The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-09-09

ana the many bundles of hickory
for sledges caused the captain to
suspect"
This clearly shows that before
the schooner sailed from Glouces-
ter DR.. Cook fully premeditated
the dash for the Pole and had thor
oughly equipped himself for the
hazardous venture.
The hunting trip was a success.
1t ended the latter part of August,
when the schooner was at Amor
tok, on the northwest coast of
Greenland, about 500 miles from
the Pole, Just before the schooner
sailed south on August II, 1907,
DR.. Cook announced for the first
time to the crew Of the vessel that
he meant to remain in the North
to make a dash for the Pole. He
asked for one volunteer to remain
with him and join in the attempt.
Rudolph FRANKIE, a seaman on the
schooner, volunteered and was ac-
cepted.
On August 26, the day before
the schooner was to start south.
the crew worked all day and part
Of the night unloading the Polar
stores brought along for DR.. Cook.
On August p the schooner sailed
at noon for New York.
The first week was spent by DR..
Cook and FRANKIE in building a
house aided by the Esquimaux
By thessmiddle of September they
had comfortable quarters built and
then proceeded to lay in a stock of
meat to last them through the long
winter. The whole of the next
month was devoted by DR.. Cook
and FRANKIE to hunting. At the
beginning of the long Arctic night
the temperature was between so
and 20 degrees below zero.
Notwithstanding the intense
cold the ice was not always firm,
according to FRANKIE, and travelling
was dangerous, especially in the
morning and evening. DR.. Cook
and FRANKIE found a new way to
prepare dog food. FRANKIE refused
to disclose this secret, but said
that Dr.. Cook counted upon it Civ
ing him big advantage over other
explorers. Furs, clothing such as
the EqulmauX use, and harness for
the dogs were purchased by Dr..
Cook on trip he made at great
risk and personal danger to Ingle
held Cult and North Star Bay.
! The house they lived IN during
the winter of I9o7-o8 was built of
boxes and consisted of one room
IL feet square. In this room was
done the carpentering, meat cur
ing. baking, cooking, living and
sleeping. 1t was also the reception
hall for visiting Esquimaux.
Finally, on February 26, the
start for the Pole was begun. At
that time it was Dr.. Cook 5 plan
to take FRANKIE with him all the
way.
Ever since his first trip to the
Arctic DR.. Cook had declared that
the only way to reach the Pole
was to make start in the height
OF the Arctic winter, and thus get
the advantage of continuous ice
passage. He also declared that
compressed or tabloid foods were
useless-that the only way to do
was to live as the Esquimaux do
and eat their food. He had no
faith whatever in balloons or 9th
er modern schemes for reaching
the Pole contending that the only
effective method was by walking
and hard work.
For years his fellow members of
the Explorers Club were made
familiar with his ideas on the sub
ject. He declared it was useless
to attempt to reach the Pole with
several white men in the party;
that the fewer the white men IL e
better the chances of success.
That he had faith in his own
convictions was shown when he
asked only for a single volunteer