Evening star., 1909-09-02
The Farthest North.

DIR. Cooks achievement or reacHlHS ihe
point of the highest latitude, known py
the public as the north pole, place Oh 'he
keenest geographical interest and the sodl
for which men have striyen ana suHeleu
for generations. appears to have peen III
orally a dash, with an equipment dlHerins
from that usually provided by arctic eN-
plorers in its simplicity. Apparently Dr.
Cook had no definite intention OF s,rlhihs
for the pole when he left CIVILIZATION. VI
course he had polar hopes. For years ne
has been in the field of far southern ana
far northern research and adventure. lie
has scored successes In the antarctic re-
gions which have given him a perulaheh'
place in the annals of tins hazardous en-
terprise which would have been secure
apart from his final triumph.
The theory upon which DIR. Cook ad-
yanced northward on this latest expeol-
tion differed radically from that which
has governed In previous attempts 70
reach the pole. Heretofore adventures
in the field of ice have wintered as far
north as possible and have made their
northward moves in the warmer season.
Cook reversed this proceeding, moving
north toward the close OF winter In order
To have the advantage OF the firrner ice
OF thal tlTTe, tiIiili5 iiio OAptSiSASAN - -
to return south at the beginning of the
milder season. An earlier move 1or the
pole would have brought him back during
the arctic winter with his chances OF
emersence from the frozen region at the
lowest point.
DR.. Cooks story which has been cabled
from Lerwick is a tale of indescrlbaole
suffering on the part of himself and his
,orft, an
Sheer dogged persistence and force Of will
alone carried them along. Most impress
siye in this narrative is the note of mo-
notony the monotony not only of scene
and experience but of suffering and ia
tigue Mile after mile is covered at the
expense of concentrated effort and deter
mination 10 push ahead distance that
TO the traveller in more clement zones
would be a trifie, but that is in those cir
cumstances appalling. Day after day
when the conditions permit observa-
tions are taken to determine the 1ati-
tude and the explorers find they are
creeping steadily If slowly toward the
great goal.
The pole at last. The instruments at
the traditional hour of noon mark ninety
degrees. But there is no noon. All time
Is
There is but one direction, south. The
explorers are literally on the roof of the
world. They stand where man, as far as
records go, has never stood before. but
for which man has been striving for
many years at an untold cost in life and
treasure.
Will science profit from this remarkable
exploit? VIII man be benefited by the
final solving Of the great puzzle? That is
not the question today. The world is not
pausing long in its eXultation over this
thrilling news from the far north to
reckon the achievement in practical terms
of advantage. This is the hour of senti-
ment, OF rejoicing over the demonstration
of mans conquest over nature in her
most forbidding mood. Later will come
the reckoning. the casting up of the ac-
count. the scrutiny of observations and the
balancing of the books to show the losses
squared against the accomplishment.
While nothing can restore those who have
died in the arctic race. nevertheless it Is
felt in this time of exultation that they
contributed to the final triumph and that
their sacrifices were the stepping stones
upon which Frederick Cook advanced TO
the pole