The Mena weekly star., 1909-10-21


 HIM AT THE POLE.
 though thin and ragged. had dignity tie which had ever been fought with remarkable success.
 We were all lifted to the paradise of winners as we stepped over the snows of n 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 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 90 minutes 45 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 snow igloo and prepared to make ourselves com fortable for stay long enough for two rounds of observations.
 Our position was thus doubly assur, ed. and 2 necessary day of rest was gained. Etukishuk and Ahwelab en- joyed the day in quiet repose. but slept very little My goal was reach ed: the ambition of my life had been fulfilled. How could sleep away such overwhelming moments of ela- ton?
 At last we had reached the boreal center. The dream of nations had been realized. The race of centuries was ours. The flag wns pinned to the GOV. eted nole. The year was 1908, the day April q.
 The sun indicated local noon. but time was negative problem, for here all meridians meet. With step 1t was possible 10 go from one part of the globe 10 the opposite slde-from the
 hour of midnight to that of midday. Here there are but one day and one night in each year. The latitude was 90 degrees, the temperature --3S.7. the atmospheric pressure 29.S3 North. east and west had vanished. It was south in every direction. but the com pass, pointing 10 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 were studied. A sense of intense loneliness came with care fu scrutiny of the horizon. What n cbeerless spot 10 have aroused the ann bition of man for so many ages. End less fields of purple snows. No life. no land. no spot. to relieve the monotoDy of frost. We were the bnly pulsating creatures tl dead world of ice. On April 23 1908, Dr. Cook began the long return march. With fair weather good ice and tho inspiration of the home run long distances were at first quickly covered.
 With good deal of anxiety Cook watched the daily reduction of the food supply It now became evident that tiis crucial stage of the campaign was 10 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 ir quest of food he crossed the Firth ol Devon into Jones sound. On Feb. IS, 1909 the start was made for Annootok. With newly prepared equipment the Green | land shores were reached on April 10 Hero Dr. Cook was greeted by Harry whitney and anxious Eskimo friends. re facilitate an early return he moved south ward to the Danish settlement and reach ed Upernavik on May 2a. 1909. The ban | ish ship Hans Egefe took him fsou 1 upernavik to Denmark.