is dated April 27, 1909, the day Peary returned to the ship that brought him home.

National Archives Gift Collection of Materials Relating to Polar Regions

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The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)
American Originals 2