Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-10-07
DIR. COOK AT THE NORTH POLE
Fira Steps Over the Last Few Miles to the big Naip
hrilIingly Observation-Disclosures Dance for Joy-The
whole Party Excited to Fever Heat-Color Scheme of
Spendor Gaddens the Eyes-Observations Taken to
Make the Position Doubly Assured.
eleventh IkSTALMENT
THE CONQUEST OF THE POLE.
BY Or. Frederick A. Cook.

BY Or. Frederick A. Cook.
Copyright, 1909, by The New York
Herald Company. Registered in Can
ada in accordance with the Copyright
act. Copyright in Mexico under the
laws of the republic of Mexico. All
rights reserved)
The observations of April IA gave
latitude IS deg. 81 min, longitude 81
deg. 50 min. We were but one hun
bred miles from the pole, but there
was nothing to relieve the mental
strain Of the icy desrair. The wind
came with the same satanic cut from
the west There had been little drift
bat the ice h"f re us displayed signs
of recent activity. 1t was more ir-
regular. with an open crack here and
there, but the sleds- glided with less
friction. and the dreary dogs main
tanned a better speed under rising
tails.
With teeth set and newly sharpened
resolutions. we set out for the last one
hundred miles Some dogs had gone
into tine stomachs Of their hungry
companions, but there still remained
a sufficient pull of well tried brute
force for each sled, and though their
noisy vigor had been lost in the long
drag they still broke the frigid 81
lence with an occasional outburst A
little fresh enthusiasm from the driv-
ers was quickly followed by canine
activity.
We were in good trim to cover
distance economically. The sledges
were light, our bodies were thin. All
the muscles had shriveled; but the
dogs retained much of their strength
Thus stripped for our last lap, one
horizon after another was lifted.
IN xx-bfa
we were frequently over-heated. The
temperature was steady at a. degrees
below Fahrenheit. hut perspiration
came with ease. and a certain amount
of pleasure. Later, however, there
followed a train of suffering for many
d4vs. The ic.i,;ht Of the birdskir
shirt was changed for the chill of the
wet blanket The coat and trousers
hardened to sheets of ice and it be-
came quite impossible to dress after
a sleep without softening the stiffened
furs with the heat of the bare skin.
The mittens, the boots and the fur
stockings became quite useless until
dried out.
Furs Soon Dried.
Fortunately at this time the sun
was warm enough to dry the furs in
aboUt three days if dashed to the sun
ny side of the sled. In these last
days we felt more keenly the pangs of
perspiration than in all our earlier adj
ventures.
The amber colored goggles were
persistently used and they afforded
prot aetion t. the eyes. which was
quite a revelation. but in spite of
every Ire -autioTI our distorted, f:oZen,
burned and withered faces lined a map
of the hardships en- route.
We were curious looking savages.
The perpetual glitter induced a squint
Which distorted the face in a remark
able manner The strong light re-
hected from the crystal surface threw
the muscles about the eye into a state
of chronic contraction. The pupil was
reduced to a mere pinhole.
The strong winds and drifting SHOWS
encouraged the habit of peeping out
of the corner of the eye. Nature in
to keep the ball from
flushed it at all times with
blood There was no end of trouble
at hand in endeavoring to keep the
windows of the soul open. and all OF
the effect was run together in a set
expression of hardship and wrinkles
which should be called the boreal
squint.
Nearing the Pole.
This boreal squint is a part of the
russet bronze physiognomy which
falls TO the lot Of every Arctic ex-
plorer The early winds. the piercing
start 2 flush of scarlet,
while frequent frostbites leave figures
in black; later the burning sun browns
the skin subsequently strong winds
Sep the moisture. harden the skin and
leave open assures.
The hard work and reduced nour-
lshuSnt contract the muscles, dlSpel
the fat and leave the skin to shrivel
up in folds. The imprint of the Cog
giles. the set expression of hard times
and the mental blank of the environ
ment have removed all spiritual ami
nation. W. rave the COior and the
easily pass for prehistoric progenitors
Of man
In the enforced effort to spreai
uut The stifftncd legs over the last
reaches there was no longer sufficient
energy a. camping times to erect
snow shelter. The silk tent was then
pressed into use.
Though the temperature was still
very low when the sun was high it's
rays pierced the silk fabric
and rested softly on our brows closed
In heavy slunnber. In strong winds
it was still necessary to erect shelf
erng wall to shield the tent. but alto
zether the change proved quite agree
able. II encouraged a more careful
5 >rl,1iny II tn. strange world into
which fortune had pressed us-first
Of all men.
Optical Illusions.
Signs of land were still seen every
Ian BUT they We're deceptive optical
Illusions, and a mere verdict of fancy.
1t seemed that something must hap
per. some line must cross our horizon
to mark the important area into which
we were pressing.
When the sun was low the eve ran
over moving plains in brilliant waves
Of color to dancing horizons. The
turned things topsy turvy.
Indeed land and queer objets ever
rose and fell in shrouds of mystery,
but all of this was due to the at
magic of the midnight sun.
With lucky series of daily astro-
nomisal observations our position was
now accurately fixed for each stage
Of progress. AS we neared the pole
the imagination quickened. and a rest
less almost hysteric eXcitemene came
over us. The boys fancied they saw
beaver and seals. and | had a new
land under observation FREQUENTLY, but
" 18th 2. change in the direction of light
u an altered trend in our temperament
the horizon cleared snd We became
eager OILY to push further into the
From tie eighty eighth to the
: ighty-ninth the ice was IN very large
ields and fine surface was less irreg-
ular biIt i'm other respects. it was
q bou- the same as below the eighty
W noticed here also an OK
tension If the range Of vision. We
s@erned 10 see longer distances aul
tbs ice along the horizon less
a,tsulAr outline.