Publishers' Preface to Last Revised Edition 



The early editions of this book were published immediately after the 

 return of Commander Peary and Dr. Cook with their claims of discovery of 

 the North Pole. In going through the work to prepare this revision we must 

 say modestly but with a considerable degree of pride that there has been 

 practically nothing to change, and only a very little to add in order to bring 

 the thrilling story entirely up to date. 



In his Introduction to this book Admiral Melville, who is one of the 

 foremost living explorers and authorities on Arctic matters, immediately and 

 clearly expressed his skepticism about the validity of Dr. Cook's claim upon the 

 North Pole in these words : "Those who have most keenly felt the extremities 

 of the Arctic, and who are best acquainted with the history of men's baffled 

 attempts to set foot upon the earth's axis, can only gasp in wonder at the 

 achievement as recorded in Dr. Cook's own story of his discovery of the North 

 Pole. Having, then, occasionally noted that news is often later modified before 

 it becomes history, and particularly scientific history, I have decided to await 

 the examination of Dr. Cook's own evidence, and naturally with intense 

 interest." 



Dr. Cook's story was accepted by the whole world, and for weeks he was 

 a great popular hero. Leading scientists supported his claims and he was 

 given an honorary degree by the University of Copenhagen, where he first met 

 with scientific men after his return from the frozen North. The King of 

 Denmark paid him extraordinary attentions and President Taft sent him a 

 congratulatory cablegram. His lectures were attended by thousands, and his 

 fame seemed destined to be immortal. 



Yet we did not at any time vouch for the truth of his story in this book, 

 but gave it principally in his own words as he issued it to the world, and we 

 shared the sentiments of Admiral Melville where he said in concluding his 

 Introduction, "Dr. Cook's report of his expedition must stand or fall on its 

 own merits." After the Danish tribunal examined his alleged evidence it ap- 

 peared that Dr. Cook had not given sufficient evidence that he had reached 

 the North Pole, and he was generally denounced as an impostor. 



(iii) 



