Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-09-10
POLE The SIZE
OF 25-CENT.P|ECE
Or. COOK RETURNS AND BRINGS
AMPLE PROOF OF HIS
DISCOVERY.
ONLY III BELOW ZERO
NOTHING BUT ICE ABoUNDS AND
ANIMAL LIFE UNKNOWN
THERE.

"The last stretch was the easiest l
ever made in my life. although l had
still to make two observations. and
the ice was very broken here. But my
spirits were high and shouted like
a hoy. The Eskimos looked at one
another surprised at my gayety. They
did not share my Joy.
Il felt ought to be there. made
my last observation and found that
was standing on the pole.
my feelings-well, l was too tired
really to feel any sensation. I'planted
the Stars and Stripes in the ice field,
and my heart grew warm when l saw
1t wave in the wind.
How does the North pole look? was
asked.
WELL" said DR.. Cook, smiling. ut
amounts to about the size OF a 25-cent
piece. There is nothing to see but
ice: no water: only ice. There are
more holes there than at the eighty
seventh degree. which shows there is
more movement and drift here: but
this and other observations made
| stopped two days at the pole. and
assure you 1t was not easy to say good.
by to the spot.
Perhaps" the explorer added. dryly.
Il should have stayed there longer.
had It not begun to freeze US in our
idleness. The Eskimos were uneasy.
and the dogs howled fearfully. On
April 23. therefore, I again turned my
nose southwark, which was much
easier. as you can not turn your nose
In any other direction"
Copenhagen. Sept. "a newspaper
correspondent who went on board
the Hans Egede. the sturdy steamer
which Is bringing DIR. Frederick A.
Cook back to civilization. sent the
following story OF his meeting with the
discoverer OF the north pole to the
newspapers here:
As the steamer Hans Egede
steamed by I caught a vision Of a
small man In n dark suit and peaked
cap. shading his eyes with his hands.
as II straining to see the welcome
civilization after years In Icy exile.
It was DR.. Cook. the explorer. whose
name is on every tongue. He was
chatting with the captain on the
bridge. now smiling. now waving his
hands. I was allowed to board the
Hans Egede.
Somebody gave DR.. Cook
bouquet. Tears dimmed his eyes as
hc buried his face In their fragrance.
Its years since have seen
flowers said the explorer. with a
culver Of emotion in his voice.
Il followed him to the cabin. His
fnn In
looked the picture OF splendid health.
Only when he smiled one noticed the
loss OF two teeth. a fight with a
polar bear did that he said. You
can tell the world the explorer con-
tIhued. that ! am in better condition
than at any time. and look forward
with an appetite to the festivities
that are promised me. My dinner has
been poor these last few years, and
I shall have to make up for IT.
'.Dr. Cook then briefly described his
Journey. Regarding his discovery. DR..
Cook said:
Then came April 81. That was
the great day. We looked for the
sun. As soon as we got 1t. made
So, eral observations. Great Joy came
over US. We were only sixteen miles
from the desired spot. I said to my
self. Bully for Frederick" Then we
| went on"
The correspondents story quotes
DR.. Cook rs saying In conclusion:
Say that the day we reached our
provisions stores at Etah was a
greater day than April 81. long to
get back to civilization to move
among my fellow men: long to press
| my wife to my heart. I am the hap
pisst man living. Tell the whole
world I thank God I am back"
The explorer ascribed his success to
the fact that he made use Of the old
methods. namely Eskimos and dogs.
and that he lived like an Eskimo him
self
The lowest temperature recorded
was So degrees centigrade I17
| FahrenheiD below zero.
II have ample proof that reached
tho North pole In the observations I
took. which afforded certain means
OF checking the truth OF my state
| ments.
Although am proud Of my
ao achievement In planting the American
flag at the North pole. I look with
much greater pride to the fact that
travelled around more than 10000
square miles OF hitherto unknown
ground. and opened up an entirely
fresh field OF exploration DR.. Cook
said he had seen nothing Of the
Peary expedition