Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-09-25
FIFTH INsTALLMENT.
THE CONQUEST OF THE POLE.
Nv DR.. Frederick A, Cook.


Copyright 1909, by the New York
Herald Company Registered in Can
ada in accordance with the Copyright
Act Copyright in Mexico under the
laws of the Republic of Mexico. All
Rights Reserved)
Early in January of 1908 the cam
paign opened. A few sleds were sent
to the American shores to explore a
route and to advance supplies.
Clouds and storms made the moon
light DAYS dark and therefore these
advance expeditions were only partly
successful. :. % - tf.sf.+
on February 10, 1908. the main ex-
petition started for the pole. Eleven
men. driving one hundred and three
dogs and moving eleven heavily load
ed sieds, left the Greenland shore and
pushed westward, over the trouble
bine
The gloom OF the long winter night
was but little relieved by few hours
OF daylight and the temperature was
very low. ~
Eighty three Degrees Below.
Passing through a valley between
Ellesmere Land and Grinnell Land
from the head of Flagler, bay, in cross
ing to the Pacific slopes, the temper
AZURE fell to SO degrees below zero
Fahrenheit
In Bay nord many musk oxen were
secured and though the winter frost
was at its lowest there was little wind,
and with an abundance OF fresh meat
and also fat for fuel the life in the
snow house proved fairly comfortable.
The ice in Eureka and Jones sounds
proved fairly smooth, and long march
es were made, with an abundance of
game. musk OK, bear and hares. We
found ii quite unnecessary to use the
supplies taken from Greenland. Caches
Of provisions and ammunition were
left along Heiberg island for the re-
turn.
Willing Savage Hands.
This we managed to keep in game
trails, and in excellent fighting trim
to the end of known lands. Canning
In the chill of the frowning cliffs of
the northernmost coast (Svarteyog)
We looked out over the heavy ice of
the polar seas through eyes which
had been hardened to the worst polar
envir5nments. -
= There was at hand an abundance of
supplies. with willing savage hands,
and a superabundance of brute force
in overfed pelts, but for greater GER
tainty of action over the unknown re-
gions beyond resolved to reduce the
force to the smallest numbers con-
sistent with the execution of the prob
lem in hand.
We had travelled nearly four hun
drcd miles in twenty eight days.
There remained a line Of Ave hundred
and twenty miles of unknowable -trou-
BILE to be overcome before our goal
could be reached. For this final task
we were provided with every cOhcefv-
able device to ease this hard lot. but
In addition to q reduced party, / now
definitely resolved to simplify ne en-
tire equipment. At Svartevog a big
cache was made. In this cache fresh
er food, together with all discarded
articles Of equipment, were left.
In the northward advance every fac-
tor of the dog train had been carefully
watched and studied to provide per-
feet working force for the final reach
over the Polar sea. Etukishuk and
Ahwelah, two young Eskimos, each
twenty years old, had been chosen as
hest fitted to be my sole companions
in the long run Of destiny. Twenty
SIX dogs were picked and upon two
sleds were loaded all our needs for a
stay of eight days.
All for Progress.
To have Increased this party would
NOT nave endDleu US 10 Gritty supplies
for q greater number of days. The
sleds might have been loaded more
heavily, but this would reduce the
important progress of the first days
With the character of the ice which
we had before us, advance stations
we're impossible. A large expedition
and a heavy equipment seemed inn
Dwudent. We must win or lose in
prolonged effort at high pressure. and,
n
Of adaptability to a changing envir-
onment must be assured.
II Is impossible to adequately con-
troll the complex human temperament
of unknown men in the polar wilder
ness. but the two Eskimo boys could
be trusted to follow to the limit of
my own endeav9rs, and our sleds
were burdened only with absolute ne
ceRsities.
Because Of the importance of
light and efficient equipment, much
care was taken to eliminate every
ounce of weight. The s1eds were made
Of hickory the lightest wood consist
emit with great endurance, but every
needless fiber was gouged out. The
iron shoes were ground thin. and in
every way the weight of nearly every
thing was reduced even after leav-
ing headquarters.
What the Little Train Carried.
The little train. therefore, which
followed me into the further mystery
was composed OF two sleds, each car
rying six hundred pounds. drawn by
thirteen dogs, under the lash of an ex-
pert driver. The combined freight
was as follows; Pemmican, sos
pounds; musk OK tenderloin, so
pounds: todnu. rs pounds: tea. 2
pounds; coffee, pound; sugar, %
pounds: condensed milk. 40 pounds;
milk biscuits. so pounds; pea SOUP
powdered and compressed. 70 pounds;
surprises, pounds: petroleum, 40
pounds; wood alcohol 2 pounds; can
dies, pounds: matches. pound.
The Camp Equipment.
The camp equipment included the
following articles l. blow fire lamp
(JeueD, 3 aluminium pals, 3 aluminium
cups, aluminium teaspoons, 1 table
spoon. 3 tin plates, 8 pocket knives, 2
butcher knives 90. inches), / saw
knife ;sIs inches) 1 long knife Q5
inchesD. ] rife (Sharps9, a, rife win
chester. az, 10 cartridges, ! hatchet.
] Alpine axe, extra line and lashings,
s personal bags.
The .sied equipment was 2 sleds,
81 pounds each: ~ foot fold
Ing canvas boat, "a pounds; l silk tent,
2 canvas sled covers sleeping bags
(reindeer skim, floor fHrs, extra wood.
sor sled repairs, screws nails and
Fivets .Hr~<s4 q 49,.
The Instruments we're a. follows: