The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-10-20

DIR. COOKS EsKIMos PHOTOGRAPHED BY
HIM AT THE POLE.
though thin and ragged, had a dignity
as heroes of the greatest human bat
tie which had ever been fought with
remarkable success.
We were all lifted to the paradise Of
winners as we stepped Owe the SHOWS
Of a destiny for which we had risked
life and willingly suffered the tortures
of an icy hell.
The ice under us seemed almost sa-
cred. When the pedometer registered
fourteen and a half miles we camped
and calmly went to sleep, feeling that
we were turning on the earth's axis.
The observations. however. gave 80
degrees SO minutes IS seconds. We
therefore had the pole. or the exact
spot where it should be. within sight.
We advanced the fifteen seconds,
made supplementary observations,
pitched the tent. built a snow igloo
and prepared to make ourselves COM
Portable for a stay long enough for two
rounds of observations.
Our position was thus doubly assur-
ed, and a necessary day Of rest was
gained. Etukishuk and Ahwelah en-
joyed the day in quiet repose. but l
slept very little. My goal was reach
ed: the ambition of my life had been
fulfilled. How could I sleep away
such overwhelming moments Of ella
ton?
AT last we had reached the boreal
center. The dream of nations had been
realized. The race of centuries was
ours. The flag was pinned to the ov.
eted pole. The year was 1908. the day
April 81.
The sun indicated local noon. but
time was a negative problem. for here
all meridians meet. With a step it was
possible to go from n part of the
globe to the opposite side-from the
hour of midnight to that Of midday.
Here there are but one day and one
night in each year. The latitude was
80 degrees. the temperature -3S.7. the
atmospheric pressure 1888. North.
east and west had vanished. 1t was
south in every direction, but the CON-
pass, pointing to the magnetic pole.
was as useful as ever.
Though overjoyed with the success
of the conquest our spirits began to
change on the next day after all the
observations had been taken and the
local conditions We're studied. A sense
of intense loneliness came with a care
full scrutiny of the horizon. What a
cherries spot to have aroused the am
bition Of man for sc many ages! End
less fields of purple SHOWS: No life. no
land, no spot. to relieve the monotony
Of frost! We were the only pulsating
creatures in a dead world of ice.
On April %, 1908. DR.. Cook began the
long return march. With fair weather.
good ice and the inspiration of the home
run long distances were at first quickly
covered.
With a good deal of anxiety Cook
watched the daily reduction of the food
supply. 1t now became evident that the
crucial stage of the campaign was to be
transferred from the taking of the pole
to a final battle for life against famine
and frost. Early in July farther south
ward progress became impossible. and in
quest of food he crossed the Firth OF
Devon into Jones sound. On Feb. IS. 1903,
the start was made for Annootok. With
a newly prepared equipment the Green
land shores We're reached on April 10.
Here DR.. Cook was greeted by Harry
Whitney and anxious Eskimo friends. TO
facilitate an early return he moved south
ward to the Danish settlement and reach
ed U~pernavik on May "a. 1909. The Dan
ish ship Hans E,gede took him from.
Upernavik to Deumark.