30 COOK'S STORY OF HIS DISCOVERY OF NORTH POLE 



pack, drifting two thousand miles over the Antarctic Sea. In 1903 

 he had made a vigorous attempt to ascend Mt. McKinley, the loftiest 

 of American mountains, and in 1906 had tried again and succeeded. 



Dr. Frederick A. Cook was evidently far from unknown. He 

 was a man hardened in polar explorations and mountain climbing. 

 Few living men had better fitted themselves to dare the perils of the 

 North. Finally, in 1907, he had gone north again, had plunged into 

 the depths of the polar mystery, and for two years had been lost in 

 the white silence of the sea of ice. Where was he? No one knew. 

 The feeling was widespread that he had perished. A relief expedi- 

 tion was prepared to search for him, with little hope of finding more 

 than his frozen corpse. It was under such circumstances as this that 

 the world received the news above given and stood stunned with 

 surprise and admiration at the astounding tidings of the great event. 



We propose to give here Dr. Cook's own story of the admirable 

 feat he thus claimed to have accomplished, but these introductory 

 remarks are of importance as indicating the significance of the story. 

 Later in this work the reader will be able to acquaint himself with 

 the details of the centuries of exploration of the Arctic region and 

 search for the Pole. He will also find chapters descriptive of Dr. 

 Cook's earlier career and of the beginning of the special expedition 

 which was now announced to be crowned with such splendid success. 

 He will be told how Dr. Cook had gone north from New York in 

 what was expected to be merely a hunting expedition, the fact that 

 it might end in a dash for the Pole being kept secret from the general 

 public. He will be able to read how, with the financier of the expedi- 

 tion, Mr. John R. Bradley, a landing had been made at the Eskimo 

 settlement at Etah, and Dr. Cook, finding conditions well suited for 

 the purpose, announced to Mr. Bradley his intention to "try for 

 the Pole." 



Back went Bradley, leaving his late guest on shore with the 

 Eskimos and with an ample equipment for the sledge journey he had 

 in view, only one white man remaining with him. This was Rudolph 





