Robert Pirie's Journey to the North Pole. Traveler Robert Pirie, his discoveries and achievements

“Of course, our arrival at such a remote destination was not without some fairly simple ceremonies… We planted five flags at the top of the world. The first was a silk American flag that my wife sewed for me 15 years ago ... I also saw fit to plant a Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity flag on the pole ... the red, white and blue “World Flag of Freedom and Peace”, the flag of the Navy League and flag of the Red Cross ”(R. Piri. North Pole).

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, there were several ways to reach the North Pole. One of them, the most ancient and most unpromising, is to try to find a loophole in the ice and slip to the "crown of the world". The other is to freeze the ship into ice and wait until it drifts to the right place - if, of course, luck smiles. So did Nansen, but he was not lucky. The third method, proposed by the Russian sailor Makarov, was the most radical and at the same time the most expensive: to build a special vessel - a heavy icebreaker capable of breaking multi-year ice and making a way for itself and others in the Arctic seas. The icebreaker was built, but Makarov was not allowed to turn around properly. There was another option - a sledge crossing to the Pole on ice. The Europeans borrowed this method of transportation from the indigenous peoples of the Far North, who, however, could not have imagined chasing dogs with sleds somewhere far away, where there is nothing edible or outlandish.

Europeans have long been striving for the extreme northern point. But why? Quite simply, no one has been there yet. I must say that at the beginning of the XX century. literally in all areas of human life, incredibly fast, revolutionary changes took place. Grandiose scientific discoveries and technical inventions rained down like an avalanche. It was then that the first cars and the first flying machines appeared, the radio supplanted all other types of communication, life accelerated unusually. Olympic Games, which began to be held in 1896 and went under the motto "Faster, higher, stronger!", were only the tip of the iceberg: the world was simply obsessed with competition, rivalry.

In July 1908, the American Robert Peary went on an expedition to the North Pole. This was his eighth Arctic voyage and already his fifth attempt to conquer the Pole. Perseverance deserves at least respect. The first time a US Navy officer visited the Arctic was in 1886, when he made two short dog sled trips across Greenland. Five years later, he again arrived in Greenland, in 1892 he crossed it in the northern part and discovered a peninsula called Piri Land, but mistook it for an island. Expedition 1891-1892 is of interest for several reasons. First, Dr. Frederick Cooke, Peary's arch-rival in the future, took part in it. And secondly, four years before Piri, the Norwegian Nansen crossed Greenland, and the American accused the latter of violating his legal rights: Piri allegedly announced plans to cross the island back in 1886.

In 1895, he made another trip to North Greenland, and after that he began to storm the North Pole. In 1898-1899. he made three trial trips from Greenland to the north, during the last of which he got frostbite on his feet, and eight fingers had to be amputated. This did not stop Piri. He once said: "The decision to conquer the pole took possession of me to such an extent that I had long ago ceased to consider myself otherwise than as an instrument for achieving this goal." Perseverance turned into an obsession...

Polar expeditions required large expenses, and in 1898 high-ranking friends of the traveler founded the Piri Arctic Club, designed to provide all kinds of support to his Arctic campaigns, primarily financial. Only very wealthy people were admitted to the club, and the well-known banker and philanthropist Morris K. Jesup became president.

While Piri was only accelerating to "jump" to the pole, he could thank the donors and patrons by perpetuating their names on geographical map. Having discovered in 1900 the northernmost point of Greenland (83 ° 40 'N), he named it after Jesup. From Greenland Peary moved to Ellesmere Island. From here he tried again and again to reach the Pole. Expedition 1905-1906 funded by San Francisco banker George Crocker. With his money, a ship was built that delivered Peary through the Strait between Greenland and Ellesmere to the pack ice. This time the traveler managed to get to 87 ° 06 'N. sh. and beat the record set by the Italian Umberto Cagni in 1900 (86° 33’). Peary thanked his sponsor by giving Crocker's name to land he saw through binoculars northwest of Ellesmere Island. Pretty soon it became clear that there was no land there. Perhaps it was a mirage.

