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By
Matt Henson
Copyright 1910
by Boston American
After twenty-two long
years of service with Peary we are now as strangers. Three times in
his company I crossed the "Great Lead" north of Cape Columbia on my
way towards the Pole, and three times we recrossed together. The last
round trip was the successful one. The North Pole was reached. Three
hearty American cheers were given for Old Glory as we waved from an
icy pinnacle. It was the culmination of a struggle lasting all those
years, in which Commander Peary, the employer, and I, plain Matt
Henson, the servant, had worked and starved and frozen together. From
the moment I declared to Commander Peary that I believed we stood upon
the Pole he apparently ceased to be my friend.
I could never understand
it and cannot now. He was an exact but very kind man in authority. He
was never understandable.
On the evening of the
fifth day after Captain Bartlett willingly turned back with his little
division of Eskimo dogs and sledges, we encamped practically at the
Pole. I, who had walked, knew that we had made exceptional distances
in those five days. So did the Eskimos, for they also had walked.
Lieutenant Peary was the only surprised man. He, because of his
crippled feet, had ridden on the sledges the greater part of the
journey up, as he did upon the return. Riding, one cannot so well
judge of distance traversed. He made no observation in the five days,
merely knew we had 132 miles to go and he supposed that we could
nearly make it in the five days of marching.
Eskimo Boy Discloses
Peary's Plan
When we went into camp on
the evening of the fifth day, actually the sixth day of April, one of
my Eskimo boys – I could talk their language – spoke sneeringly to one
of Commander Peary. He said it was mean that Peary had quietly planned
with him and one other Eskimo boy to leave me in camp the following
morning and go off to the Pole by himself. It was mean, said the young
native, because we were all so near, and I had worked so hard to make
the trip a success.
It stunned me at first,
because Commander Peary had spoken nothing of it to me. My first
impulse was to protest, but on second thought I decided to wait.
In fact, I believed that the full distance had already been covered.
One can tell to within a mile or so how far he walks in that northern
ice, and I reckoned that we were even now at the very Pole.
Found themselves at the North Pole
True enough, on the following morning Commander Peary set out with the
two Eskimos and one sledge with a tin of pemmican and instruments,
leaving me repairing a sledge and in charge of the camp. I was sorely
disappointed, but somehow I had an abiding faith that he was wrong in
his calculations. In about an hour the Commander returned. His face
was long and serious. He would not speak to me. I quietly learned from
the boys accompanying him that he had made observations a few miles
further on.
"Well, Mr. Peary," I spoke up, cheerfully enough, "we are now at the
Pole, are we not?"
"I do not suppose that we can swear we are exactly at the Pole" was
his evasive answer.
"Well, I have kept track of the distance and we have made exceptional
time," I replied, "and I have a feeling that we have just about
covered the 132 miles since Captain Bartlett turned back. If we have
not traveled in the right direction then it is your own fault."
Commander Peary made no reply, but going off by himself made three
separate observations. I can make observations myself, but of course,
I did not meddle at this time. At the conclusion of his tests he
ordered out the American flag, selected a hillock of ice and gave the
word to erect the Stars and Stripes thereon. With the assistance of
the native boys I did this. Then I led in a cheer for Old Glory. We
remained in the encampment for about thirty-three hours when word was
given for the return.
From the time we knew we were at the Pole Commander Peary scarcely
spoke to me. Probably he did not speak to me four times on the whole
return journey to the ship. I thought this over and it grieved me
much.
I thought of the years we had worked together for the great aim. I
remembered his many acts of kindness and naturally I did not forget
what I had done for him. One never does that in summing up to strike a
balance of friendship.
Was Peary Offended?
It came over me that possibly he had taken offence at us on the
journey up because so frequently we kept ahead or just out of his
reach so that he might not load himself upon our sledges. He was very
heavy for the dogs to haul. We wanted him to remain in his own
division. We knew he could walk but little in rough ice. Only one of
his little toes remained from that terrible frosting of 1900. He was
compelled to ride. But we did not court his presence. Much of my work
was ahead of the main party breaking the trail and caring for advance
things.
I wondered if he remembered with any gratitude those awful days in
1900 when he lost his toes and became a cripple on my hands. Those
were days that even now stand out from all the rest. How I kept the
men and dogs in order, traveling days and during the night how I
foraged with the dogs, like a dog myself, hunting for food to keep him
alive and get him back to civilization. We hunted and captured any
living thing that was good to eat, chase hares with wolfish
desperation, and I finally saw him back to the ship in the hands of
the surgeon, crippled for life in a way, but safe and eventually well.
It nearly broke my heart on the journey from the Pole that he would
arise in the morning and slip away on the homeward trail without
rapping on the ice for me, as was the established custom. As we
approached our goal he vouchsafed a few words in effect that he hurry
on ahead, losing one nights sleep, while I could bring the party in at
my leisure.
Did Not Say Good-by
On board the ship he addressed me a very few times. When we left the
ship he did not speak. I wrote to him twice and sent a telegram, but
received no reply from him.
I had worked for Commander Peary all those years for the sum of $35 a
month and found, until this last trip, when I received $50 a month and
keep, and I had scarcely enough money to support my family in the
States. In my letters I hoped for some understanding.
But no reply came until I was signed for a series of lectures. When I
had given my first lecture I received a telegram from Commander Peary
warning me not to use the pictures. At once I sat down and wrote him
another long letter. He never replied to it. I have kept my lectures
and illustrations.
And bear in mind that all the pictures were taken by me. Besides those
I am now exhibiting I exposed 110 films about the Pole which, upon his
request, I loaned to Commander Peary. It was my camera. I paid for the
films, exposed and developed them. He borrowed the films saying he
would use some and return them to me. He has never done this and for
all I know has my 110 films in his possession.
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