Willmar tribune., 1909-09-08
DISCOVERS THE POLE
BROOKLYN SCIENTIST NOW RE-
TURNING HoMEWARD ON DAN.
lsH GOVERNMENT STEAMER.
MADE DASH IN THE WINTER
Reached Long Sought Goal on April Fl,
1908-Natives Confirm .ExpIorers'
Story Of Long Trip Over Ice
Fields With Companions.

Copenhagen, Denmark.-Dr. Freder
lex A. Cook, the American explorer
reached the north pole April 21, 1908
according to telegram received al
the colonial Office here.
DR.. Cook, of Brooklyn, left Etah
Greenland, March 3, 1908, taking with
him eight Eskimos, four sledges and
twelve dog teams. He was to make
his way through Ellesmere land.
The telegram announcing DR.. Cooks
achievement was sent by Greenland
official on board the steamer and
reads as follows:
We have on board the American
traveller, DR.. Cook, who reached the
north pole April 21, 1908. DR.. Cook
arrived at Upernavik (the northern.
most Danish settlement in Greenland
on an island off the west coast) in
May of 1909, from Cape York Tin the
northwest part of Greenland, on Baf.
fin Bay. The Eskimos of Cape York
confirm DR.. Cooks story of his jour.
ney.
Made Dash In Winter.
DR.. Cook went into the polar re.
gions on his trip with startling new
theory as the basis for his final dash
for the pole-that is, he intended to
so time his advance that his journey
over the great ice would fall in the
winter. Radical as this may seem,
great faith is expressed in it by ice
men and pilots who have wintered in
the great circle.
Dr.. Cook Tells His Story.
Paris, Sept. IA telegram describ.
ing his trip has ben received from
DR.. Cook:
after a prolonged fight with fam
inc and FROST" says DR.. Cook, I'VE
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.
eve forced through Nansen Sound
to Lands End. In this march we &C.
cured 101 musk oxen, seven bears
and 335 hares. 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.
"Our progress was about so miles
daily, the long hours for travel favor
ing us. We were now about 200 miles
from the pole and sledge loads were
reduced. One dog after another went
into the stomachs of the hungry sur.
vivors, until the teams were consid.
cradle diminished in number.
Reach Longed-for Goal.
"On April 21, we had reached SO
degrees, SO minutes, 4e seconds. The
pole was in sight. We covered the
remaining IA seconds and made few
final observations. 1 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. At last the flag floated to
the breezes at the pole. 1t was April
21, 1908. The temperature was minus
3S centrigrade, barometer 1888, lati.
tude 90; as for the longitude it was
nothing, rs it was but a word.
ALTHOUGH crazy with Joy our spirits
began to undergo "a feeling WEAKNESS.
Next day, after taking all our obser.
vations, sentiment of intense soli.
tude penetrated us while we looked
at the horizon. Was it possible that
this desolate region, without patch
of earth had aroused the ambition of
so many men for so many years
There was no ground, only an i'm.
mensity of dazzling snow, no living
being, no point to break the frightful
monotony.
ION April %, we started on our re.
turn"