The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-17
FREDERICK COOK.
Writer Believes Doctor Reached the
North Pole.

North Foles
Editor The Washington Herald:
Regarding current comment on DR..
Cook l have doubts DR. Cook may be
a faker and all else claimed by outsiders
Tor him, yet If he was unacquainted with
instruments and their uses II was not
discovered by several noted explorers,
either before or after HIS return from the
North. The route he took was the result
Of advice and consultation with others
posted In arctic exploration.
on his return. he met scientists and
explorers in Copenhagen. and they did
not find any ignorance in him, else the
people would never have invited the
examination OF his records. That he
would push himself and others with him
10 the limit OF physical endurance has
been clearly shown. not only in his own
stories, hut by undsputable facts.
We do not know for certain that he
went to Annatok and left behind the
Impression that the pole was the object
He was well equipped and finances were
behind him for all he had 10 have. The
trip. in the most bitter season Of the
year, was also accomplished, from Anna
tok 70 Cape Thomas Hubbard. 400 miles,
IN twenty-eight days Caches were estab-
lished Tor return trip So far there IS
no dispute. He pushed northward on the
Ice with two boys and ample supplies
for the purpose. We find him at Cape
SparbO the following winter. He had no
dogs Again, IN the bitter cold Of the
arctic morn, he sets out with sIedge and
two boys. and In two months they drag
IN al Annatok, nearly 800 miles away 10
the north, dragging In the sledge them
selves. There is no dispute on this point
Five days later he turns around and
tackles a 610-mile Journey. with dogs and
sledge 70 Upperimik 20 meet a vessel
Che had none). This trip was made In
| thirty-nve days; also no dispute. When
We look at this trip Of 500 10 800 miles.
with only a fve-day break IN it. il gives
| food for reflection.
Where was he after he left Cape
Thomas HUBBARD DR.. Cook says he went
north, passed Croker Land and discov-
cred new land bradley Land. extending
to 50 degrees Il minutes north. Il IS a
| queer coincidence that Peary. I'm his
book, Nearest the Pole" IN his next
| trip. after passing s. degrees p minutes.
/ should come on ice foes bearing marks
| Of recent land Just 100 miles IN the direct
| line OF drift from Bradley Land, DR..
| Cook stated, and was attacked thereon.
| that on April he saw the midnight sun
| Enthusiastically now but his original state
| ment was qualified by n horizon that was
/ not clear, although the days were per-
| fectly clear which would nulhfy the
proposition that he should have seen the
| midnight sun at the exact moment when.
| by calculation, Il was due 10 be seen.
| Go down 10 Chesapeake Beach and watch
| the sunrise on the Eastern Shore on cal
/ eudar time III you cam. You viii have
! perfect days, but all kinds OF a fog bank
/ on that shore until the sun has risen
| considerably and dispelled H.
| The rest Of Dr. Cooks description Of
the pole is indorsed by Peary exactly.
| In Or Cooks narrative OF the return
/ trip he has a long spell of cloudy da :
and passes 10 the west Of land In the
! SD degree. AS faker why should he
make this statement He also mentioned
this land TO Editor stead II had him
! puzzled. apparently
Did he lose himself on the return trip
| for lack Of observations. owing n
weather conditions. and pass 10 the west
Of Croker Land? The impossible small
| Ice west of Hieherg Land. AZ the time
he said he was trying 20 reach Hieberg
/ Land and was prevented by the said ice
/ conditions. IS plausible
| Let's take Fearys proof against DR..
! Cook. Peary SAYS the Eskimos told him.
! But Or. Cook said he told Whitney. ar
/ Annatok, not 10 tell Peary that he had
/ discovered the pole. Did he? No. He
/ told the cabin boy. Pritchard not to tel.
! Did he? No He said he told the EskimoS
not 10 tell Did they? Well. that's 10
be found out. By Mr. Peary's statement
/ on the subject, evidently he was not
/ Informed by the EskimOs that Or. Cook
/ had discovered the pole. Mr. Pearv pub
I fishes statement. based upon what the
| boys told, that Or. Cook returned 10
! Cape Thomas Hubbard after two DAYS
/ and goes down the coast TO Hiebere
/ Land 10 Cape Northwest; from there 10
/ a low island. which was seen from the
! shore at Cape Northwest: thence TO the
/ Ringness Lands, both now visible. The
distance from Cape Northwest TO the
| Rinsness Lands is ia statute miles. air
/ line. and the Ringness Lands are laid
down as being very low in their northern