Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-07
NORTH POLE NOW
BELONGS TO u. S.
SAYS COOK
Continued from Page One

not met with the right Esquimaux anc
the right dogs and the right provisions,
L could never have reached the pole.
owe much to the Danish nation for my
success"
A telegram was read conveying the
; congratulations OF the King of Swed-
en- for "a brilliant deed or whish the
American people may rightly be proud"
Toasts to Mrs. Cook and to the Esqui-
msux Of the party were drunk
Two hundred students in uniform
marched in when the company returned
to the grand ball and gave DR.. Cook q
rousing cheer. They insisted upon a
speech and sang songs. A noteworthy
feature of the banquet after DR.. Cooks
acceptance in the morning was that the
applications for seats reached into the
thousands
GIVES DETAILED ACCOUNT.
The most detailed account of his polar
journey as yet given by DR.. Cook was
gained from him by large body of news
paper correspondents whom he met this
evening.
DIR. Cook, at the request of the CORES
pCndents. consented to answer all ques-
tons First he was asked whether or
not the first account OF his discovery of
the pole could be accepted as entirely
his own work. He replied in the affirma-
tive, except for the obvious errors in
transmission.
He then explained the doubt about the
$1,000 square miles discovered, saying
that he meant they were able to see IL
miles on each side during their journey
to the pole and that therefore hitherto
unknown territory of $1,000 square miles
was now discovered.
ABLE TO TAKE OBSERVATIONS.
al 70 Chnu
was fully competent to take all observa-
lions, saying that on previous exploring
expeditions he did very little observa-
ton work, which usually was divided
among the members Of the party.
This time" he continued, I'VE had
started out to reach the pole and every
thing else was of secondary considera-
ton. II was not possible TO carry GER
tain apparatus and It was impossible also
to study the deep sea or take soundings.
We carried all necessary simple instru-
acnts for astronomical observations and
we were very lucky to oDJain observa-
lions virtually every day. The positions
noted must have been nearly correct.
I'VE had three chronometers, one
watch. compasses and pedometers. All
were carefully controlled by each other
from time to time. The watch, how
ever, got out of order.
1--WE had all the modern instruments
which other explorers have had, In
GLIDING thermometers, barometers and
sextants Of the latest models. II Is pos
sible that our observations were bet
ter than those of earlier days but ] do
not assert that I am perfectly familiar
with making astronomical observations,
especially n the polar regions. I think
that all explorers would BE- satisfied
with my data.
WHY INVENT ORSERTATIONSP'
why should 7 sit down and invent
observations" he exclaimed. II did not
do this thing for anything but save
sport, and because I take real inter
est In the problem. 1t would not do
me any good to invent these things. The
only witnesses / had were two Esqui-
maux, certainly. but in all polar expe-
ditions observations have beer mado by
one man.
1 regard the Esquimaux a rnuch more
intelligent in finding positions than the
white man In the Arctic. These people
as a Tule are not absolutely ignorant.
They know that the earth is round. They
have a name for the pole. which they
call the big nail They appreciate the
work OF explorers when participating
Clereln.
Il think Rasmussen has obtained some
information regarding my expeditions
from the Esquimaux who have learned it
from the two with me. Rasmussen was
there much later and his information
will be published shortly. possibly to-
MORROW.
Concerning the ice around the pole,
so far as / could see, 1t was slightly more
active there than at one or two degrees
south II drifted somewhat more to the
south and east. It's general character is
not very different from that at other
places. We stayed around the pole for
two days. making many observations.
do not claim to have put my finger on ths
exact spot; I do not claim TO have put
my foot on IL. but personally. / think
we have been at the spo,. When the OBJ
servations have been figured out again 1t
is possible that there will be found
slight errors and differences, but / am
certain that a gunshot fired from whers
We were would have passed over the pole.
PUT FLAG IN CYLINDER.
we planted the. stars and stripes at
what we believed to be the pole, but
old not leave the flag with staff In
stead I placed a small silk flag IN n
cylinder with my card and the record OF
the journey with the date.
The drift ice may carry the fag