The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-22
RASMUSSEN SAYS
COOK FOUND POLE
DECLARES EsKIMos or THE FAR
NORTH HAVE CONFIRMED
THE EXPLORERS STORY.


Copenhagen, Oct GAIN letter 20
his wife Knud Rasmussen tells OF
meeting DIR. Cook and relates how he
| got to the pole.
The letter is dated Julianehtib,
Greenland, Sept. rs, and says:
THE last post from Denmark tells
that there has been some surprise
among my countrymen that have not
sent any statement to civilization
about my Impressions of DR. Cooks
north pole trip / therefore hasten to
take this opportunity. which is afford
ed me by the accidental meeting OF
the steamer Expedit to send my opin-
ion to Denmark
Il was on a voyage in Umanak bay.
North Greenland when Cook passed
Umanak going by way OF Edges
minde, where he was going to wait for
the steamer Hans Egede to take him
to Copenhagen,
Just before / left from Hugasnak
on July 19, | wrote letter to Cook,
the contents OF which was as follows:
MY heartiest congratulations on
your happy north pole journey. Your
victory is the greatest In the history of
Arctic explorations, and will bear its
reward in itself, but great victories al
ways bring envy to the daylight, and
you will on your return have to reckon
with big fight with the always ready
doubters.
"T therefore, mean to be a great help
to you If / can When / am visiting
the polar Eskimos at Cape York will
take a thorough interview with your
companions IL happen 10 meet them.
In order to help me In getting the In
terview as complete as possible. ask
you TO give a short resume of your
journey before you leave Greenland.
and ask you to send these TO Uma-
max by the Hans Bgede-'
What Esl<imos Know.
After talking with DR.. Cook de-
cided that a defense from me would
be out Of place.
but now, after the information
which have from the newspapers, I
think the moment has come to speak.
My report will be supplemented when
/ arrive at Copenhagen at the begin
ming OF November.
1.-THE polar Esximos are, OF course,
not able to tell IL Cook has only been
on the way to the pole or II he has
really reached the Goth degree, but
them we can get a lot Of de-
tails which, together, have value. AS
for instances:
''The start Of the expedition and the
route taken over the ice.
"How far the expedition mas been
from land.
IF there were any special obstacles
which hindered going further at the
point Cook called the pole.
1.-THE equipment of Cook and the
two men at the start
Friends of Cooks Eskimos assert
that the expedition had good ice and
good weather and that the ice became
better the farther they went out on
the polar sea.
Travelled Far From Land.
How far has the expedition been
from the shore? The Eskimos of
course, cannot give the distance in fig-
ures, but they tell that the journey
over the ice field from the shore ex.
tended so long that the sun began to
appear, stood high on the sky and at
asst didn't appear at ALL so that it
vas almost summer before they reach
ID land again.
"The two Eskimos have told how
nGy OH the way DdCk were prevented
" deep crevasses in the ice from GO
ng to Heiberg's land, where they had
lepots, and that was the reason they
vent to North Devon.
Cooks statement about how they
rot over the winter, fighting musk
ken and walrus without ammunition.
-lso are correct.
ITO sum up. the Eslimos think that
'ook reached the pole, and that he,
Turing the voyage showed great nerve
nd energy. The Eslximos are glad
hat the pole has been discovered, as
he many expeditions which, during
he last years, have been sent to their
egions, took away from the tribe theft
est men.
"They are at the same time proud
( Itookashoo and Ahpelah, as IT is
heir conviction that Cook would never
ave reached the pole without them.
"-Knud Rasmussen"