Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-02
NEWPORT NEWS VA. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER ?. 1909.

cured 10l musk oxen, seven bears
and 335 hares. We pushed out into
the Polar sea from the southern point
of Herbert Island on March is Six
Esquimaux returned from here. With
four men and - dogs. moving sup
plies for eighty days. the crossing or
the lrium- polar pack was begun.
Three days later two otner EsQui-
maux forming the last supporting
party. returned and the trials had now
been reduced by the survival OF the
fittest. The two best men and 26 dogs
were picked for the final effort.
There before US in an unknown
line of 400 miles lay our goal. The
first days provided long marches ana
We made encouraging progress. A
big lead which separated the lana
from the ice of the central pack was
crossed with little delay. The low
temperature was persistent and the
winds made life n torture. But coop
ed M in our snow houses. eating
dried beef tallow and drinking hot
tea. there were some animal COM
forts occasionally to be gained.
For several days after the sight OF
known land was lost the overcast sky
prevented an accurate determination
of our positions. On March 80 me
horizon was partly cleared and new
land was discovered Our observa-
tions gave our positions as latitude
SAT-. longitude S6.36. There was ur-
gent need of rapid advance.
A Step From Midday to Midnight.
with a single step we could pass
frcm one side OF the earth to the 9TH
or side from midday to midnight. AL
last the flag foated 10 the breeze ana
at the pole. II was Aprh 81. 1908.
The temeparture was minus SO CEN
trigrade, barometer. 2e.S5; latitude,
90; as for longitude 1t was nothing
as II was but word. Althoagh
crazy with JOY. our spirits began to
undergo feeling of WEAKNESS. Next
day after taking all our observations
a sentiment OF intense solitude pene-
trated MS while we looked al the hori-
zon. Was it possible that this desc
late region. without a patch OF eartn'
had aroused the ambition of so many
men for so many centuries! There
was no ground. only an immensely OF
dazzling white snow no living 'hing'
no point to break the frightful monet
ony
ION April % we started on our re-
turn"
Laconie Message to New York.
NEW YORK, Sept. 1.-"Successtui.
Well. Address copenhagen.
(SignetJ FRED.
Full of meaning If 'successtul
were interpreted TO indicate tnat ne
had reached the north pole, the fore
going cable message, exasperating IN
its briefness, was received III New
York today from DR.. Frederick A
Cook. the American explorer, whom
the latest cable advices tonight credit
with having accomplished what no
man ever did.
The message was sent not to any
scientific society nor to any OF mis-
associates Interested in his expedition
from a scientific viewpoint, but -
his wife who has been counting the
days and hours and praying for his
safety since his departure from this
city on July 4. 1907.
Mrs. Cook Not at Home.
But by chance Mrs. Cook was not
at her Brooklyn home, but spending
the summer at Harpswell, Maine, so
the dispatch was received by DIR. X.
T. Davidson, a personal friend Of the
explorer. who made its contents
! known, then flashed the good news on
70 Mrs. Cook
Brief as it was it was the first
news that she had had from her IN
trend husband since March II. 1908,
when he wrote from Cape Hubbard,
on the edge OF the Polar ice sea, on
the northwest side OF Ellesmere Land
At that time he advised his compan-
ion. Rudolph FRANKIE, then stationed
al Etah Greenland. with supplies. 20
wait there until June for his return,
hut in the event Ct DIT. Cooks failure
to appear to proceed to America
FRANKIE waited as instructed. but
as DR.. Cock failed 10 come back, ne
caught the Peary auxiliary ship and
, reached New York last fall. Since
that time DIT. Cooks whereabouts
have been a mystery, although mem
bcrs Ct the Arctic Climb in this city.
viewing the situation optimisticaiiy.
, we're inclined TO think that he nah