Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-09-10
He NEARLY STARVED
DR.. COOK TELLS OF SHORT
FOOD SUPPLIES.
President Taft Sends Congratulations
and Explorer Replies-King Freder-
lex Of Denmark Requests Call From
Cook While in Hunting Clothes-Is
Guest at Kings Banquet.

Copenhagen.-Dr. Cook drew a terri
BILE story of the one thing he said he
feared, death by starvation.
"On our return trip, he said, "our
supplies ran short. Scanning the face
of hammocked ice / saw black speci
on the edge of ridge driven up by
the grinding seas. Hurrying toward it
we discovered that it was the body of
dead seal, probably killed by being
caught in the ice jam. We did not stop
to find out how it was killed. Without
hesitation the Eskimos and myself cut
huge chunks from the fat sides of the
frozen seal and chewed it eagerly. 1t
had been dead some time, but was well
preserved by the cold
We slept night after night in snow
and ice huts built in the Eskimo
fashion, or in holes burrowed in the
ice. We encountered all the hardships
necessary.
"That is why the criticisms of men
| like Admiral Melville strike me as so
untrue. This expedition was careful.
ly planned. Every detail of provision.
| ing was attended to. We succeeded
because we were not hampered by an
overload of provisions, although that
fact came near meaning a fatal ending
of the expedition.
"When I plunged into the land of
eternal loneliness two years ago l ha1
but a faint hope of returning to my
friends in the good old United States
again. Yet I can say that with the
exception of the first days of the lone
| ly dash for the pole 1 experienced no
feeling of lOnesomeness or isolation.
I had no exciting dangers or, nerve
racking perils to keep me going. Only
the dull dread of slow, long drawn
out starvation in that icy desert.
That grew uncomfortably close to me
at times, but we managed to get
through.
~ learned that Lieutenant Peary
had started on another polar expedi-
ton from Eskimos whom l met on my
homeward journey. I hope he reaches
the pole. "
Fifty thousand dollars was the cost
of the Dr. Cook expedition, which made
its successful dash for the north pole,
according to an interview with the
American explorer.
Congratulated by Taft.
Beverly, Mass-President Taft Sat
urday made his first official comment
upon the reported discovery of the
north pole by Frederick A. Cook. In
answering a cablegram sent to him by
Dr. Cook reporting that he had reached
the coveted point, Mr.. Taft cabled his
warmest congratulations, declaring that
the pride of all Americans had been
stirred by the news and the report that
the battling feat had been accomplished
Iby an American citizen. The exchange
of cablegrams was as follows;
"eCopenhagen.-The President, White
House, Washington: have the honor
to report to the chief magistrate of the
United States thatI have returned, hav.
ing reached the north pole.
FREDERICK A. COOK"
Tart Congratulations,
"Beverly, Mass.-Frederick A. Cook
Copenhagen, Denmark: Your dispatch
received. Your report that you have
reached the north pole calls for my
heartiest congratulations and stirs the
pride of all Americans that this feat
which has so long baffled the world
has been accomplished by the intelli
gent energy and wonderful endurance
of a fellow countryman.
"WILLIAM H. TAFT. +"
Denmark Honors Discoverer.
Copenhagen.-Dr Frederick A. Cool
stepped from the steamer Hans EgedC
in Copenhagen harbor on the arms OF
ICrown Prince Christian of Denmark a
10 o'clock Saturday morning, unshorl
and looking like a sailor before thu
mast. He sat down to dinner at
O clock this evening in the city hall
the guest of brilliant company of thu
capitals most distinguished men ant
women, arrayed in evening dress, pro
vided by the kings tailor.
| Inc nOuIS UGGWCOh NClO INV DAoANH
of his life. Polar exploration neve
afforded anything half SO crowded
with variety and excitement. The.
were hours of speechmaking, hand
shaking, bowling to clamoring crowd
and then after addressing the people
who almost tore him to pieces in thei
eagerness to see the discoverer of tn
poIe, DR.. Cook was the recipient o
formal welcomes at the hotel where h
is the guest. There he passed throug
the hands of a tailor, outftters an
BARRIERS.
Visits King Frederick.
King Frederick received DR.. Cool
the American explorer, who reache
Copenhagen from Greenland, in privat
audience at $3.50 o'clock Saturday aft
ernoon.
The audience lasted half an houl
The queen and her three daughters
Princesses Ingeborg, Thyra and Dag
mar, were present.
DIR. Cook was presented to hi
majesty by Maurice F. Egan, the Amer
lean minister.
The reception accorded DR.. Cook q
the palace will, the explorer says, fol
| -. .o,.,o;, -, HE Ynarnorv % ono n