The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-02
DESCRIBES HIS
!. TRIP TO POLE
Cook Describes Horrors Of
Final Dash.
DOGS FREEZE TO DEATH

sents Picture OF Animated Nature
/. That VIII Delight sportsmen--Tri.
angle OF 10000 Square Miles Cut
Out Of Terrestrial Unknown--Brus.
sells Also Receives Confirmation.
Paris, Sept. 2.-The Paris edition
Of the New York Herald this morning
publishes signed statement from
DR. Frederick A. Cook. which is dated
"Hans Egede, Lerwick. Wednesday"
on his experiences in the Arctic re.
gions.
After 9 prolonged fight with famine
and frost" says Dr. Cook. 1--WE have
at last succeeded in reaching the
north pole. A new highway, with an
Interesting strip OF animated nature,
has been explored. and big game
haunts located which will delight
sportsmen and extend the Eskimo
horizon.
Land has been discovered on
which rest the earth's nothernmost
rocks. A triangle OF 10000 square
miles has been cut out of the terres-
trial unknown. The expedition was
the outcome OF a summer cruise in
the Arctic seas on the schooner Brad
ley. which arrived at the limits OF
navigation In Smith sound late In Au.
gust 1907. Here conditions were
found TO launch venture to the pole.
J. Ii. Bradley literally supplied from
his vessel suitable provisions for 10
cal use. My own equipment for emer.
gencies served well for every purpose
in the Arctic.
Many Eskimos had gathered on
the Greenland shores at Annatoak for
the winter bear hunt. Immense guam.
titles OF meat had been collected and
about the camp were plenty of strong
dogs. The combination was lucky,
for there was good material for
equipment. All that was required
was conveniently arranged for at
point only 700 miles from the Boreal
center.
"A house and workshop were built
OF packing boxes by willing hands,
and this northernmost tribe of 2j0
people set themselves to the problem
of devising suitable outfit. Before
the end Of the long winter night we
were ready for the enterprise, and
plans had matured TO force a new
route over Grinnell land northward
along its west coast out to the polar
sea.
THE campaign opened with a few
scouting parties being sent over the
American shores TO explore the way
and seek the game haunts Their
mission was only partly successful
because Of the storms. At sunrise OF
1908 February l9) the main expedi.
tion embarked on its voyage 10 the
pole. II consisted of II men and 1O3
dogs, drawing II heavily laden
sledges. The expedition left the
Greenland shore and pushed west.
ward over the troubled ice of Smith
sound. The gloom OF the long night
was relieved only by few hours OF
daylight. The chill of the winter was
felt at Its worst. AS we crossed the
heights OF Ellesmere sound TO the
Pacific slope, the temperature sank
10 minus S3 centigrade. Several dogs
were frozen and the men suffered Sc
yerely, but we soon found the game
trails, along which the way was easy.
we forced through Nanscn sound
10 Lands End. In this march we Sc
cured l0i musk oxen. seven bears
and 335 hares. We pushed out into
the polar SEA from the southern point
OF Herbert Island on March IS. SIX
Esklmos returned from here. With
four men and 4G dogs, moving sup
plies for so days, the crossing of the
circumpolar pack was begun Three
days later Two other Eskimos, form
ing the last supporting party, return.
ed and the trials had now been re,
duced by the survival OF the fttest.
The two best men and 26 dogs were
picked for the final effort
There before us, in an unknown
line of 460 miles. lay our goal. The
first days provided for long marches,
and we made encouraging progress.
A big lead which separated the land
from the ice OF the central pack was
crossed with little delay The low
Temperature was persistent and the
illt lOIluIts but,
eooped up in our snowhouses eating |
dried beef, tallow and drinking hot |
tea, there were some animal com
forts occasionally to be gained.
For several days after the sight of /
known land was lost the overcast |
sky prevented an accurate determine
tion OF our positions. On March 80 |
the horizon was partly cleared, and |
new land was discovered. Our OBJ
seryations gave our position as latl-
sHde S4.47, longitude 1886. There
was urgent need OF rapid advance.
Our main mission did not permit a
defour for the purpose OF exploring
the coast. Here we seen the last
signs of solid earth; beyond there
was nothing TO be seen.
"On April 2l we had reached 50
degrees. SO minutes, 46 seconds. The
pole was IN sight. We covered the
remaining II seconds and made "a few
final observations. told Etukshool.
and Ahwe,sh (the accompanying Es-