Robert Peary

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BACK FROM THE FAR NORTH

Steamer Hope, with the Big Greenland Meteorite Aboard, Moored at Brooklyn

The New York Times

New York City, New York

Date: Friday, October 1, 1897

     Lieut. Robert E. Peary's arctic steamer Hope, In command of Capt. John Bartlett arrived from Boston yesterday with a number of Peary's party, who spent the Simmer in Greenland, aboard.  Securely stored in the vessel's hold is the famous one hundred-ton Greenland meteorite.

     The Hope arrived shortly after 2 'clock yesterday afternoon and was moored to the excursion wharf at the foot of Dock Steet, Brooklyn, near the bridge pier.  A large crowd gathered as the ship was being made fast.  Lieut. Peary and a few of his friends were the only persons permitted to go aboard.  Later in the day passes were issued to those wishing to visit the ship to see the great mass of stone and steel that fell some time from space.

     Besides the meteorite, Lieut. Peary has brought a number of articles found in the camp of the ill-fated Greely expedition on Sabino Island.  They consist of clothing, empty cartridge cases, and a number of books, which is thought, will prove valuable.  A number of other article were brought from the camp, but the nature of them is kept secret by Lieut. Peary and the members of his party.  Lieut. Peary was the first white man to visit Greely camp since Greely and his surviving comrades were rescued in 1881.

     A collection of the implements, tents, sleds, and clothing of the "Greenland Highlanders." a tribe inhabiting Northern Greenland was also brought back.  These will be placed in the American Museum of Natural History.  Six Eskimos and four of their dogs were carried on the steamer.  These people look not unlike the American Indians, and will help Lieut. Peary arrange the materials he brought home.  Until Peary explored their land they had never seen a white man.

    They are dressed in their native clothing, which consists of a coat made from the pelts of hair seal, with trousers of white bearskin.  The boots, reaching above the knees, are made of tanned sealskins.  They are constructed like the moccasins worn by the Western Indians. 

     Among the Eskimos are Noon-Tah, forty years old, the son of old Chief Kootoatoopah of Nutulumi, who plotted to murder Dr. Hayes and some of his companions during their expedition in 1853; his wife, Ah-TungAh-Nak-Soah, forty-five years old and their daughter, Ah-Wee-Ah, twelve years old.  The others are Ke-Shu, Wee-Shak-I'p-Sle and Menny, the nine-year-old son of Ke-Shu.  They are all small, the largest being only four feet eight inches in height.  They will remain here this Winter, and will return with Peary when he goes back to Greenland.  They belong to the tribe from which Peary will select his colony next year.

    As soon as the Hope was made fast the Eskimos began to arrange their stuff.  They first brought a sled and kayak, or small boat made of tanned skins, from the hold.  It is a very crude affair, made of bone and wood their together by skins cut into strips.  The "shoes," or runners, are made of walrus-ivory.

    The meteorite is the largest ever discovered. It resembles a mass of rusted iron on which a number of men with large hammer have been a work.  At its widest point it measures twelve feet, with a width of eight feet.  The height is sixteen feet, but near the top it is only from two to four feet thick.  Its estimated weight is 100 tons.  It is securely packaged in the hold of the Hope.

    It was got on board by means of a railroad constructed by Lieut. Peary.  Heavy jacks were used to put it on the railroad and to lower it into the hold.

    The meteorite is supposed to be the same one discovered by Sir Isaac Ross in 1803.  Lieut.  Peary discovered it is his expedition of 1894.  He has tried on several occasions to have it brought home.  When the meteorite was removed a quantity of "rough ashler" was found in its bed.  This was brought home and pieces of it will be presented to President McKinley; the Grand Lodge of New York, and also to Kane Lodge,  No. 454, to which one of the members of Lieut. Peary's expedition belongs.

    Lient.  Peary has not as yet decided what will be done with the meteorite.  The Hope will be taken to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Saturday for the purpose of having the meteorite and other material removed, and also to have the vessel refitted.  The meteorite will remain in the Navy Yard until a suitable place has been found for it in one of the public museums.

    Lient. Peary when questioned concerning the alleged finding of proof that Greeley and his men resorted to cannibalism, when the point of starvation, said "I did not look for any relics, and although the first one to go into the camp.  I found nothing that would lead me to believe that cannibalism was practiced.

    Of the meteorite he said: "It is almost identical with material the Government is now using for armor plates for the new battleships."