The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-09-23

The Copenhagen authorities had OBJ
tanned their information In a dispatch
from Lerwick. Scotland, which also re-
lated that DR.. Cook was returning from
the polar seas on the steamship Hans
Egede. bound for Denmark.
Dr. Cook, who was surgeon Of the
FIRST Peary arctic expedition and who
Is a mountain climber Of wide expe
rience, disembarked from the auxil
larry schooner yacht John r. Bradley
on Aug. % with his supplies at Etah,
on Smiths sound, latitude 70 degrees
north and about $50 miles from the
pole Smiths sound is at the north
crn extremity of Baffin bay. His idea
was to winter somewhere In this gen.
eral section and early in the spring
cross Ellesmere Land and push onward
and 'northward to the pole across the
desolate polar sea, whence few men
ever returned to tell the tale.
Provisions. clothing and ammunition
sufficient for two years were taken
ashore from the Bradley. The adven-
turer's party consisted of one other
white man and about a dozen Eski-
mos. Mrs. Cook. the explorers wife.
accompanied him as far as Etah.
A Secret Expedition.
The Cook expedition was largely q
secret one. Mr.. Bradley. having a
burning desire to have DR.. Cook out
strip Peary to the pole, insisted that
no chance should be taken of letting
Peary get wind Of the venture. In
his opinion. Peary. who was already
within striking distance of Etah.
would hasten his own operations if he
heard of Cooks plans and probably
secure all the available dogs at Etah.
so that Cook would be unable to start
over the ice on his sledges. For
those reasons" says Mr.. BradleS we
prepared our expedition very quietly
and got in on the ground foor."
On his return to North Sydney from
Etah on his yacht Mr. Bradley stated
the situation, the chances and the
plans Of Cook as follows:
From the polar sea there will be
only two sturdy Eskimos and their
mere Land three families of huskies
will go with the party. establishing
three stations along the route. The
idea of taking more on the jaunt
across the ice fields does not meet
with our approval for various reasons.
The party will leave 20 north lati-
tude In Smiths sound and from there
Will
reach the pole by the polar sea. This
means a journey of over GOO miles.
but for various reasons, which | do
not care to speak about at present.
feel convinced Dr. Cook will land the
pole successfully
Unlike the Peary expedition, DR.,
Cook has taken only two sleds. each
built with roofs, enabling the party
to sleep In them while pushing for
ward. The sleds are equipped with
lamp stoves and other contrivances
Two canvas boats also form a part of
the outfit. These will be used in cross
Ing leads, thereby saving valuable
time and cutting short the journey.
Dr. Cook once accompanied Peary on q
pole hunting trip. He has spent con-
siderable time in making preparations
for the present expedition and goes
with every known element of help"
The last word received from Dr.
Cook after the yacht Bradley's de-
parture was dated polar sea, March
Ia. and reached Annootok by special
Eskimo messenger. The message sent
to Rudolph Francke, one Of the original
party, who had returned to Annootok
for supplies. was as follows:
I'll Make Desperate Attempt"
To the present we have seen nothing OF
Croker Land. and am taking a straight
course for the pole. The boys are doing
Wen. and / have plenty Of dogs I hope
10 succeed. At any rate. will make
desperate attempt