Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-09-15

the pole was my first expert
ence in the arctic regions,
though oil my life had longed to go
there aud get shot at polar bear,
walrus or musk OK. DR.. Cook, who
had become a noted arctic explorer,
and / had talked over such a trip and
the relation of his experiences in the
far north had stimulated my desire to
seek similar adventure. DR.. Cook
urged me to accompany him, but 1t
was not until after my trip to Moe-
golia In 1906 that I saw my way clear
to do so. We made our plans and de-
cided to start early In the summer Of
1907.
The first step was to secure q suit
able vessel. / bought a Gloucester
fishing schooner of Ill tons and had
her refltted, putting in a gasoline en-
CINE and having her sheathed above
and below the water line with three
inches of the best white oak, with
steel plates fore and after, to enable
her to withstand the pressure of the
pack ice. We rechristened her the
John r. Bradley, and 1 engaged Cap
tain Moses Bartlett, who had been first
officer Of the Roosevelt, Peary's arctic
ship, to navigate her with crew Of
Newfoundland fishermen.
A Boat on Runners.
For hunting purposes l had boat
specially built which could also be
dragged over the ice on runners should
this become necessary. She was twen-
ty-seven feet long and fitted with
ten horsepower gasoline engine, the
whole Weighing less than 1000 pounds.
We stocked the vessel with provisions
sufficient to last thirteen men for two
years.
Before we started DR.. Cook asked
me II would not like to make dash
for the pole. Such a project had not
occurred to me. and told him knew
very little about polar exploration, but
I consented to provide everything that
could be needed on such trip and to
allow DR.. Cook to remain in the north
through the winter and make a dash
for the pole next summer If the condi-
tons seemed favorable.
Everything being ready, we sailed
from Gloucester. We touched at Bat
tie Harbor, Labrador, and then crossed
Davis strait to the coast Of Greenland,
which we skirted as far north as Sisco.
Just before reaching this little port
our propeller had been disabled by the
ice, so we put In and beached the ship
for repairs. These completed. we sailed
for Melville bay, where 1 expected to
find some bears.
To Cape York For Dogs.
We pushed into the field as far as
possible and saw bears a-plenty, but
could not get near enough for shot,
They were on huge foes Of ice, and
before l could get within range they
always dived into the water and got
away. We had no Eskimo dogs, so we
could not hunt them In the way the
natives do. This decided us to get
some dogs, for which purpose we sailed
for Cape York, where we knew there
was an Eskimo settlement.
It took us seven days to reach Cape
York, for we were nipped by the fee
twice and were obliged to cut our
way out And when we did reach
there it was impossible to get ashore,
as the coast was icebound and the
weather was stormy. So we kept on
north until we reached North Star
bay, where we fred guns to attract
the natives. These Immediately put
out to the ship. padding the little
canoes they call kayaks, and In less
than an hour we had on board the
entire population of the town, con-
sisting Of thirty-fve Eskimos, men,
women and children. They were
healthy and evidently well fed lot
Here enjoyed some excellent walrus
shooting for three days. From there
we sailed for Etah. Peary's winter
quarters. touching on the way at sew
eral settlements. where we had more
good sport From the hills back Of
Etah we obtained fine view over
Smith sounG. In which there appeared
to be very little ice.
The Most Northerly People.
DR.. Cook. the first mate and left
the ship at Etah and went across
Smith SOUND in the motorboat. We
travelled as far as the most northerly
Eskimo settlements. which are in 70
degrees north latitude. and among
these most northcrly people we spent
several days, Dr.. Cook being able to
talk to the natives In their own Ian
guage and meeting several old friends
The greater number Of these people
returned to Etah with US. They had
dogs enough for any purpose, so every
thing was favorable for dash to the
pole. They had. however. already
cached their winter supply Of food. go
ye helped them to lay In another sup
MY. killing seal, walrus. narwhals and
white whales for them. while their
women busted themselves In catching
and curing birds and hares. with which
to make clothes. We took most OF
the natives and their dogs from Etab
to 10 degrees north latitude, which we
hod dacidnd should he DR. Cooks win