Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-03
DR.. COOK MAY WISH
HE WERE BACK AT
THE NORTH POLE
Continued from Page one.)

1
tegrity of DR.. Cook, and are disposed
10 accept his declaration of success
without qualification.
1 Tells of Preparations.
New York, Sept 3.-Facts concern
ing the supplies and equipment of Dr..
Cook given by Rudolph Francke who
helped prepare them for the final d.,s
10 the pole and who was the last white
man who saw DR.. Cook before his de-
parture, tend further TO substantiate
the story of the discovery.
Francke was steward on tie yacht
of John r. Bradley and when volun-
teers were asked to stay with the ex-
plorer at Arastoek. he was selected
by the physician himself out of five
volunteers. Francke is a stalwart Ger
man OF the Brunswick province and
on account of his strength and endur-
ance it was believed that he could well
withstand the rigors of polar winter.
He is well educated and inta!llgen.
man.
DIR. Cook, however, at the last
thought ii better that Francke. WHO
had started with him to the north,
should return to the winter headquar-
tiers. there TO guard the supplies from
ldepredations. Later, pursuant to fur
Their instructions, Francke came back
TO this country when Dr. Cook did not
return on the following June. He had
taken leave of the explorer on March
IS. 1908. at which time DR. Cook had
been four days on his way to the poe
Sure story Is True.
Il am thoroughly convinced said
Francke, in reading the accounts
cabled by DR.. Cook, that every word
which he has sent is absolutely true
and that he has indeed discovered the
pole. lived with him for months
helped him in preparing his outfit. ana
constantly saw how he acted in his
relations with men of all classes
When he says thing he means it. He
never makes any statement which he
cannot prove; he never gives IA prom
Use which he does not keep.
Some of the critics intimate thar
DR.. Cook would not have known he
was at the north pole when he got
there. The physician made the OBJ
servations for the navigation of the
Bradley. often determining the position
OF the vessel Tor the captain, and he
had been practicing with all kinds OF
scientific instruments before that time
When the call for volunteers came
gladly offered to go. and felt pleased
and complimented at being chosen.
I'VE disembarked at Anaotok on
Aug. % The thermometer was then
2S degrees above zero and the air was
filled with mist The supplies for D.
Cook. all packed in boxes especially
made for that purpose. were take !
Iashore in the launch and in diHgies.
and they were landed with difficulty.
Build House of Boxes.
I'VE were mitch. exposed to the
weather for two days until we com
ipleted a house, which was construct ad
of the packing boxes. and the cold was
kept from entering through any chinks
by the snow covering later and BY
blankets on the inside.
when anything was needed iii the
way of supplies. all we had to do was
TO open a hole in the wall As sooG
as DR.. Cook was settled in his arctic
quarters he began TO make prepare
tions for his dash to the pole
He had brought from the yacht a
quantity of hickory wood. from which
we built the sledges after his own de-
sign. They were u feet long and
about three wide and designed so that
they balanced evenly. They were
light yet well supported and braced
with steel and shod with iron Right
here l want to say that DR.. Cook is q
skillful sled builder. Many a week We
worked on those sleds, steaming and
bending the runners and testing them
in every way. No one ever went 10
the arctic with better sleds than
these. They were adapted in every
way 10 carry heavy loads, and yet they
could be drawn at higJ speed. speak
of this as one of the details which
! made for the success of the expedi-
ton and rs showing how Dr. Cook
} planned for his final dash.
Choice Dogs Selected.
HE also selected and trained the
best dogs. They might well he called
fancy dogs for they were the choices
of the breed he could get. They were
fed on the choicest food and with reg.
ularity. They received their rations
at night. and bountiful ones. as they
| had only one meal in "a hours. Dogs
that did not work were fed only twL
days until they got into the habit. We
made an expedition especially to sc:
walrus meat. which was cut into strips
and dried. The dogs were fat and
, strong and they were put into condi
; ton as carefully as prize fighters are
: for the ring. This by way of showing
that DIR. Cook never lost a point in his
months of preparation and training fol
: the final dash.
, 1--WE were cold when we landed, ar ]
1.-THE Eskimos made clothing of fu:s
for us-from the skins of bears, seals
land foxes. and we were soon well
: equipped for the arctic winter.
DIR. Cook is on very friendly terms