The adventurous youngster had dreamed about exploring in Africa, but after he saw a newspaper article stating that Robert Peary planned an expedition to northern Greenland, he contacted Peary and was given a place on the expedition.
Den eventyrlystne unge gut drømte om at foretage opdagelsesrejser i Afrika, men efter, at han så en avisartikel, som fortalte, at Robert Peary planlagde en ekspedition til Nordgrønland, tog han kontakt og fik plads på ekspeditionen.