The Washington times., 1909-09-03

NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-ForesIght.
alertness and uns;inted aid from the
purse OF John r. Bradley were elements
which made possible the brilliant sue
cess OF DR.. Frederick a. Cook. for the
expedition which was sent 10 the Fcle
had been equipped quietly in a more ef-
fciarI and thorough manner than any
which had ever essayed the frozen
North.
Mr. Bradley. in commenting upon the
feat OF DR.. Cook. smiled when he re-
ferred 10 the remarks OF Rear Admiral
Melville and others who believed that
Or. Cook had not been sufficiently well
prepared for his undertaking.
They don't know" said he. and we
took good care that no one should
know how we we're prepared for the en-
terprise- Now that the thing has been
done there are those who do not know
what to make OF IL all. because the plans
were not formed on the traditional lines.
There never was a bett1 equipped ex-
petition.
On Strictly Modern Lines.
1t had many new features and was
laid out on strictly modern lines. but
because we did not leave ship 20 be
frozen In. but had a house on shore,
there are those who do not seem TO
think that Il was according 70 the way
the books prescribe that Arctic eXpedi-
lions should be conducted All the
others failed; this one succeeded It IS
a difference " rth noting.
Now. ] ha much respect for Rear
Admiral Mel zee, and I regret that he
has been so iAy Informed concerning
the expedition as he shows himself 10
be. Without backing, without money.
outfit. or equipment, says he. L do
not see how DR.. Cook could have
reached the Pole, let alone his return
journey. If Peary. with the best
equipped expedition that ever pene-
trated northward, could not get within
hundred miles Of the world g apex I
cannot conceive how DR.. Cook has done
II on his nerve, so to speak
Spent Thousands.
The admiral does not know that 7
spent thousands and thousands Of dol
lars on this expedition. our ship was
as well equipped for an Arctic Journey
as any that ever left this country, yet
there are some persons who seem TO
think that I started for a fishing trip
and that the physician went up to the
Pole and back in straw hat We
never made move but what we knew
just what we were about
~ had Bob Bartlett. commander Of
the Roosevelt. Peary's ship, which was
then lying IN dry dock here in New
York to go with me to Gloucester and
look over our ship. Bob considered IL
safe a ship as ever left for the Arc
tie I engaged as captain his nephew,
Moses Bartlett. who had been first Of
iicer on the Roosevelt. The mate was
Nike Wise, and we had first-class
sailor in young Irish boy named
Kirby-as tough as nails. he was
we left Gloucester made a god trip
without hurrying too much, and got
INTO Melville bay. Now there are those
who seem to think that we ought to
have declared ourselves. 1t is not
necessary for ship bound for the Pole
to leave New York with a half dozen
men OF war following her ana brass
band playing all the way down TO the
Narrows Suppose we had found the
weather unpTOpiHous after our arrival
there. The newspapers would have
said that we got cold teet and came
back. Then, again, Mr.. Peary was IN
New York. trying 10 get flying start
and mending the boilers Of the ROOse-
welt. He was uEable 10 get enough
money 10 suit hilh just then.
Backed By Bradley.
IF the admiral wishes TO know whore
the Cook expedition got its backing
do not mind telling him that it was
John r. Bradley's bank account n New
York city. Mr.. Peary was about 10 60,
and IL he had obtained news as 70 our
purpose he might have been able 10
hurry considerably. especially as the
winter was coming. / wished 10 do a
little walrus hunting on my way north,
and that was another reason why we
did not wish 70 be hurried. and L found
some good hunting, at that
I'VE made our way into Melville bay.
got into the ice three times, nearly lost
the ship, and finally got out safe It
took us seven days 10 cross Melville
hay, which Is ll0 miles broad Now
tf,sf certainly shows that We must have
had some ship.
However stanch a vessel the Arctic
explorer may have IL must be always
kept in mind that once he is in the ice
he must do his work outside What is
a vessel frozen in but house, as far as
its use 10 the explorer Is concerned. He
does not have 10 take a department
store into the Arctic circle, because
when the final trial comes ne cannot
use any more material than can be made
available with dogs and SledS, with
which may be carried provisions and the
Few Instruments necessary 70 take the
observations. The important thing is
food The more food that can be car
rfed within the smallest space the
greater the chances Of success.
Minimized the Weight
MY expedition had the latest devices
for minimizing weight and at the same
time increasing efficiency. For instance,
knew OF an expedition several years
ago which carried FIVE or six brass
stoves weighiE- from sixteen to eight
cen pounds each. 20 be used with kerO-
sene OF oil for making tea. Our stoves
were made OF aluminium, their weight
was three pounds each and they did pre-
ciseIv the same work We got rid OF
twelve or fifteen pounds ON each stove
and without impaIring our efficiency got
rid OF as much unnecessary weight as a
dog can pull and had SO much more for
food.
i merely give this as an example Of
how the whole expedition was planned.
Not an ounce Of weight was wasted. An
enterprise like this has TO 20 on it's
stomach and we had plenty or food
hacked in tin cases for TRANSFORMATION
1--WE did not take Captain Bartlett in
10 our confidence In the matter of our
destination He was curious and inter-
ested at times.
Got enough pemmican here 10 feed