Evening star., 1893-12-04
BOUND FOR THE SOUTH POLE.
DR.. +. A. Cook VIII Lead n Party Int
Antarctic Waters.

DIR. F. A. Cook Of Brooklyn, the ethnol-
ogist of the Peary expedition Of 1S91-92, is
now preparing to lead an exploring party
TO the antarctic regions next fall. He in
tends. If he can, to solve the mystery of
the antarctic continent or archipelago,
which is supposed to spread over a large
part Of the south polar area
DR.. Cook proposes to go south with an
ample equipment for carrying on his re-
searches under conditions that will be IA
vorable for success. His work in the arctic
regions was good and thorough, and he has
shown that he possesses those qualities in
a high degree which lit him to take the
leadership in an expedition to the antarctic
regions. Mr.. Astrup, who is now with
Peary. expects to return in time to go south
with DR.. Cook as second in command. The
cost of the expedition will be about $4,000.
DR.. Cook has submitted his plans to the
American Geographical Society. The New
York Sun publishes summary Of his
scheme as follows:
The months for exploration will be De-
cember, January, February and March.
The expedition will leave New York about
September 1. AT the Falkland Islands the
party will replenish their coal and pro-
vision supply. From the Falkland Islands
they will steam directly for Terra Louis
Philippe. On one of the islands off this
coast they will deposit one of their life
boats. with provisions enough to reach the
Falkland Islands. From Terra Louis Phil
ippe their course will depend much upon
the movements of those vast packs of ice
drifting around the polar area at the mercy
of the prevailing winds and currents, leav
ing temporary openings in the direction of
the continent of the pole. DIR. Cook will
take advantage of the first practical OPEN
ing to enter the ice barrier. and proceed in
southerly direction to the most southern
point at which he is able to reach land.
There search harbOr
his vessel establish headquarters and begin
systematic scientific observations at once.
''Dr. Cook does not expect to be able to
engage in much exploratory work during
the antarctic summer Of 1S94'95, but will
be satisfied to get safely into winter quar-
ters. The winter will be spent in all the
scientific researches that may be carried
out In the neighborhood of his camp. He
will take a good supply of dogs with him."
DR.. Cook writes: Our whole travelling
equipment will be tried and perfected dur
ing the long night; our clothing will be
made almost entirely of furs and bird skins
that brought with me from Greenland last
summer. The garments will be cut on the
Eskimo pattern, and will consist OF fur out
side garments and birdskin undergarments
have little faith in knit clothing for these
regions, and consider II almost worthless
In extremely low temperatures. We shall
have an extensive library, from which
monthly magazines, weeklies and daily
papers will be served at regular intervals
"As soon as the sun returns our work in
the field will begin. The inland party for
more southern explorations will then start
on their journey across the inland sea: the
scientific observations will be continued
along the coast and as much of the coast
explored on sledges and in boats as the
time before our retreat will permit.
After the return of the inland party
which will be about the 1st of March, we
will at once begin our retreat. We shall
use every endeavor to protect our vessel
from ice pressure and try to keep her from
hanQ or 6eta cd in Toe
If We should be so unfortunate as to lose
our vessel, our retreat Is so planned that by
the use of a combination of small boats
which can be drawn over ice, and sledges
we will be able to reach our life boat on an
island off Louis Philippe Land and in this
cross over to the Falkland Islands.
AFTER we have crossed the antarctic
circle. IL the time and weather conditions
will permit, we shall endeavor to study the
mainland and islands in the region of Terra
Louis Philippe. Leaving here. we shall
probably reach the Falkland Islands about
May l; from there. after stopping at one or
two South American ports, we shall steam
direct for New York.
DR.. Cooks party will not number more
than twelve or fourteen men, including his
ships crew. His scientific corps will num-
ber four or five men, and the other mem
bers of the party will be intelligent, edu-
Gated volunteers With regard to his sledge
journey on the inland ice. DR.. Cook saws:
II do not expect to prolong the southern
sledge journey more than three months. On
this journey the glacial phenomena snow
and ice formation will be carefully studied
Many other important meteorological and
geological observations may be made
A very novel investigation. and one to
which I expect to devote great deal of at
tention. Is the antarctic ice cap which per-
haps. Is nearly 5000 miles in diameter and
probably nearly circular in form: its thick
ness is a problematical matter. and has been
a subject of much theorizing by scientific
men,"
Surprise Party.