Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-03


man whose recent explorations In the
Antartic, during which he succeeded in
pushing nearer to the south pole than
had any previous explorer, made him
a figure of worldwide prominence.
Members of the Arctic Club hope that
President Taft may himself be present
to welcome DR.. Cook.
"Such an honor would be no more
them fitting" one of them declared TO-
day, Gin view of the fact that the ex-
plorer has placed the Stars and Stripes
on the apex of the world, and added
almost continent to the nations ter
ritory"
Explorers to Attend.
Among the explorers who are expect
ed to take prominent part in the
welcome to DIR. Cook are the Duke Of
the Abruzzi, DR.. Fridtjof Nansen, Cap
tain Roald Amundsen, Gen. A., w.
Greedy, Rear Admiral George Melville
Anthony Fiala of this city and Capt.
Joseph e. Bernier.
No definite date has yet been set for
DR.. Cooks arrival here. Capt. Bradley
S. Osbon, secretary of the Arctic Club,
said tonight that the explorer is not
expected for several weeks.
HE is due in Copenhagen in three
days." says Captain Osbon, "and if he
came straight home would arrive in
New York about the middle of Septen-
Der, but his friends believe that he
may make several stops on the way
home. For one thing, the geographers
and scientists Of Copenhagen will ten
der him welcome. He may go TO
Christiana to meet Captain Amundsen,
the discoverer of the northwest pas
sage; it is likely that he will visit Bel
giurn, where he has been decorated for
his services to science, and it is
scarcely conceivable that the British
geographical societies would allow him
to pass them by on his way home
without an invitation to London"
Francke Confirms Cook.
Facts concerning the supplies and
equipment of DR.. Cook given by Ru-
dolph Francke, who helped prepare
them for the final dash to the pole
and who was the last white man who
saw Dr. Cook before his departure. tend
further to substantiate the story of the
discovery.
Francke was a steward on the yacht
Of John r. radley and when volun-
teers were asked to stay with the ex-
plorer at Arastock, he was selected by
the physician himself out of five vol
unteers. Francke is stalwart German
Of the Brunswick province, and on ac-
count of his strength and endurance it
was believed that he could we'll with
stand the rigors of a polar winter. He
is well-educated and intelligent man
DIR. Cook, however, at the last
thought it better that Francke, who
had started with him to the north
should return to the winter headquar-
ters, there to guard the supplies from
depredations. Later, pursuant to furth-
er instructions, Francke came back to
this country when DIR. Cook did not re-
turn on the following June. He had
taken leave of the explorer on March
8, 1908, at which time DR.. Cook had
been four days on his way to the pole
Sure Story is True.
81 am thoroughly convinced" saiG
Francke, "in reading the accounts
cabled byssDr. Cook, that every wort
which he has sent is absolutely true
and that he has indeed discovered the
pole lived with him for months, help
ed him in preparing his outfit, and con-
stantly saw how he acted in his rela-
tions with men of all classes. When he
says a thing he means it. He never
makes any statement which he can MOI
prove; he never gives promise which
he does not keep.
Some of the critics intimate thai
DR.. Cook would not have known he was
at the north pole when he got there
The physician made the observations
for the navigation of the Bradley, otter
determining the position Of the vesse
for the captain, and he had been prac.
ticing with all kinds Of scientific in.
struments before that time. When the
call for volunteers came gladly Of
fered to go, and felt pleased and com.
plimented at being chosen.
| 1--WE disem barked at Anaotok on Aug
27. The therm ometer was then 28 de-
grees above zero and the air was filled
with mist. The supplies for DIR. Cook
all packed in boxes especially made fol-
| that purpose, were taken ashore In
the launch and in dingies, and they
were landed with difficulty.
Build House Of Boxes.
1--WE were much exposed to the
weather for two days until we COM
pleted house, which was CONSTRUCTED
Of the packing boxes, and the colo
was kept from entering thru any
chinks 10y the snow covering later and
by blankets on the inside.
when anything was needed in The
l,way Of supplies, all we had to do was
to open hole in the wall. AS soon az
pr. Cook was settled in his arctic
quarters he began to make prepara'
tions for his dash to the pole.
"He had brought from the yacht {
quantity of hickory wood from which
we built the sledges after his own de.
sign. They were twelve feet long ant
about three wide and designed so tina,
they balanced evenly. They were light
yet we'll supported and braced witt
steel and shod with iron. Right here
want to say that DIR. Cook is skill
full sled builder. Many week W,
worked on those sleds, steaming ant
bending the runners and testing then
the arctic with better sleds than these
They were adapted IN every way t.
carry heavy loads, and yet they coult
be drawn at high speed. I speak o
this as one Of the details which mad
for the. success of the expedition an,
as showing how DR.. Cook planned TO
his final dash.
j Choice Dogs Selected.
\ "He also selected and trained tn
best dogs. They might well be calle'
fancy dogs for they were the choices
Of the breed he could ret. They wer
fed on the choicest food and with reg
ularity. They received their rations q
night, and .bountiful ones, as they ha
only one meal in twenty four hours