The ship, built with Crocker's money, was named "Roosevelt" in honor of the then President of the United States. By the way, Theodore Roosevelt and Peary were members of the Delta-Kappa-Epsilon fraternity, founded at Yale University. Roosevelt always supported Peary, called him "the hope of the nation." Thanks to the president, the storming of the pole became not a personal affair of Piri, and not even a club event, but a national project like a flight to the moon. And here is the final attempt. Piri was already 52 years old, it was impossible to pull the record. In early July 1908, 23 people on the Roosevelt, commanded by Canadian Captain Robert Bartlett, set off from New York north to Ellesmere Island.

And on February 20, 1909, a large sledge detachment left Cape Columbia. In addition to Peary, the detachment included his servant Henson, Captain Bartlett, professors Ross Marvin and Donald Macmillan, surgeon George Goodsell and young geologist George Borap, as well as Eskimos. One group paved the way, the rest followed the trail. Gradually from the detachment, like steps from space rocket, auxiliary groups were separated and returned back. The penultimate one - upon reaching latitude 86 ° 38 '- was sent to Marvin, the last - at latitude 87 ° 45 '- Bartlett. It was April 1st.

Now only Henson and four Eskimos remained with the "hope of the nation". Finally, on April 6, according to Peary's calculations, they reached the pole. Photographed there with several flags (including the Delta-Kappa-Epsilon brotherhood) surrounded by satellites, Peary began to walk around the pole. Here is how he explains it himself: “No one ... can assume that with the help of my tools I could accurately determine the location of the pole; however ... allowing a possible error of 10 miles, I have repeatedly crossed in various directions the corresponding area of ​​\u200b\u200b10 miles across, and no one ... will doubt that at some point I passed close to the very point of the pole, or perhaps directly by her."

The way back, by Piri's own admission, turned out to be very easy, especially since "the trail that was re-traversed by ... auxiliary detachments was for the most part easily recognizable and well preserved." Already on April 23, his group returned to Cape Columbia, and a few days later everyone gathered on the Roosevelt. Everyone except Ross Marvin. In Piri's book The North Pole, it is reported that the professor drowned on the way back, falling through the ice. Many years later, it turned out that in fact Marvin was killed by one of the Eskimos. Whether in connection with this tragic event, or for another reason, Peary in his book does not mention at all how the expedition comrades reacted to his outstanding achievement.

Returning to the Roosevelt, Peary soon learned that as early as 1908, Frederick Cook, who had once worked on his expedition, had visited the Pole. Admit defeat? In no case! Having found the Eskimos who accompanied Cook to the Pole, Piri's people arranged for them a formal interrogation. Having received answers that suited Peary, or pretended to have received such answers, his supporters later used them as one of the evidence of Cook's fraud. They also found Harry Whitney, the hunter, to whom Cook left his tools and a diary of measurements made during the journey. After returning to the United States in the company of Piri, Whitney claimed that Cook did not leave him anything. The campaign to discredit Cook was massive. Using a variety of means, including bribing witnesses, Peary's friends and patrons convinced the public that Cook had not reached the Pole, had not conquered the summit of McKinley (the ascent took place in 1903), and much later also that he was trading inflated shares. As a result, in 1923 he ended up in prison and spent seven years behind bars. In 1940, shortly before his death, he was rehabilitated by President Roosevelt. Franklin Roosevelt.

And Piri from the "hope of the nation" turned into a national hero of the United States, which he remains to this day. In 1911, he received the rank of rear admiral, and his achievement was recognized by the scientific communities of many countries, although by no means all; attitude towards him is very ambiguous. For example, the Scandinavian geographical societies never recognized the fact that the American had reached the pole. Neither Amundsen, nor Sverdrup, nor Russian polar explorers (and even many American ones) believed Piri.

