The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1895-03-15
TO THE SOUTH POLE.

DIR. Cooks New Plan for accomplishing
the Conquest OF the Antarctic Region
Expects to start in September Next for a
Two Years CruIse-ThInlVs 1t Not Im-
possible to- Find People Living There.
NEW YORK, March IL. DR. Frederick
Cook, the well-lxnown explorer, has
come forward with new plan for ae-
complishing the conquest of the ant
arctic region. With small band OF
scientists he expects to sail from New
York September l next and it may be
three years before the expedition re.
turns. This project was for the first
time publicly announced Saturday
evening by the doctor himself in an
extended paper read before the geo.
graphical section of the Brooklyn In
stitute of Arts and Sciences.
DIR. Cook has succeeded in enlisting
the active support of various scientific
bodies and of private individuals as
we'll in his scheme. There is no doubt
that the sum necessary to fit and send
out the expedition-S35 00O-will be
completely subscribed within a short
time.
Instead of employing steam whal-
er, as last years programme called
for, Dr. Cook expects to secure two
tons burden apiece Sealers of this
capacity are only 100 feet or SO long,
but they are staunch craft, fairly
rapid sailers and superior for ice
work. The provisioning will be for
three years, although the intention is
to return in twenty-four months.
The scientific corps will comprise
only five persons, including the leader
1t will take the vessels three months
to sail the 5000 odd miles from New
York to the Gulf of Erebus and Ter
ror The antarctic summer will be
commencing when this rendezvous is
reached. If clear sea presents itself
further southing will be attempted.
Otherwise the expedition will disem-
bark.
After erecting a substantial wooden
house for headquarters, observations
will commence. Later on sledging
parties will set out over the inland ice
to explore as much of the antarctic
continent as possible. For the first
four months no lamplight will be
needed.
No special attempt will, for various
reasons, be made to hoist the Stars
and Stripes to the top of the south
pole. Incidentally it may remarked
that the antarctic continent comprises
an estimated area of 100000 square
miles, a sixth of the entire surface of
the globe. So far as known the only
inhabitants are icebcrgs. glaciers,
whales, seals, pengnins and some
other animals.
In the course of his remarks DIR.
Cook referred to the discovery by Capt.
Larsen, of the Dundee sailing fleet,
who found on Cape Seymour. in Iati-
tude 64 south, about fifty balls, appar-
emily made by human hands, of sand
and clay, and perehed upon pillars con-
structed of the same material.
"This is the first evidence" said DR..
Cook, ''of human existence in the
antarctic To my mind human habita-
tion on the antarctic shores is not inn
possible, nor do deem it by any means
improbable to find there an isolated
tribe of men, feeding and dressing
from the liberal sea farms"
At the conclusion of the address
steps were taken to appoint commit
tee of the section which will assist DIR.
Cook to send out his expedition.
DIR. Cook is still young man, being
under 30. In 1s91-92 he was the sur
geon and ethnologist of Lieut.. Perry's
first expedition to the north. lie has
gone to the arctic twice since.