The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1909-09-11

cured 101 musk oxen, seven bears and
thirty-three hares. We pushed out
into the polar sea from the southern
point of Humbert island on March 10.
Seven Eskimo returned from here.
With four men and forty-six dogs NOV.
Ing supplies for eighty days, the cross.
ing of the circumpolar pack was be.
gun. Three days later two other Els.
kimo, forming the last supporting
party, returned and the trails had now
been reduced by the survival of the
fittest. The two best men and twen-
ty-siX dogs were picked for final effort
For several days after sight OF
known land was lost and the overcast
sky prevented an accurate determine.
ton of our positions. On March 80
the horizon was partly cleared and
new land was discovered.
Our observations gave our position
as latitude S4.47, and longitude $685.
There was urgent need of rapid ad-
vance. Our main mission did not per-
init detour for the purpose of eXplor-
Ing the coast Here we saw the last
signs OF solid earth; beyond, there was
nothing stable to be seen.
I'VE advanced steadily over the
monotony of the moving sea-ice and
now found ourselves beyond the range
of all life-neither foot prints Of bears
nor the blow hole of seals were deter
mined. Even the microscopic crea-
lures of the deep we're no longer I'M
der us. The maddening influence of
the shifting desert of frost became al.
most uncomfortable in the daily rou.
tine. The surface of the pack offered
less and less trouble, and the weather
improved; but there still remained the
life-sapping wind, which drove despair
to its lowest recess.
I'm spite of what seemed long
marches, we advanced but little over
a hundred miles. Much of our work
was lost in circuitous twists around
troublesome pressure-lines and high
ice fields. A very old ice drift, too,
was driving eastward with sufficient
force TO give some anxiety. Although
still equal to about fifteen miles daily,
the extended marches and the long
hours for travelling, with which for
tune favored us earlier, were no long
er possible. We were now ABOUT 2Ou
miles from the pole and sledge-loads
were reduced. One dog after another
went into stomachs of the hungry sur
vivors, until the teams were consid-
erably diminished In number, but
there seemed to remain sufficient
balance for man and brute to push
along into the heart of the mystery
to which we had set ourselves.
"On April 81 we had reached SO de-
grees, SO minutes, 46 seconds. The
pole was In sight. We covered the re-
naming IA seconds and made a few
final observations. | told Etukishook
and Ahwelsh (the accompanying Eski.
mos), that we had reached the great
nail. Everywhere We turned was
south. With a single step we could
pass from one side of the earth to the
other; from midday to midnight At
last the flag foated to the breezes at
the pole. II was April 81 1908 The
temperature was minus 3S centigrade,
barometer 1888; latitude so; as for
longitude, 1t was nothing, as II was
but word.
Although crazy with joy, Our opIr1ts
began to undergo feeling of weari-
ness. Next day, after taking all our
observations, a sentiment of intense
at the horizon. Was IL possible that
this desolate region, without a patch
Of earth, had aroused the ambition OF
so many men for so many centuries?
There was no ground--only an i'm
mensity of dazzling white shOw-no
living being, no point to break the
frightful monotony
ION April 23 we started on our re-
turn"
Dr. Cook was born at Calicoon de-
pot, Sullivan county, N. Y, in 1865.
He was married in Brooklyn in 1902
to Miss Mary Hunt. His wife shares
the belief of the Arctic club that her
husband has achieved the goal of the
At a meeting Of the Explorers club
OF New York In ctober 1907, let
ter from DR.. Cook, dated at Etah, Au-
gust 49, gave this information:
Il find have good opportunity TO
try for the pole, and therefore will
stay here for year. / hope to get to
the Explorers club In September,
1908, with the record OF the pole.
plan to cross Ellesmereland and reach
the polar sea by hansen strait"