What are the doubts that Robert Peary reached the Pole based on? Firstly, simple calculations show that taking the distance and time to overcome it as a given, one would have to admit that the speed of movement of the Piri group after it was left without escort groups increased simply fantastically - twice. In any case, Bartlett Peary almost caught up on the way back. But both people and dogs get tired. Secondly, according to Piri, his group returned exactly along the track laid along the 50 ° meridian, and went to the starting point. What about ice drift? Thirdly, Peary selected his faithful servant, “colored” (as Peary himself writes) Matthew Henson, and several Eskimos into the “assault” group. In fact, he conquered the pole without witnesses. It is curious that during his previous campaign in 1906, which ended in setting a record, Peary did exactly the same. But, perhaps, the main argument in the protracted dispute with Piri's numerous fans is that he behaved in accordance with the principle "Stop the thief!"

Geographic discoveries and achievements are different. Sometimes, for one reason or another, they were hushed up. And sometimes they were assigned.

NUMBERS AND FACTS

main characters

Robert Edwin Peary and Frederick Albert Cook, American explorers

Other actors

M. C. Jesup and D. Crocker, bankers; T. Roosevelt and F. Roosevelt, US Presidents; Peary's companions: servant M. Henson, captain R. Bartlett, professors R. Marvin and D. Macmillan; G. Whitney, hunter

Time of action

Route

From Ellesmere Island to the Pole

Target

Conquest of the North Pole

Meaning

Proclamation of Piri as the first person to visit the Pole (but his superiority is highly doubtful)

Pirie Robert Edwin (1856-1920), American polar explorer, admiral (1911).

Born May 6, 1856 in Cresson (Pennsylvania). Raised by mother. After graduating from college, he became a draftsman-surveyor in the Office of the Coastal and Geodetic Survey, worked on the route of the future Panama Canal. The mother gave her son, who was thirsty for adventure, money for a trip to Greenland (1886), after which Piri "fell ill" with the Arctic.

While he was energetically raising funds for a large expedition across the Greenland ice sheet, F. Nansen was ahead of him (1888). But Piri nevertheless crossed the northwest of Greenland and won fame in the USA (1892), securing it with new campaigns and creating the Piri Arctic Club from wealthy patrons (1898).

In 1902, an enterprising traveler reached the northern cape of Greenland. Despite frostbite on his feet, year after year he remained to winter in the Arctic and stubbornly made his way through the hummocks to the pole. Forced to retreat, he built the Roosevelt ice ship with the collected money and in 1905 began a new assault on the Pole. He did not reach the goal, however, in 1906 he was glorified in the USA as the conqueror of the northernmost limits of the Arctic.

At the age of 53, the hero again rushed to the pole and on September 6, 1909 he reached it. But another experienced polar explorer, the president of the poor American Explorers Club, doctor Frederick Cook (1865-1940), passing west of Piri without a cumbersome expedition, conquered the pole earlier - on April 21, 1908. Piri said that with Cook's modest means it was impossible to accomplish such a grandiose feat, but the Eskimos of his expedition are not witnesses.

Large patrons who invested in Peary defended the view that recognition of Cook's achievement, accomplished without "the mobilization of all American resources," would offend "not only Peary and his supporters, but the entire United States of America." Cooke was imprisoned. Subsequently, it was established that both researchers had only been "near the pole."

Robert Edwin Peary was born on May 6, 1856 in Cresson, Pennsylvania, USA. He graduated from college in 1877 with a degree in engineering. Shortly after graduation, Piri joined the US Navy and briefly served in Nicaragua.

The beginning of the way

The future conqueror of the North Pole went on his first Arctic expedition in 1886. It was a trial trip to Greenland that lasted only three months. Piri set himself the goal of being the first to cross this island, but he failed to do so. The first person to cross Greenland was Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen in 1888. Peary himself managed to do this only in 1892. And if in 1886 he acted as a private individual, this time he was supported by the American Geographical Society and the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. Also on this expedition was physician Frederick Cook, Peary's future rival for the title of first man to reach the North Pole.

Based on the results of these early travels, the American explorer formulates several rules that later contributed to the success of his expeditions. So, he carefully studies the experience of the Eskimos in surviving in the Arctic conditions, and then refuses tents and sleeping bags. Instead, Piri uses domed houses built from snow blocks - igloos. In addition, he developed a system of transshipment bases where food supplies were left.

Forward to the pole!

