Henson at the North Pole

Matthew A. Henson

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780486454726
• eBook ISBN: 9780486789491
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

In 1909, after two decades of strenuous efforts, the Peary Arctic Club expedition team triumphantly arrived at the North Pole. Commander Peary and his African-American companion, Matthew Henson, had endured several failed attempts to cross hundreds of miles of frozen ocean. But with their growing skill and experience, along with the assistance of Inuit guides, the explorers successfully planted the U.S. flag at the top of the world. This is Matthew Henson's firsthand account of the epic adventure—a dramatic tale of danger, courage, and determination.
Hailed by The New York Times as a "really valuable addition" to the literature of polar exploration, and by Commonweal as "fascinating and exciting," Henson's story begins with his early years as a sailor. His navigational expertise proved invaluable to the Peary expeditions, and although racism kept him from receiving his rightful recognition a century ago, there is no doubt that his heroism ensured the enterprise's success. Henson not only mastered the Inuit language, but he built and drove the sleds and broke the trails. He hunted game to keep the starving explorers alive, carrying crew members when they were too weak to walk. His compelling narrative recaptures all the glory of the golden age of exploration. This edition features a Foreword by Robert E. Peary and an Introduction by Booker T. Washington, in addition to six historic photographs.

Contents

Foreword

List of Illustrations

Introduction

Chapter

I.	The Early Years: Schoolboy, Cabin-Boy, Seaman, and Lieutenant Peary’s Body-Servant—First Trips to the Arctic
II.	Off for the Pole—How the Other Explorers Looked—The Lamb-Like Esquimos—Arrival at Etah
III.	Finding of Rudolph Franke—Whitney Landed—Trading and Coaling—Fighting the Ice-Packs
IV.	Preparing for Winter at Cape Sheridan—The Arctic Library
VI.	The Peary Plan—A Rain of Rocks—My Friends the Esquimos
V.	Making Peary Sledges—Hunting in the Arctic Night—The Excitable Dogs and Their Habits
VII.	Sledging to Cape Columbia—Hot Soldering in Cold weather
VIII.	In Camp at Columbia—Literary Igloos—The Magnificent Desolation of the Arctic
IX.	Ready for the Dash to the Pole—The Commander’s Arrival

X.		Forward! March!
XI.		Fighting up the Polar Sea—Held Up by the “Big Lead”
XII.		Pioneering the Way—Breaking Sledges
XIII.		The Supporting-Parties Begin to Turn Back
XIV.		Bartlett’s Farthest North—His Quiet Good-By
XV.		The Pole!
XVI.		The Fast Trek Back to Land
XVII.		Safe on the Roosevelt—Poor Marvin
XVIII.		After Musk-Oxen—The Doctor’s Scientific Expedition
XIX.		The Roosevelt Starts for Home—Esquimo Villages—New Dogs and New Dog Fights
XX.		Two Narrow Escapes—Arrival at Etah—Harry Whitney—Dr. Cook’s Claims
XXI.		Etah to New York—Coming of Mail and Reporters—Home!

Glossary

List of Illustrations

Matthew A. Henson

Map: Peary’s Route to the North Pole

Several Members of the 1909 Peary Expedition, among the Esquimos

Robert E. Peary in His North Pole Furs

A Team of Dogs Hitched to a Sledge in the “Fan” Fashion Used in Later Peary Expeditions

Henson Stands with his Four Esquimo Comrades before the American Flag Planted at the North Pole

The Roosevelt, Which Made Its Way Through Ice-Choked Waters to Cape Sheridan, the Jumping-Off Place for the Pole

Introduction

One of the first questions which Commander Peary was asked when he returned home from his long, patient, and finally successful struggle to reach the Pole was how it came about that, beside the four Esquimos, Matt Henson, a Negro, was the only man to whom was accorded the honor of accompanying him on the final dash to the goal.

The question was suggested no doubt by the thought that it was but natural that the positions of greatest responsibility and honor on such an expedition would as a matter of course fall to the white men of the party rather than to a Negro. To this question, however, Commander Peary replied, in substance:

“Matthew A. Henson, my Negro assistant, has been with me in one capacity or another since my second trip to Nicaragua in 1887. I have taken him on each and all of my expeditions, except the first, and also without exception on each of my farthest sledge trips. This position I have given ...

Table of contents

• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Introduction
• I.The Early Years: Schoolboy, Cabin-Boy, Seaman, and Lieutenant Peary’s Body-Servant—First Trips to the Arctic
• II.Off for the Pole—How the Other Explorers Looked—The Lamb-Like Esquimos—Arrival at Etah
• III.Finding of Rudolph Franke—Whitney Landed—Trading and Coaling—Fighting the Ice-Packs
• IV.Preparing for Winter at Cape Sheridan—The Arctic Library
• V.Making Peary Sledges—Hunting in the Arctic Night—The Excitable Dogs and Their Habits
• VI.The Peary Plan—A Rain of Rocks—My Friends the Esquimos
• VII.Sledging to Cape Columbia—Hot Soldering in Cold weather
• VIII.In Camp at Columbia—Literary Igloos—The Magnificent Desolation of the Arctic
• IX.Ready for the Dash to the Pole—The Commander’s Arrival
• X.Forward! March!
• XI.Fighting up the Polar Sea—Held Up by the “Big Lead”
• XII.Pioneering the Way—Breaking Sledges
• XIII.The Supporting-Parties Begin to Turn Back
• XIV.Bartlett’s Farthest North—His Quiet Good-By
• XV.The Pole!
• XVI.The Fast Trek Back to Land
• XVII.Safe on the Roosevelt—Poor Marvin
• XVIII.After Musk-Oxen—The Doctor’s Scientific Expedition
• XIX.The Roosevelt Starts for Home—Esquimo Villages—New Dogs and New Dog Fights
• XX.Two Narrow Escapes—Arrival at Etah—Harry Whitney—Dr. Cook’s Claims
• XXI.Etah to New York—Coming of Mail and Reporters—Home!
• Glossary