Polar Pathways: Robert E. Peary's Arctic Expeditions
1891-July 4th
On the Melville Bay ice pack, the
crew assembles for a holiday picture
“The ‘Fourth’ was ushered in by firing the ship’s cannon, and the flags that had been run up dipped and greeted with a volley of small-arms. We joined in a toast to the Stars and Stripes, and the expedition members posed for their picture on the ice, with the Kite as a background. At dinner we had a special spread of roast eider-duck, plum-duff, and Melville-Bay Roman punch, consisting of snow, milk, rum, lime-juice, and sugar. Our celebration of the national holiday was regarded as a great success, with the exception of the punch, the rum in this being none of the best, and a little too much in evidence.” - Robert E. Peary, Northward over the Great Ice, published in 1898
"Melville Bay, July 4th, 1891" by Robert E. Peary 1891, Northward over the “Great Ice” Vol. I and II. Frederick a. Stokes Company: New York, 1898.
