Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-03

NEW YORK. Sept. 2-''Single handed
and alone. Dr. Cook has apparently ae-
eompIished what hundreds Of more ex-
perienced and better equipped explorers
have been trying tor I'm vain for years. -
was the comment last night OF Herbert
L Bridgman. OF Brooklyn. secretary Of
the Peary Arctic club. and an intimate
friend OF DR.. Cook. when he was shown
the cable advices reporting that his
Brooklyn neighbor in succeeded in reach
ing the pole.
COOK AN AMATEUR.
Beside men like Peary." continued Mr.
Bridgman. who has himself taken a lead
ing part in several arctic expeditions dur
ing the past fifteen years. Cook is a
comparative amateur. He went north
merely as the surgeon of an expedition
and was left behind with a small store
Of supplies at his own request
He appears to have waited a favor
able time. and then when things looked
right. he pushed northward. accompanied
only By two Esquimaux. and depending
. FOR his supplies largely on the small
amount OF canned goods Ire could carry
and the musk OK. which he probably as
certained were plentiful along the route
he planned to take.
HIS RISKY CASH.
According 10 his last letters. he must
have left Etah. Greenland, his base.
about February q. 1895. Crossing to
Ellesmere Land. he reached Cape Thomas
Hubbard. on the edge OF the Polar Ice
SEA There he may have waited a few
days and isiG in a stock OF fresh meat.
Finally, when al was ready. on March
l. he took his two trusty Esquimaux
servants ana started On his risky dash
over she polar ice. sc miles TO the ulti-
nate north.
'He reached the pole. dispatches tell
-. on Aprn Il. averaging in the neigh
borhood CT IS miles a day II he travelled In
straight line. and making far higher
average. n. as is likely. he was COM
PEELED 10 so in = roundabout way.
AN IMPORTANT SECRETARY.
Somewhere in the hitherto unknown
north. Cook says he discovered land. II
correct. this Is one Of the most important
results OF his journey, ror heretofore
scientists have believed that all that re-
gion was sea From the time OF his
arrival Al the pole until today. we have
little but guess work on which to form
any theory as TO the movements Of
Cook. IL he made as good time on the
return trip as on his journey nOrthward.
he should have reached Cape Thomas
-ffubbard on May "a
From there he probably made his way
as rapidly as possible back across Elles-
ms-s Land TO Etah- There he must have
found members OF the party and report
ed 70 them the results OF his marvellous
trfr.
..ssFe are some long gaps of time TO
b accounted for IN DR.. COOKS move
ment, from the time OF his reaching the
pole to the receipt Of our news today
but anyone who has ever been in the
north can readily realize that there are
a thousand and one things which might
have Delayed him
1t IL rather remarkable that Dr. Cook
did not cable to his friends IN America
the news OF his accomplishment That
tie captain OF the Danish steamer was
the first TO report the news Is not par
ticuiarly remarkable as the captain is a
governn1ent official and would naturally
be expected to send a notice OF the
ashicvement TO his superTors.
THE ELEMENT OF LUCK.
-Dr. Cooks achievement shows how
largely the element OF luck enters into the
problem of Arctic exploration. II the
reports are correct he has accomplish
ed. almost without equipments or prep