The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-02
Got to North Pole After Pro.
IOnged Fight
WITH FAMINE AND FROST
He Reports That He Encountered Ez-
treme Cold, the Thermometer
Going to ss centigrade
His Final Dash.

rams sept, @s--1h iAiin tultAah ~
The New York Herald this morning pub
fishes a signed statement from DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook, which is dated 4IIans
Egede, Lerwick, Wednesday" on his ex-
periences in the Arctic regions.
"After a prolonged fght with famine
and FROST" says DR.. Cook, "we have at
last succeeded in reaching the North
pole. A new highway, with an interest
ing strip Of animated nature has been
explored and big game haunts located,
which win delight sportsmen and ex-
tend the Esquimaux horizon.
land has been discovered on which
rests the earth's northermost rocks, A
triangle Of 10000 square miles has been
cut out of the territorial unknown. The
expedition was the outcome Of sum
mer cruise in the Arctic seas on the
sch foner Bradley, which arrived at the
limits OF navigation in Smith Sound
late in August, 1907. Here conditions
were found favorable TO launch a ven
ture to the pole. J.; r. Bradley literally
supplied from his vessel suitable pro.
visions for local use. My own equip.
ment for emergencies served well for
every purpose OF Arctic travel.
Many Esquimaux had gathered on the
Greenland shores at Annatoak for the
winter bear hunt. Immense quantities
Of meat had been collected and about
the camp we're plenty Of strong dogs.
The combination was lucky, for there
was good material for equipment. All
that was required was conveniently ar
ranged for at a point only 700 miles
from the Boreal center. A house and
workshop were built of packing boxes
BY willing hands and this northermost
tribe Of $50 people set themselves To the
problem Of devising a suitable outfit
Before the end Of the long winter night
we were ready for the enterprise and
plans had matured to force new route
over Grinnell Land northward along its
west coast out on the Polar sea.
Started Feb. 1s, 1908.
@T'he campaign opened with few
scouting parties to explore the way and
seek thg game haunts. Their mission
was only partly successful because of
the storms At sunrise Of 1908 (Feb. /
100 the main expedition embarked on
it's voyage 10 the pole. It consisted Of
ii men and 109 dogs drawing eleven
heavily laden sledges The expedition
left the Greenland shore and pushed
westward over the troubled ice Of Smith
sound. The gloom Of the long night
was relieved only BY few hours Of
daylight.
'sThe chill OF the winter was felt st
= a. A "a
of FAlesInere sound to the Pacific slope
the temperature sank to minus SO cen
trimade. Several dogs were frozen
and the men suffered severely, but we
soon found the game trails along which
the way was easy.
Had Two Esquimaux and 20 Dogs.
eve forced through Nansen sound to
Lands End. In this march we secured
101 musk oxen, seven bears, and 335
hares. We pushed cut into the Polar
sea from the southern point Of Herbert
island on March 1s. Six Eskimos re-
turned from here. With four men and
46 dogs moving supplies for 50 days,
the crossing of the circum polar pack
wa begun, forming the last supporting
party, returned and the trials had now
been reduced BY the survival Of the fit
test. The two best men and 90 dogs
were picked for the final effort
@There before lis in an unknown line
Of 400 miles lay our goal. The first days
provided long marches A big lead which
separated the land from the lee Of the
central pack was crossed with little de
lay. The low temperature wns persis-
tent and the winds made lift q torture
But cooped up ia our snow houses, eat I
ined dried beef tallow and drinking hot
tse. there were some animal comforts |
occasionally to be gained.
New Land Discovered.
eFor several DAYS after the sight Of
Known Land was lost the overcast sky
prevented an accurate determination Of
our position. On March 30 the horizon
was partly cleared and new land was
discovered. Our observations gave our
position AS latitude s447, longitude \
$500. There was urgent need Of rapid
advance Our main mission did not per
init detour for the purpose Of explor
ing the coast
"Here were seen the last signs Of solid
earth; beyond, there was nothing stable
W bN seem
.sWe advanced steadily over the mono
anAy Of moving sea ice and now found
ourselves beyond The range Of all life
niether footprints Of bears nor the blow
holes Of seals were detected Eyen the
miehoseopic creatures Of the deep were
no longer under lis.
.Ihe maddeniug influence Of the shift |
ing desert Of frost became almost un
endurable in the daily routine. The sur
fact Of the pack offered less and less
trouble and the weather improved, but
there still remained the life.sapping /
wind which drove despair to it's lowest
recess. The extreme cold compelled /
physical action Thus day after day
our weary legs spread over big distances
Incidents and positions were recorded
but adventure was promptly forgotten I
in the next days efforts
@The night Of April was made no
table BIZ the swinging Of the sun at mid (
night over the northern ice. Sunburns
and frosthites now were recorded on the /
same day, but the double days glitter
infused quite an incentive into ones
aife 81 shivers.
@oaT observation on April 6 plaeea