The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-09-04
NOTHING But
ice At Al POLE
SAYS DIR. COOK
The Last Is Miles
The Easiest of
His Life

! LONDON. Sept. "A special dis
patch received here from Skhgen
says
"As the steamer Hans Egede steam
ed by I caught thronsn my glasses a
vision OF small man In dark suit
and peaked cap shading his eyes with
MS hands, rs II standing to SEQ the
welcome civilization after years in Icy
exile 1t was DR.. Cook, the explorer,
whose name Is, on every tongue. He
was chatting with the captain on the
bridge. now smiling. now wnvinE his
hanI was allowed to board the
Hans Egede.
"Somebody gave DIR. Cook a bou-
nuet. Teams dinmed bis eyes rs l1s
buried his face In their fragrance.
IT'S years since have seen flowers
said the explorer with a culver OF
emotion In his voice.
II followed aim to the cabin. HIS
face was tanned from exposure. He
looked the picture OF splendid health.
Only when he smiled one noticed the
loss of two teeth. a fight with q
polar bear did tnat.' nc said.
| "'Yoll can tell the world. the ex'
plorer continued. that am in better
condition than at any time and look
forward with an appetite to the fes-
tlvlties that are promised me. Ny
dinner mas been poor these last few
years and / shall have to make up
for it
"Dr. Cook then briefly described. his
Journey. Regarding his discovery he
said:
".Then came April 81. That was
the great day. We looked for the sun.
AS soon Us we got It made several
observations. Great Coy came over
us. We were only Is miles from the
desired spot I said to myself. bully
for Frederick, then we went on.
The Last the Easiest.
""The last stretch vas the e1slcst
ever made in MY life. although !
had still to make two observations
and the ice was very broken here.
But my spirits were nigh and shout
ed like a boy. The Esklmos looked.
at one another surprised. at my
sniety.
"I felt That ought to be there. /
made my last observation and found
that I was standing on the pole.
"'My feelings? Well. was too
tired really to feel any sensation. J
planted the stars aud stripes In tn7
Ice field and my heart grew warm
when / saw 1t wave in the wind
"How does the no:t!l pole look!
was asked.
"'Well,' said DR.. Cook. smiling. 1T
amounts to the size OF a twenty five
cent niece. There Is nothing to see
but ice. Ice: no water. only ice. sthere
were more holes here than at the s7th
degree which shows there Is more
movement and drift here. Bu. this and
other observations made afte7Ward
when got more sa:tled. Nstnpped
two days at the pole and I assure you
| is wasn't easy to say good bye to the
spot.
"'As I was sitting ut the pole !
could not help smiling nt the people
who on my, return would call the
whole expedition a humburg. was
sure the people would say that aad
bought my two witnesses and that my
note book with my daily observations
had been manufactured on board this
snip.
1.-THE only thing can put UP
against this Is what tlla Eskimos have
told. Let the skepttcs who lisbelieve
my story 20 to the north pole. Gnere
lthey will find small brass tube
which buried unde: the flag. That
tube contains a. short statement about
nv trip I couldn't leave my visiting
card because didn't happen to late
one with me. Perhaps. | should
have stayed there longer had 1t not
begun to freeze us in our idleaess.
The Eskimos were uneasy and tho
dogs i,owlcd fearful'y. On April ~.
Therefore. / again turned my nose
southward, when was much easier, as
you cannot turn your nose In any
other direction when YOU stand at
the pole.'" 90