The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18
Nevertheless. There Are Many Eager
Volunteers for service i'm Each
New Expedition.
DIR. FREDERICK A. COOKS STORY
THERE ARE DIsCOMFORTs. But ALSO
= SOME JOYS " THE LIFE.
Depression Growing ont OF LOneli-
ness One of the Worst
Trials To Endure.

CThe accompanying story from the pen OF Dr.
Frederick 4. Cook. the well-known Arctic and
Antarctic explorer. is TO appear in the forthoom-
ing volume THE White World" and is repro
duced by special arrangement with the puhiish-
ers. Lewis. Scribner & Co, Of New York. Ihs
White World gives the personal experiences Of
twenty-five prominent explorers. and Is the nrst
connected account OF polar exploration from The
time Of the Kane expedition 20 the present The
book is OF interest and importsncel
Directly upon the announcement OF every
polar expedition applications by the hun
dred pour in from young men, and some
women not so young, who are eager 10
join in the search for the secrets OF the
frozen Businesses, which have thus far de-
fed mans most heroic efforts. 1t is curl
Gus that so many should volunteer their
services for SO arduous a task Why so
many applicants? Why is this pole-seek-
ing so popular? Surely these aspirants are
not familiar with the real phases OF the
life of an explorer.
From beginning to end the work OF an
exploring party is hard; TO endure hard
ships and to suffer are the normal condi-
tions. on such expeditions there are few
servants and few men TO do the drudgery
of daily work. Officers. as well sailors,
must mend their hose, wash their gar
ments. cook. and fill the places OF carpen-
tiers, shoemakers and what not The work
is like woman's work in that IL is never
finished People often ask: What do you
do TO pass the timer" one is never more
busy, or more thoroughly occupied than
when performing the duties OF a well-Or-
ganized expedition.
Let us follow briefly the life of "A sledge
traveller. He starts out for a determined
poleward dash. taking with him money
to buy necessities and omforts en- route.
no trunk with little luxuries. but his bed
and his house, with fuel and provisions
for three months or more. All this is in
such A shape that he must be prepared at
any moment to carry his baggage on his
back for miles. There are no halfway
inns. no houses, no shelter, and no bazars
by the wayside. II he has forgotten OF
lost anything it cannot be obtained. lie
is far away from the familiar world, far
from the accustomed comforts Of life, and
as completely isolated as if he was the
surface of the moon. Day after day he
plods along over desolate fields of rough
ice pushing and pulling sledges, urging and
whipping the wolhsh dogs He is always
too tired TO talk, frequently too weary 10
eat, and often also TOO uncomfortable 10
sleep. Still, he has resolved to make the
effort Of his life, and he continues to press
onward.
THE DAILY MENU.
One day he advances five miles, the next
day twenty miles, and again but a mile.
and then comes a storm which causes a
halt of five days. AS time goes on the stock
of provisions decreases, the load becomes
lighter, but he finds his distance all too
small. Half rations are now served. Here
tofore the full ration would seem a star
walton diet, but now il is only half, and
the character Of this is such as to make
ones marrow shrink. Here is the days
gastronomic comfort: For breakfast, two
cups Of tea, a few ships biscuits, hard
and tough, bit Of pemmican twenty years
old which is made OF equal quantities OF
dried meat and beef tallow. No luncheon.
except a soap-like cake of bacon fat mixed
with pulverized peas. For dinner the break
fast is repeated, with an extra treat i'm the
form Of a large drink of water, If the fuel
supply will permit such a luxury. Experi-
ence has proved that his is the most prac-
ticable bill Of fare, and it does not permit
Of much elaboration. Except the tea. sv-
erything is taken cold. and to-day, when I
think Of my chattering teeth and quiver-
ing muscles while trying 10 devour the
straw-like pemmican, L am doubly glad
Of the comforts of home.
1t is really remarkable 10 see how this
scant polar diet keeps up the physical pow
ers, and it is even more remarkable TO see
how a fat piece OF frozen pemmican viii
change a hungry mans mind Hunger "a
IS normal to the explorer as the shivers,
and both complaints are treated by the
same remedy-food-for wnen the stomach
is full the body is warm. When the days
journey is ended the tongue burns, ths
throat IS parched and there is an uncom-
Portable pinching at the pit of the stomach.
One feels like eating a mountain and drink
ing river. but the effect OF pcmmIcan Upon
this condition is marvellous. Ii Is too hard
TO eat rapidly. so one nibbles away, shivers
and dreams Of better times. The dry. un-
cooked bits Of meat 90 down with a snatch
and some effort, and one is very conscious
OF its position IN the stomach BY a heavy.
full feeling. which is always JOY to hun
cry mortals. Long before the half-pound
lump, which Is The usual allowance. dis
appears the pangs II hunger are forgotten.
and then a desire for not cup Of tea. 10
take away the scratchy feeling. - all that
living.
THE IMPORTANT SLEEPING BAG.
The diet OF a sledge traveller is not 50
bad when you have nothing else within
reach. but the gods could not force man
10 eat IL if he had the chance OF something
else instead. one takes 10 il about as kind
~ as a convict does 10 prison diet.
1t is not so bad with the bed Among
the incidents OF bed-going are "a be found
the happiest moments of an explorers life.
II is a pity that the north pole cannot he
reached in a sleeping bag. FOR therein lies
the foundation OF most Of the comforts
of polar adventures. This Is as IL should
be- for when a man forces his powers OF
endurance TO their utmost he must have
proper rest; but this rest is generally OF
short duration and is always carefully
guarded. Much depends upon the mood OF
the elements. the location OF camp the cut
OF your sleeping bag and also upon your
companions. III the wind blows hard il al
ways carries needle-lIke crystals of ice. and
this drives down your back with an IN