COOK IN THE ANTARCTIC AND IN ALASKA 99 



the "pans" considerably smaller. The vessel was subjected to a 

 severe crushing in the pack, in which only her stout frame saved her 

 from destruction, and drifted about two thousand miles. 



With the approach of summer the ice field began to open, but 

 they remained frozen in during nearly the whole southern summer. 

 Not until March, 1899, did they succeed in making their way out. 

 They were obliged to cut a canal a mile in length through ice five 

 feet thick. Every man, from commander to cook, worked at the 

 saws, and dynamite was used to break up the blocks of ice and free 

 the "Belgica." 



The most important results of the expedition were a com- 

 plete series of magnetic and meteorological observations, extended 

 through a whole year within the Antarctic circle and the making 

 of the first profile of the ocean's bed to the south of Cape Horn. A 

 valuable collection of the fauna and flora of the Antarctic region 

 was also obtained. About two hundred miles of new coast were 

 discovered, and an ocean highway was found thirty miles broad, 

 perfectly free for navigation during the summer months, passing 

 from Bransfield Strait two hundred miles southwesterly through an 

 unknown region to the Pacific. This highway was named from the 

 ship, Belgica Strait. To the eastward of it was discovered a high 

 continuous country, connecting with the land charted as Graham 

 Land. This was named Banco Land, in honor of Professor Danco, 

 the deceased member of the party. 



Dr. Cook's assistance on this expedition was of great value, not 

 only as a physician, but as a photographer and scientist, though his 

 services as an anthropologist ceased after Terra del Fuego was left. 

 During the long months of involuntary seclusion he was the life of 

 the party, cheering up his companions time after time when their 

 courage failed. 



Returning to civilization in 1899 Dr. Cook settled down for a 

 time to the practice of his profession, but the Arctic fever had taken 

 hold of him too strongly to permit him to lose any opportunity to seek 



