The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-02
CAN EASILY PROVE IT.
Scientists Say World VIII Know IF
Cook Tells the Truth.

New York, Sept. 2.-Members of geo.
graphical, Arctic exploring and other
scientific societies in America do not In
the least doubt that DR.. Frederick A.
Cook of Brooklyn, has really discov-
cred the North Pole. Notwithstanding
the doubt cast upon the first reports
from Copenhagen especially in Berlin
and Rome, the intimateS of DR. Cook
here declare that when the explorer
reaches Copenhagen, which probably
will be Saturday afternoon, he will be
able to amply verify his claims Scien-
lists declare that they can easily tell
from DIR. Cooks records and figures if
he had reached the pole.
While Mrs. Cook. wife of the explorer,
who has been spending the summer at
South Harpswell, Maine, has not been
come to New York and start for
Europe to meet her husband and re-
turn with him. DR.. Cooks brief mes
sage to her from Lerwick, Shetland
Islands, saying he had been successful
and was well was forwarded by mail
yesterday, SO that probably her first
news of his great victory will reach
her through the newspapers today.
The discovery of the North Pole by
DR.. Cook was the termination of a
voyage which started as fishing trip.
On July 8, 1907. DR.. Cook was the
guest of John r. Bradley on board his
schooner yacht, the John R. Bradley,
which left Gloucester Mass to go on
a fishing trip up the Labrador coast.
Mr.. Bradley is a New York man of
wealth, interested in sports and who
has followed DR.. Cooks Polar aspira-
lions closely.
Mr.. Bradley had invited Dr. Cook to
go on the fishing trip, never dreaming
that 1t would end in the Brooklyn
mans making a dash for the pole On
board the schooner were a half dozen
Newfoundlanders who were thorough
ly familiar with the coast of Labrador
and who were to act as guides. The
sailing master was Capt. Moses Bart
lett who had been with Commodore
Peary on the Roosevelt when he lefc
for the north.
The fishing party ran into treacher-
Gus weather and heavy ice packs, as II
proceeded along the Labrador coast.
Then the gasoline engines got out of
order and the vessel was involved III
difficulties. The ship was at length
headed for Cape York harbor but ow-
ing to the heavy ice it was unable to
in North Star bay There some days
were spent in hunting and fishing.
While the time was being spent in
this way. DR.. Cook became fired with
the ambition to reach the Pole. H.
spoke to Mr.. Bradley about it, and the
latter declared that if any such trip
was to be made he would not Join it,
DR.. Cook was insistent. He wanted
the entire party to 60 with him on the
expedition. As. Mr.. Bradley would mol
be one of the party, DR. Cook organized
a force of Eskimos and, with RudoIph
Francke. made preparations for the ex-
petition. Mr.. Bradley left in August,
1907. on his fishing schooner - return
to New York, leaving the determined
Brooklyn man and his party to seek
the Pole
DR.. Cook had an entirely different
idea of how the trip to the Pole ougn:
to be attempted from that followed by
Peary and other explorers He calcu-
lated upon going through Nansei.
Strait. and doing his travelling in tile
winter months. His reasons for chooS
Ing the period of extreme cold was that
the ice fields would be smoother and
that there would be less danger of e.
countering the jagged passages of ice
through which travel is extremely dir
f1cult.
When Mr.. Bradley returned to New
York in October. 1907, he told of d.
Cooks scheme. and the preparations
for the trip.
''Dr. Cook told me before he left
Gloucester that it would be a great
thing if we tried to reach he pole be-
fore we returned" said Mr.. Bradley
81 did not give him any encouragement
then, but thinking that he might insis.
upon making the attempt when Wa
reached the farthest point north on our
trip 1 ordered provisions put aboard
that would furnish an Arctic expedition
for three years.
when the vessel sailed. therefore We
had everything necessary for a Polar
expedition. On our trip we went as far
north as Etah, Peary's former winter
quarters. Here he enjoyed a fine viev-
from the high hills of Smith Sound
There was no great amount of ice in
the sound so DR.. Cook, the first mate
and myself took motor boat and went
through Smith sound to 70 degrees
settlements of the Eskimos are and we