Polar Pathways: Robert E. Peary's Arctic Expeditions
1908- The Party
“First and most valuable was Bartlett, master of the Roosevelt… whether at the wheel of the Roosevelt hammering a passage through the floes, or tramping and stumbling over the ice pack, with the sledges, or smoothing away the troubles of the crew, was always the same—tireless, faithful, enthusiastic, true as a compass. Matthew A. Henson, my negro assistant… has shared all the physical hardships of my arctic work. He is now about forty years old and can handle a sledge better, zand is probably a better dog-driver, than any other man, except some of the best Eskimo hunters themselves. Ross G Marvin, my secretary and assistant, who lost his life in the expedition; George A. Wardwell, chief engineer; Percy, the steward; and Murphy, the boatswain, had all been with me before. [Dr. Wolf’s place] was taken by Dr. J. W. Goodsell, of New Kensington, Pa… I enlarged my field party as it may now be called, and added t the expedition Mr. Donald B. MacMillan… and Mr. George Borup… When MacMillan was fifteen years old he went to live with his sister in Freeport, Me., where he was prepared to enter Bowdoin College, being graduated from my alma mater in 1898. Like Borup, MacMillan excelled in undergraduate athletics… He holds the Humane Society’s certificate for saving a number of lives some years ago, an exploit which it is difficult to get him to talk about.” – Robert E. Peary in The North Pole, published in 1910
