A Negro Explorer at the North Pole The Autobiography of Matthew Henson

by Henson, Matthew

• ISBN13: 9781931229012
• ISBN10: 1931229015
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-01
• Publisher: Invisible Cities Press Llc

Summary

When Commander Robert Peary reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909, one other American was with himMatthew Henson, a black man from Maryland who had been Peary's faithful companion through 22 years of polar exploration. This is Henson's story in his own words, from his early years as a sailor to his meeting Robert Peary and their multiple expeditions to the North Pole. Filled with hair-breadth escapes from disaster and haunting evocations of life in the Arctic, this classic of exploration literature reveals Henson as the true hero of the journey, one who had been forced to accept a lower status because of his race. It was Henson who learned to speak the native tongue of the Eskimos, Henson who handled the dogs and broke the trail, and Henson who arrived first at the North Pole after being purposely left behind by Peary. New to this edition are rare articles and photos of the expedition that Henson published to set the record straight.

Author Biography

Matthew Henson was an explorer who was part of the first team to reach the North Pole in 1909. He is honored today by a monument at Arlington National Cemetery, a U.S. postal stamp, and a U.S. naval ship bearing his name. He died in 1955.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the New Edition	xi
S. Allen Counter
Foreword	xxvii
Robert Peary
Introduction	xxxi
Booker T. Washington
The Early Years: Schoolboy, Cabin-Boy, Seaman, and Lieutenant Peary's Body-Servant---First Trips to the Arctic	1	(10)
Off for the Pole---How the Other Explorers Looked---The Lamb-Like Esquimos---Arrival at Etah	11	(8)
Finding of Rudolph Franke---Whitney Landed---Trading and Coaling---Fighting the Ice-Packs	19	(6)
Preparing for Winter at Cape Sheridan---The Arctic Library	25	(4)
Making Peary Sledges---Hunting in the Arctic Night---The Excitable Dogs and Their Habits	29	(4)
The Peary Plan---A Rain of Rocks---My Friends the Esquimos	33	(4)
Sledging to Cape Columbia---Hot Soldering in Cold Weather	37	(8)
In Camp at Columbia---Literary Igloos---The Magnificent Desolation of the Arctic	45	(6)
Ready for the Dash to the Pole---The Commander's Arrival	51	(4)
Forward! March!	55	(4)
Fighting up the Polar Sea---Held up by the ``Big Lead''	59	(10)
Pioneering the Way---Breaking Sledges	69	(8)
The Supporting-Parties Begin to Turn Back	77	(8)
Barlett's Farthest North---His Quiet Good-By	85	(8)
The Pole!	93	(8)
The Fast Trek Back to Land	101	(4)
Safe on the Roosevelt---Poor Marvin	105	(6)
After Musk-Oxen---The Doctor's Scientific Expedition	111	(6)
The Roosevelt Starts for Home---Esquimo Villages---New Dogs and New Dog Fights	117	(6)
Two Narrow Escapes---Arrival at Etah---Harry Whitney---Dr. Cook's Claims	123	(6)
Etah to New York---Coming of Mail and Reporters---Home!	129	(8)
Appendix I-Notes on the Esquimos	137	(4)
Appendix II-List of Smith Sound Esquimos	141	(4)
Appendix III-Matthew Henson's Article from The Boston American, 1910	145