In 1895, Peary made another trip to Greenland, and for the first time tried to reach the North Pole. During this expedition, an American explorer lost 8 toes due to frostbite and for 11 days he could only move on a sleigh. But although no difficulties could break his will, he never managed to get to the northernmost point of the planet. But his prey was the meteorites brought from Greenland. In honor of the huge meteorite Anigito, which the explorer brought to New York, his daughter Mary Anigito Piri received the middle name.

In 1905, a new expedition took place, which also did not bring the desired success. But this time, Peary went further than all his predecessors, and set a record - 87 ° 06 `` northern latitude. Only strong storms prevented him from advancing further.

Piri's last expedition to the North Pole was taken over by Naval Forces USA. President Theodore Roosevelt, saying goodbye to the explorer, called him the hope of the nation, and it is not surprising, because by this time many countries of the world took part in the race for the North Pole.

The expedition started on June 6, 1908, and on April 6, 1909, 52-year-old Robert Peary reached his goal and set the Stars and Stripes over the northernmost point of the planet. His final detachment consisted of four Eskimos and a Negro servant. It is believed that this choice of satellites was not accidental: Piri did not want to share the glory of the first white man who set foot on the North Pole.

Dispute with Frederick Cook

The way back of the expedition was quite easy, but the researcher was able to give a telegram about his achievement only in September 1909. Here Piri was in for an unpleasant surprise: it turned out that shortly before him, another American, Frederick Cooke, had sent a similar telegram. Moreover, Dr. Cook claimed that he reached the pole almost a whole year earlier. Peary was shocked and outraged, he claimed that his rival had never been to the North Pole. A real scandal broke out, as a result of which Cook was recognized as a fraudster. In 1911, Robert Peary was promoted to rear admiral and became a national hero.

However, neither Cook nor Peary could provide sufficient evidence for their discovery. Moreover, the recognition of Piri's merits was largely due to the fact that the Arctic Club he created, which included many influential people in the country, including newspaper owners, took his side. There is even an opinion according to which Peary decided on a grandiose falsification only when he found out that Cook was ahead of him.

However, until the end of his life, Robert Peary received a government pension and enjoyed many privileges. He died on February 20, 1920 in Washington. The cause of his death was a long illness.

(1856-1920) American polar explorer, admiral (1911). Crossed Greenland in 1892 and 1895. April 6, 1909 dog sled reached the North Pole. Robert Peary walked five times to the top of the planet and was forced to turn back five times. Either non-freezing open water or impenetrable hummocks stopped him. In the intervals between expeditions for a year or two, he returned to his homeland in the United States. He returned only to prepare a new expedition. In total, he lived among the Eskimos in the far north of Greenland for a decade and a half. During one of the expeditions, he froze his legs. Eight fingers had to be amputated. But neither this accident nor numerous failures could break the stubbornness of the traveler... Robert Edwin Peary was born in Cresson Springs, Pennsylvania on May 8, 1856. The father died when the boy was two years old. The mother returned with her son to Maine, on southern border state where he grew up wildlife. He was the only son. After graduating from primary and secondary school in Portland, he was admitted to Baudouin College in Brunswick. The mother also moved to Brunswick, so as not to be separated from her son, at least in the first years of his student life. After graduating from college, Robert travels to Washington, where he works as a draftsman for the US Coast and Geodetic Survey. Soon, however, he moves to the naval department as an engineer and receives the military rank of lieutenant. Three years later he was sent to Nicaragua. AT tropical forests he conducted surveys of the route of the canal through the isthmus. The ministry appreciated this work of Piri so much that they gave him several months of leave. In 1886, Robert took a vacation, asked his mother for $500, and unexpectedly left for Greenland. In June 1886, the whaling ship Eagle (Eagle) landed Robert Peary at Godhavn. It seems that at that time Piri did not seriously think about conquering the pole. His plans were more modest: the crossing of Greenland from the western coast to the east. While inner part Greenland remained a blank spot on the maps. There was an opinion that glaciers only border the island, and behind them there should be exposed rocky areas with a milder climate, even covered with forests. In 1878, the Dane Jensen tried to cross Greenland, in 1883 the Swede Nordenskiöld. But both of these attempts ended in failure. Peary also failed to succeed. In 26 days, his detachment managed to advance less than 100 miles into the depths of the icy desert, less even than the Nordenskiöld detachment. Peary wrote about his first failed attempt cross Greenland as a reconnaissance campaign; in fact, Peary's plan, as already stated, was to get to Peterman Peak on the opposite side of the island.

