FOREWORD. 



The North Pole has been discovered. 



It has been left for the year 1909 to bring forth what men of ages past 

 have striven for in vain. Two American explorers, men whom neither na- 

 ture's terrors nor self-interest could sway, have gone into the far north and 

 have returned with news that their feet have rested upon the apex of the globe. 

 Both have their supporters. The friends of the one will not believe in the 

 achievements of the other. Probably as long as human beings can think 

 for themselves, or at least until more fortunate men can thoroughly traverse 

 the ice-covered seas of the pole, there will be question of the deeds of either 

 Cook or Peary. 



Such glory as has fallen to their lot is not easy to apportion. 



Dr. Cook ventured into the mysterious north and returned by way of 

 Greenland to Denmark, where he arrived worn, weary and haggard to make 

 the first claim of having discovered the pole. Commander Peary, of the United 

 States navy, returned by a western path, skirted Canada, and from Labrador 

 sent his message of victory — not a week behind his predecessor. Both were 

 given a welcome befitting conquerors. Both were called upon for proofs, and 

 gave them. They were rivals such as never contended before for the honor of 

 their fellows. They brought news that stirred the imaginations of even the 

 dullest. The fact of their almost simultaneous announcement of triumph forms 

 one of the most startling coincidences in all history. 



The purpose of this volume is not to discuss the rival claims of these mod- 

 ern vikings; not to present anew the arguments strung out ad nauseam by war- 

 ring bands of scientists; not to detract in the least from the credit due to either 

 man. This book aims simply to present, from the records available, and from 

 the statements made by the explorers themselves, a complete and impartial ac- 

 count of what they saw and did. 



Whatever Peary may say of Cook, or Cook of Peary, the fact remains that 

 the pole was discovered. It is preposterous to think that two men could per- 



