A Negro Explorer at the North Pole

"A record of courage and fidelity." -Education Department Bulletin, New York State Library

"Many books have been written to commemorate a smaller event than a visit to the North Pole. Matthew A. Henson had been Rear-Admiral Peary's body-servant for twenty-one years and his companion in every Arctic venture since 1891, before he attained the distinction of being with Peary the only man from civilization to reach the Pole. Mr. Henson's little book is a narrative of personal impressions, told for the most part in straightforward style....It is a story that will bear repetition, and Mr. Henson has told it in a form that will probably have its appeal to many people who would hesitate before the formidable bulk of Peary's own authoritative account." -The Nation

"Author has been with Rear-Admiral Peary since 1888. He began life as a cabin boy, and since has learned blacksmithing, carpentering and other things which made him most useful on the various polar expeditions. He gives an interesting account of the successful expedition, with sidelights on Eskimo life and customs." -Publishers Weekly

"Full of dramatic interest... a vivid style and his description of the great discovery, though not nearly so detailed as Peary's, has in it all the important facts minus the technicalities which, after all, are almost unintelligible to the lay reader." -The Continent

"One of the greatest achievements of modern exploration." -Book Review Digest

"A really valuable addition to the literature of Admiral Peary's final, successful expedition, so naively does he tell his story, with its innumerable bits of incident, occupation, description, emotion, comment." -The New York Times

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER I The Early Years: Schoolboy, Cabin-Boy, Seaman, and Lieutenant Peary's Body-Servant—First Trips to the Arctic

CHAPTER II Off for the Pole—How the Other Explorers Looked—The Lamb-Like Esquimos—Arrival at Etah

CHAPTER III Finding of Rudolph Franke—Whitney Landed—Trading and Coaling—Fighting the Ice-packs

CHAPTER IV Preparing for Winter at Cape Sheridan—The Arctic Library

CHAPTER V Making Peary Sledges—Hunting in the Arctic Night—the Excitable Dogs and Their Habits

CHAPTER VI The Peary Plan—a Rain of Rocks—My Friends, the Esquimos

CHAPTER VII Sledging to Cape Columbia—Hot Soldering in Cold Weather

CHAPTER VIII In Camp at Columbia—Literary Igloos—The Magnificent Desolation of the Arctic

CHAPTER IX Ready for the Dash to the Pole—The Commander's Arrival

CHAPTER X Forward! March!

CHAPTER XI Fighting up the Polar Sea—Held up by the "Big Lead"

CHAPTER XII Pioneering the Way—Breaking Sledges

CHAPTER XIII The Supporting-Parties Begin to Turn Back

CHAPTER XIV Bartlett's Farthest North—His Quiet Good-By

CHAPTER XV The Pole!

CHAPTER XVI The Fast Trek Back to Land

CHAPTER XVII Safe on the Roosevelt—Poor Marvin

CHAPTER XVIII After Musk-Oxen—The Doctor's Scientific Expedition

CHAPTER XIX The Roosevelt Starts for Home—Esquimo Villages—New Dogs and New Dog Fights

CHAPTER XX Two Narrow Escapes—Arrival at Etah—Harry Whitney—Dr. Cook's Claims

CHAPTER XXI Etah to New York—Coming of Mail and Reporters—Home!

Appendix I—Notes on the Esquimos

Appendix II—List of Smith Sound Esquimos