The entire sledge party on leaving the ship numbered seven whites, nineteen Eskimos, one hundred and forty dogs, and twenty-eight sledges. On March 1, 1909, Bartlett's party left land, setting out over the sea ice for the north, the distance from the mainland to the Pole being four hundred and seventy-five statute miles.
Think of starting on a journey of that length on foot with no certainty of even necessary food, and over a rough expanse of ice and snow. These brave men never faltered. As the party drew near the Pole, the supporting detachments were sent back one after another. The last detachment sent back was that under Captain Bartlett, who had given such valuable assistance in leading the pioneer party.
Peary felt sorry to part with Captain Bob, as he familiarly called him, and Captain Bob was sorry in his turn to go. He had reached 87° 47´ north latitude, and was nearer to the North Pole than any other explorer had yet been. It had been his ambition to reach 88°, but there was no time to spare, and though disappointed, he obeyed his commander cheerfully, like a good soldier. He had surpassed the Italian record by one degree and a quarter.
Peary was now left with only five companions,—Matt Henson, his colored servant, and four Eskimos; he also had forty dogs and five sledges. He was one hundred and thirty-three nautical miles from the Pole, and he planned to make five marches of at least twenty-five miles each, and then cover the remaining distance by pushing on with a light sledge and a double team of dogs.
After a rest and some repairing of the sledges the little party started northward. The sun shone brightly out of a deep blue sky, and a finer morning for the journey could not be imagined. Except for some pressure ridges which were nearly fifty feet in height, the ice was hard and level.
