Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09

rs PLAN OF DIR. F. A. COOK.
In speaking to your correspondent to-
night. Mr.. Bradley said: You see this
expedition of ours was gotten up without
any hurrah about it. Had we made known
our intention of making dash for the
pole, there would have been great activity
In the Peary camp. and perhaps the
chance of securing dogs at Etah would
fore, we prepared our plans quietly and
thoroughly, and are in ON the ground
floor
Second-Extract from an interview in
the New York Herald of October 10,
1907:
Regarding the manner in which this
arctic expedition took shape, l took up
the matter last winter of an arctic trip
with DIR. Cook, and we began to formu,
late plans. = Finally we reached
Etah. DR.. Cook has now about
fifty Eskimo, men. women and children
and some $50 dogs in his winter quarters.
During the winter DR.. Cook will get
everything in readiness and about Feb
sound and take a northwesterly course
through Ellesmere Land. and try to reach
the Polar sea at So degrees north lati-
tude.'
Cook Tells Of His Route.
Third-Extract from letter sent home
from Etah by DR.. Cook to a gentleman in
New York..
IT have hit upon new route to the
north pole, and will set out to try 1t by
way of Buchanan's bay and Ellesmere
Land Northward. through Nansen's
strait over the Polar sea, seems to me to
be very good route. So here's to the
pole"
Fourth-Extract from letter sent
home from Etah by DR.. Cook to the Ex-
plorers' Club:
"Etah, August Is. 1907.
II find have a good opportunity to try
for the pole, and therefore l will stay
here for year. 1 hope to get to the
Explorers Club in September, 1908, with
the record OF the pole. 1 plan to cross
Ellesmere Land, and reach the Polar sea
by Nansen strait.
Fifth-Extract from editorial In the New
York Sun Of October 4, 1907:
"Only few weeks before DR.. F. A.
Cook sailed for the arctic, he appeared
to be most energetically promoting the in
terest of his proposed antarctic enterprise.
"Dr. Cooks plan for the arctic enter
prise, on which he has really embarked,
must have been far advanced at the time
he was ostensibly hustling on behalf of
polar research. While still talking about
the south pole. he started toward the
other extremity Of the axis; and the latest
announcement Of his plans wears also an
air of mystery.
1.-THE vessel that took him north reports
Smith sound, thirty miles farther north
than Pearys winter camp two years ago.
The fact is that he is about $50 miles
south Of Peary's camp. The vessel also
cross Ellesmere Land and try to make
his way to the pole on the sea ice west of
Grinnell and Grant Lands. The most
frenzied pole hunter would never dream
of choosing this highway to the north
pole.'
Mount Mckinley Comment.
Sixth-Extract from an editorial in the
New York Tribune Of October 3. 1907:
"Dr. Cooks failure to take the public
into his confidence in regard to his latest
enterprise reveals the same secretive dis
position which he manifested last year in
his Alaskan campaign. When, after his
second unsuccessful endeavor to reach the
summit of Mount Mckinley, some of his
companions found it necessary to start
for home, 1t was supposed that the ex-
plorer remained merely to make fresh sur
veys. Hence. the announcement few
weeks later that he had planted the Stars
and Stripes on the top Of the highest
peak In North America naturally pro-
voked much establishment. =
Friends of the naval officer who has
spent SO many years in efforts to reach
the pole will probably not claim that he
has first mortgage On the goal itself.
nor on any part of the channel which
stretches along the west coast Of Green
land Still, 1t will be remembered that a
few years ago. when Sverdrup proposed
to push up Smith sound, after Command
err Peary had fully outlined his intentions,
the Norwegian was the object of vigor-
Gus criticism. 1t was foreseen that Sver-
drup might turn to account the friendly
relations that Commander Peary had es-
tablished with the Eskimos in Greenland.
II any special facility which Commander
should be utilized by Dr. Cook a mani
fest wrong would be committed"
i could present numbers of similar
editorials but the ones above from two
of the great New York dailies are typical
and seem sufficient
referring to the last sentence of the
Tribune editorial, '"If any special facility
which Commander Peary has created for
his own benefit should be utilized by DR..
Cook manifest wrong would be COM
mitted,' I beg to note that DR.. Cook has
located himself at Etah. which has been
my rendezvous and depot for years: that
ne mas about him my Eskimos and dogs,
assembled at E&ah with the expectation
of meeting me there last sumner. that he
Is appropriating to his own use the serv-
ices or the EskimoS whom have trained
in methods OF protracted serious arctic
sleoge work. and Is utilizing their init
resources of the lands to the north. which
they have gained under my lead and
guidance.
Drained Peary's Resources.
I will make no comment upon the
probabilities OF DR.. Cook being able To
reach the pole from a base as far south
as Etah. nor will 1 make any comment
upon the proposed route which he ,indi-
Gates in his letters. or venture any
prophecy as TO the results likely to be
achieved by him.