The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-02
DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE

OISOONExf61 OE' HOlLE
Scientists and geographers all over
the world are worked up to the high
est pitch of excitement over the re-
ported discovery of the North Pole by
II DR.. Frederick A. Cook, the American
explorer The fact that the event
took place in April Of last year does
| not dampen the ardor of these wise
men in the least and they will go
| ahead and cast up new longitudinal
| circles and evolve theories and make
| measurements and take reckonings
| until the sum total of their calcula-
lions will result in maze that would
| drive an average man crazy if ne at
| tempted to follow them to the end.
To the ordinary citizen who sells
soap or spectacles for a living, or
| works in shop or store or office the
discovery of the pole will have no
vital interest. 1t will not reduce the
cost of living nor will it offer any at
fractions as a new field for active en-
deavor. DIR. Cook has won a ten line
notice in the encyclopedias and is
therefore sure of a place in history.
He will have medals pinned on his
chest by a score of scientific societies,
will occupy a lot of magazine space
and finally land on the chautauqua
platform.
For nearly five hundred years men
have sought the pole. In 1897 the
two Cabots, John and Sebastian, fitted
out the first polar expedition. and
every ten years on an average, since
that time. men have left their happy
homes and sailed into the northland
in quest of this imaginary top-piece
of the earth; this capsheaf of mys-
1,fe II no 1n1nPI< all
scientific puzzles. But the ice and
storm and darkness and famine of
the north guarded their treasure sue
cessfully for five centuries. Then
along comes this man from Brooklyn
without flourish of trumpets or par
ticular preparation, and taking with
him a few Esquimaux and many
dogs. makes a dash across seven
hundred miles of ice and the thing is
done.
The men who have sought the pole
form long muster roll of knights as
foolhardy as Don Quixote charging the
windmills. There were F'robisher, Bar |
entz Henry Hudson, Hearne, Cap.
Cook Sir John Franklin, Ross. Parry, |
Dr.. Kane, Forsythe, Anderson. Greedy, |
Peary, Abruzzi and score Of other
practically known to fame in less de- |
gree. Most of these men however. were |
searching for each other. One expedl- |
ton would be prepared and started TO-
the pole and then five others were sent |
out to find the first one. The Ill fated
expedition of Sir John Franklin is we'll
known to the world. He sailed In two
ships into the northern seas among
the ice foes and all the blood and |
brains and energy and treasure of two
great nations could not wrest the story
of his fate from the reluctant lips of
the snow and the ice and the darkness
1t is not yet positively determined
that DR.. Cook reached the pole. He is
still in the northland and has sent
messages of his success to civilization,
but there are no authentic details. The
world had just about settled back TO
let the pole alone. 1t had done its duty
in supporting the earth for several
thousand years and at this time there
appeared no pressing need of Its dis
covery, so the problem had attracted
little attention for several years aside
from Walter Wellman's little advertis-
ing venture. In fact, science had turn
ed it's attention to getting in toucn
with Mars as a much easier PROPOSE
ton.
Still. Americans will have every right
to feel proud of the achievement OF
their countryman, even though no ma
terfal value or gain can be evolved from
his discovery. The most adventurous
spirits of all the nations of the civilized
world, backed by the strength and gold
of their governments. have tried for
five centuries to find the pole. 1t has
heen a national cuest, a labor of Her
cules, an impossibihty, a fight with ma
ture at her worst. a forlorn hope. TO
science the accomplishment of this
prodigy is as wonderful as the success
full quest of Ponce De Leon for his
of eternal youth would have
been in those days of superstition. 1t
is almost past belief that DR.. Cook
should have accomplished this incredi-
Bile thing No quest since the world
stood has required such fortitude or ex-
acted such toll of suffering as that of
travelling over ice fields as rough and
broken as a mountain range, of sitting
still for months in a prison of ice, of
facing perpetual darkness. of struggling
forward into clouds of snow while
wracked by famine and enervated by
the bitter, piercing cold of terrible
temperature. And the only goal for
this unheard of suffering and hardship
a rainbow of delusion somewhere ahead; |
a butterfly that always eluded the net;
a treasure somewhere in the bottom of
the sea- Nowhere else in the world
have men endured as much for a GER
tain goal and a sure reward as they
have in the northland for an imaginary
pole that marked the apex of the earth's
axis.
Everybody will breathe sigh