Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-06
CAPTAIN OF ARCTIC STEAMER
MAKES PUBLIC LETTER
Written to Him by Dr.. Cook on May 20
and Delivered on Sept. at Uper-
navik--Trip to the Pole and Return
Described.

Ottawa, Ont, Oct. Captain Ber-
nier of the Canadian steamer Arctic
to-day made public letter written to
him by DR.. Frederic. ). Cook ON May
2S and delivered to Captain Bernier on
Sept. l at Upernayik, Greenland. The
letter opens:
Captain Bernier's Relief Efforts.
my Dear Captain: 1 have to write
you the first letter after being sealed
behind ice barriers for two years. It
was your supplies so kindly left in
charge of Mr.. Whitney which aided me
greatly in getting to Upernavik. All
my other property had been taken by
Peary under the guise of a relief sta
, tion for DIR. Cook. Murphy, the man
in charge of the station, however. was
instructed not to engage in any relief
efforts, not to allow Eskimos to cross
and search until March of the follow
ing year. 1909. My large store OF sup
Plies and my station was used for bar
ter with natives to satisfy Peary's COM
mercial greed. Fortunately we were
able to work out our problem without
relief efforts except such as you offer
ed We have. pushed into the sboreal.
center and picked up the polar prize,
but the effort was dangerous beyond
conception.
THE splendid assistance which Won
have given and the liberality of the
Canadian government is sending the
ship is happy contrast to the hin
drance and injustice of one of my own
ccuntrymen.Y
Journey to the Pole Described.
Describing the journey to the pole,
DIR Cook says:
Starting from Annootok on Feb. 10.
1908, we crossed Ellesmere Land. |
pushed along it's western coast to the
polar seas, feeding ten Eskimos and
lOS dogs en- route on musk oxen and |
bears.
From 50 north I started with but |
two young Eskimos and rs dogs pulling |
two sleighs and supplies for so days, |
The Ice was fine after crossing "a de- |
grees. Crockers Land was sighted and |
passed and new land found to the
north of 1T, extending IS degrees. Be
Gond no land was seen. The pole was
reached April 81, 1908
Situation Almost Hopeless on the Re-
turn Trip.
The return was forced slightly west
ward on the northward route. but
about So degrees we drifted east and
south. Below S4 We had drifted with
In active pack. We were helplessIv
'arried to the west unable to reach
'ur caches along Nansen's sound. We
we're pushed into Prince Gustave sea
WITH food and fuel exhausted. Still
Unable to press eastward. we went with
ne ice to the south; food and fuel now
xhausted. Polar bears came TO oiIr
eScue as life savers. We then went
rto Wellington channel, hoping to be
Die TO reach whalers in Lancaster
ound, but we were soon stopped by
d'hng FOOD supplies and young small
ce. With no game this short route to
N GArlV shin l..
nd to satisfy the pangs OF, hunger we
,orKed TO Jones' sound. Here after a
1lig run Of hard adventure by boat and
iedge a cruel necessity forced us into
inter camp in September at Cane !
parbo without fuel or food. ammuni- [
on or winter clothing, with no dogs.
0 guns. Our situation was almost / |
opeless but fortune came our way.
.lws and arrows, harpoons, lances and I
lher implements were made The e
lusk oxen and bear were taken with {
fec. The lance and knife, secured {
5 small game Foxes were trapped. s
elrUses and seals attacked and Sc q
,'ed in our little folding canvas boat.
n underground dam was built and the c
inter OF l9Os-o9 passed with a taste c
everything save fresh meat. t
Peary's Men Misased Supplies. n
For we had not.a morseI of civilized :
'oo' not even salt. new equipment :,
"s devised and as soon as the sun !.
1909 rose over the hills of North :
even we started for Annootok in =
ebruary 1903. dragging dried musk y
Ken meat as food and melted tallow :
! fuel for thirty days on our sleigh.
eep snow. bad ice, open water and
'2tinued storm made the return slow
ID arduous. We reached Annootok
tel a run Of hard luck on April 5.
ere we We're met by Whitney, only to
ID that Peary's men had misused the
alton with its equipment. Under the
otection of Mr. Whitney we enjoyed n
'od health at all times =
Eg