The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-04
AMBITION MADE
COOK SUCCESSFUL
Having Won His Medical Degree. He
Jumped at The Chance to Go
North With Peary.

"eAtN WAsA a say
The man who has accomplished what
daring explorers for centuries have
striyen to do was known up in Sullivan
county, where he was born, a. a CALI
coon Dutchman,p and for years was a
partner in the milk business with his
bzrothor.
Or. Frederick Albert Cook, physician,
surgeon, scientist and explorer comes
of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, the fami-
" name having been Koch. His father,
DR.. Theodore Albert Cook, settled with
others Of the same stock near Collcoon
q station on the Erie railroad IN Snlli-
van county, and there DR.. Cook was
born forty-four years ago. His father
died when he was very young. He got
his first schooling IN the primitive
schoolhouse at Hortonvillye, two miles
from Callicoon, and later in the public
schools Of Brooklyn, to which his fami-
~ moved in his boyhood, and where he
has since lived when not trying 10 reach
the North Pole OF the South Pole, or
engaged in other scientific expeditions.
He got his degree Of NJ. ID. at the uni.
versity of New York in 1890 when
twenty-five years old.
Peary Cave Him First Chance.
From boyhood Dr.. Cook WIS interest
"a IN scientific explorations and III
1891, after struggling a year 70 build
up practice, jumped at the chance to
90 on TO the Far North as surgeon with
Peary. That one trip gave him the
Arctic fever and fired him with ambi-
ton to be The first man to reach the
North Pole
In 1894 DR. Cook was in charge Of an
expedition for scientific research along
The coasts Of Newfoundland. Labrador
and Greenland Ia the steamer Miranda.
The party included fifty-fonr scientists
and students. All that this expedition
planned was not accomplished an ac-
cident TO the Miranda forcing Il to re-
turn at a date earlier than had been
fixed.
The year 1s97-s.9 he spent on an
Antartie expedition on the ship Bel
gica, commanded by Capt Adrian de
gica drifted more than 1000 miles in
the ice fields The most southern point
reached while fast In the ice was 20
degrees. Much new land in Wendell
Sea was discovered and active vol
canoes seen.
Returning from his south polar trip,
Dr. Cook devoted himself TO geoguphi-
cal explorations in this country, his par.
ticular aim being to ascend Mount Nc
Kinley, the highest mountain in North
America and the most conspicuous Of
the Alaskan range. It Is 10000 feet
high, dome shaped and with two sum.
mits about two miles apart
In 1903 DR.. Cook made bis first at
tempt to scale Mount Mckinley, and
like all his predecessors, failed. He
reached height Of li,4o0 feet, little
more than half the way 70 the summit.
IN 1906 he made a second ana sue
cessful attempt, profting By the eX.
perience gained IN his first venture He
had 70 endure all manner Of har3ships
It was in 1892 that Or. Cook married,
His wife and to her belongs much
Of the credit of his achievements was
Miss Mary FideIi Hunt. They have
two children, both girls, Ruth and
Helen, who are seven and eight years
old respectively.
Mrs, Cook has contributed her share
TO the success Of her husband AZ an ex
plorer. Without complaint she has re
manned at home. caring for their chill
dren, while he has been away Her
anxiety and worry Tor his safety have
been most keen, as more than a year
has elapsed al times without her re
ceivine single word from him. Her
have not been confined TO
worry for his safety. The Cooks are
not rich The explorer has no fortune,
not even competence. Since he left
New York ia the summer Of 1907 Mrs.
Cook has had to bear not only the
strain Of not knowing whether her hus
band was dead or living, but also u
finding way for keeping the little
family together
DR. Cook has had many honors thrust
upon him for his achievements He has
been decorated with the Order Of Leo
pold of Belgium, with the gold medal Of
the Royal Society, Belgium, and with
the silver medal Of the Royal George
society. Belgium He Is member Of
the American National and Philadel
phia Geological societies and OF the
Kings County Medical society.