Having received an engineering education at Brunswick College (1877), Peary worked for four years as a land surveyor in a small town in Maine, in 1881 he joined the Navy, participated in the construction of a dam on the Pacific coast of the country. In 1884-1885, he conducted surveys of the route of the Nicaraguan "interoceanic" canal, an alternative to the Panama Canal. A randomly read essay on Greenland aroused his interest in the North, and in 1886 he visited Greenland, on a dog sled, he walked about 190 km from Disko Bay into the interior of the island. In 1887-1888, Peary continued filming in Nicaragua as chief engineer, and then until 1891 built a dock in Philadelphia.

The turning point in Peary's life was 1891, when he began serious exploration of the Arctic, primarily the island of Greenland, where he repeatedly visited in 1891-1897. In the spring of 1892, on a dog sled, he crossed the northern dome of Greenland for the first time, following from Inglefield Bay to the northeast, and returned back to the bay. During this expedition, he discovered Piri Land - a peninsula separated from the main part of Greenland by the Independence Fjord. Piri mistook the fjord for a strait, and the newly discovered land for an island. In the spring of 1895, he again crossed North Greenland, breaking the ice sheet for a total of more than 4.5 thousand km. The sensation was caused by two huge meteorites taken out by Piri from Greenland.

The idea to conquer the North Pole came to him in 1897. For its implementation, in 1898-1899, Piri performed three reconnaissances from 130 to 460 km long, and during the last one he got severe frostbite - he had to amputate eight toes. Having barely learned to walk without crutches, in the spring of 1900, Peary, moving northeast from the Smith Strait, for the first time traced the entire northern coast of Greenland - 300 km of the coastline of Pirie Land with Cape Morris Jesep, the northernmost point of the earth's land (83 ° 40º N. sh.).

Convinced of the difficulties of reaching the Pole from Greenland, Peary decided to start to the northernmost point of the Earth from Ellesmere Island. From his northern cape Hekla, he tried three times (1901, 1902, 1906) to conquer the top of the planet, but retreated, having reached only 87 ° 06 ° north latitude (320 km from the target). Peary made another attempt by starting a campaign from Cape Columbia of Ellesmere Island. Finally, on April 6, 1909, he, in his opinion, fulfilled his dream, reaching the pole, accompanied by Matthew Henson (1866-1955) and four Eskimos. As it was established later, Piri did not reach the Pole 60-195 km, according to various estimates, due to navigational errors and lack of food supplies.

Upon returning to his homeland, Pirie learned that on April 21, 1908, that is, almost a year earlier, Frederick Cook, his companion on the 1892 campaign, had visited the Pole (more precisely, in the region of the Pole). Using his connections in government, financial and scientific circles, connecting the press and the public, Piri began an energetic persecution of the “competitor”. He accused Cook of hoax and lies, insulted him without choosing expressions. And he achieved his goal: the humiliated and humiliated Cook, having gone through hard labor and an insane asylum, died in poverty in 1940 (he was fully rehabilitated in 1965). And Piri, who received a lot of awards and the French Legion of Honor, enjoyed the fruits of the glory of the discoverer of the North Pole, was elected president of the American Geographical Society. In 1911, the US Congress unanimously declared Piri thanks and awarded him the rank of Rear Admiral. Last years spent his life in abundance. The peninsula of Greenland and the strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago were named after him,

According to contemporaries, Piri was distinguished by a heroic physique, could be amiable, friendly and easy to communicate with. A persistent organizer, he possessed great courage, indomitable energy and an enviable ability to captivate others with his dream. In terms of mind, he was more of an athlete than a scientist. At the same time, he was characterized by manic ambition, envy, racist views. Author of several books, including The North Pole (1910) and Secrets of Polar Travel (1917).