Evening star., 1909-09-03
Backer Bradley Indignantly
Refutes Critics.
NO STRAW HAT EXPEDITION
Every Pound Of Weight Sacrificed
for Food Supply.
GUM DROPS FOR NATIVE TOOTH
Everything Thought Out in Ad-
vance-Instrumen Of the Best.
Original Plans Followed Out.

NEW YORK, September s.-The New
York Herald says today: Foresight
alertness and the unstinted aid from the
purse of John r. Bradley were elements
which made possible the brilliant success
Of DIR. Frederick A. Cook. for the expedi-
ton which was sent to the pole had been
equipped quietly In a more efficient and
thorough manner than any which had
ever essayed the frozen north.
Mr.. Bradley, in commenting upon the
feat Of DR.. Cook, smiled when he referred
to the remarks of Rear Admiral Melville
and others who believed that DR.. Cook
had not been sufficiently we'll prepared
for his undertaking.
They don't know" said he, land we
took good care that no one should know
how we were prepared for the enterprise
Now that the thing has been done there
are those who do not know what to make
of 1t all. because the plans were not
formed on the traditional lines. There
never was a better equipped expedition.
On Strictly Modern Lines.
TT had many new features and 1t was
laid out on strictly modern lines. but be-
cause we did not leave a ship to be
frozen in but had house on shore there
are those who do not seem to think that
it was according to the way the books
prescribe that arctic expeditions should
be conducted.
"All the others failed; this one sue
ceeded. 1t is a difference worth noting.
Now, / have much respect for Rear
Admiral Melville and / regret that he
expedition as he shows himself to be
In his interview this morning. Without
backing, without money. outfit or equip
ment,' says he, L do not see how DIR.
Cook could have reached the pole, let
alone his return journey. If Peary. with
the best equipped expedition that ever
penetrated northward. could not get with
in hundred miles of the earth's apex
cannot conceive how DR.. Cook has done
1t on his nerve, SO to speak
Arctic Expedition Well Planned.
THE admiral does not know that /
spent thousands and thousands of dollars
on this expedition. Our ship was as well
equipped for an arctic journey as any
that ever left this country. yet there are
some persons who seem to think that 1
started for fishing trip and that the
physician went up to the pole and back
in a straw hat. We never made q move
but what we knew just what we were
about.
Il had Bob Bartlett, commander of
the Roosevelt. Peary's ship, which was
York, go with me to Gloucester and look
over our ship. BOB considered it as
safe ship as ever left for the Arctic.
II engaged as captain, his nephew.
Moses Bartlett, who had been first officer
on the Roosevelt. The mate was Mike
Wise. and We had first-class sailor in
| young Irish boy named Kirby-as tough
as nails was he.
I'VE left Gloucester. made a good trip
| without hurrying too much and got into
| Melville bay. Now there arc those who
| seem to think that we ought to have de-
! clared ourselves. 1t Is not necessary for
| ship bound for the pole to leave New
| York with a half dozen men-of war
| all the way down to the Narrows.
Reasons for Reticence.
Suppose we had found the weather un-
| propitious after our arrival there. The
newspapers would have said that we got
| cold feet and came back. Then, again,
Mr.. Peary was in New York, trying to
get flying start and mending the boilers
of the Roosevelt. He was unable to get
enough money to suit him just then. and
guess we had as much as he did.
eff the admiral wishes to know where
the Cook expedition got its backing / do
not mind telling him that 1t was John
r. Bradley's bank account in New York
city
.Mr. Peary was about to go. and If
he had obtained news as TO our purpose
he might have been able to hurry con-
siderably, especially as the winter was
coming. wished to do a little walrus
| hunting on my way north, and that was
another reason why we did not wish to
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