BRADLEY'S ACCOUNT OF THE COOK EXPEDITION 113 



Lufkin." This he purchased and thoroughly overhauled and refitted, 

 braced it fore and aft, put in new sails and new rigging, sheathed 

 it with steel plates on bow and stern, put in gasoline engine and 

 tanks, and renamed it the "John R. Bradley." The schooner was in 

 a measure rebuilt and made stanch enough for the Baffin's Bay trip. 

 Cabins were put in for himself, his guest and the officers, the equip- 

 ment resembling that of a private yacht. A large supply of gasoline 

 was provided, the vessel provisioned for two years in case of ship- 

 wreck, and everything done that experience suggested for shooting 

 and navigation in the Arctic region. 



He had Captain Robert Bartlett, in command of Peary's ship, 

 the "Roosevelt," go with him to Gloucester and see his vessel. 

 Bartlett was impressed with its fitness and pronounced it as safe a 

 ship as ever left for the Arctic. 



These details are incidental to what followed, the broadening 

 of their plan into a polar expedition. This came about in the fol- 

 lowing manner: The preparations being complete, one day, about 

 four weeks from the date fixed for sailing, Cook and Bradley 

 lunched together at the Holland House, New York, and during 

 their talk about the trip Cook remarked, in his quiet manner : 



"Why not try for the Pole?" 



"Not I," replied Bradley in surprise. "Would you like to try 

 for it?" 



"There is nothing that I would rather do; it is the ambition of 

 my life." 



The proposition thus incidentally made had very likely been in 

 Dr. Cook's mind in accepting his friend's invitation, and he had 

 simply awaited a proper opportunity to present it. In his opinion 

 $8,000 to $10,000 more than had already been spent would furnish 

 the necessary equipment. Their conversation ended in Bradley's 

 remarking : 



"We'll fit out this expedition for the Pole, and say nothing to 

 anybody about it." 



