The Detroit times., 1910-12-16
COOK DESCRIBES HARDSHPS
IN THE FROZEN NORTH
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OF enthusiasm, a world-madness which
startled me. In the ebb Of that wave
I was plunged into the depths OF sns
picion and discredit q victim OF m!
own folly and the sufferer from
storm of adverse circumstances.
Recalls Hair-breadth Escapes.
After reciting chapter OF hard
ships and privations that VIII prob
ably move TO pity many ar adverse
critic, Cook says: when | recall The
many hair-breadth escapes from deats
the hazards we took, and feel again
that physical and mental suffering,
wonder whether any living man would
do this were he premeditating a lie.
"If I did believe in myself. honestly
and sincerely, il felt convinced oil
nv claim when | reached Copenhagen
and later New York the explorer
says, lis it just to call me the "orld
most intrepid fakir, common, oeho-
srate swindler? Unconsciously may
have made statements which | myself
now question That Is ineXcusable
But most 'emphatically and positively
I am not thief: most certainly there
was no plan to hoax the world 10 my
own financial profit.
Dr. Cook SAYS that he has been &C
cused of being a colossal liar, and yet
that many lies have been told on MIN
He cites the gum drop story as a
sample. He says he took no gum
drops with him, and never heard the
story until he rot TO New York. COOK
saws that the trip was not undertaken
{or scientific attainment. 1T WAS
personal conquest, in which OK
nected only the return due pain
finder"
49, Continuing, Dr. Cook says: snail
not give in this story my scientinc Cd
servations. They have been puoiisheo
and scientific authorities have reJectso
them as inadequate. II may seem
curious thing, az so much is made OF
firures-which can be Manufactured
for l.,e to say that figures or instru'
mental observations are only seii-con-
vincing. But | am telling the truth'
as / see 1t frankly"
my conviction that | reached the
Pole never was based solely upon oo-
seryations, figures or mathematical
calculations. ! did take these, OF
course. Sometimes | took them mas
tily, again working them out WIN
painstaking accuracy. Sometimes my
mind was clear as crystal. again was
dazed with hunger, thirst and colo.
These figures did not convince me or
my achievement. They only corrooor-
ated nv inner conviction OF progress.
WAS my inner conviction that
attained the Pole insane? Perhaps.
Which raises the whole problem OF
the border-line OF sanity was,
feel. n omore insane than any man
who frantically pursues an ideal-an
ideal which may seem hair-brained 10
/ he practical man-and who finally 10
himself, IL TO no other, is satisfied that
he has accomplished his desire. Ny
conviction may be beyond the bounds
of reason. Sometimes now feel that
st Is. Again do not. | do not know.
Moreover, and especially since | have
viewed men from a peculiarly suspt-
cious, though unenviable angle, or late,
! have been impressed with the insta-
bility, the illogicality OF all human
reason"
AS an illustration OF the peculiar ef
feet the Far North has one one. Dr.
Cook says that after leaving Heiberg
Land, 1.-The fantastic unrealities Of the
north began TO manifest themselves
most Peaks Of snow were trans
formed into volcanoes. belching
smoke; out OF the pesrly mist rose
marvellous cities. with fairy castles;
huge creatures, misshapen and gro
tesoue, writhed along the horizon.
These spectral denizens OF the north
accompanied us during the entire jour
ney and when tagged Of brain and
snapped of bodily strength, felt my
mind swimming In a sea OF half-con-
scsousnees, they filed me almost with
horror, impressing me as the monsters
one sees In n nightmare.
Cook explains his mental condition
partially by his inability To sleep. Any
one who has suffered from insom.
MA" he says, may be able in a small
degree TO guage my condition when
sleep became impossible. To reason
the end OF my journey became the
ever-present. goading thought Of my
wakeful existence.
"I never expected that nv &c.
complishment of the pole. If | did IT,
would be regarded as a thing of great
Importance to science. which il is
not. want to be honest in this and
right here say that any observa
lions took were taken first of all foI
my own satisfaction. to check ouI
line of march. They corroborated
my growing consciousness of success
The constant travelling over miles Ot
ice and the enduring of pain engen.
dered in my mind a conviction which
no figures could have evoked. Al
the time, however. | did not doubt
my figures. The thought OF mac
curacy never occurred 10 me. True.
Il was mentally disposed 10 credit a
facorable reckoning. Were nv obser.
vations incorrect: II is quite possible
Anaiyzing them and the conditions
physical and mental. under which
they we're taken. do not know. |
can never tell ultimately"
The thing that convinced Or. Cook