CHAPTER II. 

 HOW COOK STARTED FOR THE NORTH PdLE. 



Dr. Cook's dash for the pole, Hke most of the great actions of history, 

 was as secretly conceived as it was heroically carried out. 



Few even of the explorer's most intimate friends suspected he was about 

 to undertake the most difficult journey within the reach of man. The dis- 

 covery of the North Pole was the termination of a voyage that started osten- 

 sibly as a fishing-trip. 



On July 3, 1907, Dr. Cook was the guest of John R. Bradley on board his 

 schooner yacht, the John R. Bradley, which left Gloucester, Mass., to go on 

 a fishing trip up the Labrador coast. Mr. Bradley is a New York man of 

 wealth, interested in sports, and has followed Dr. Cook's polar aspirations 

 closely. 



Mr. Bradley invited Dr. Cook to go on the fishing trip, never dreaming 

 that it vi^ould end in the Brooklyn man's making a dash for the pole. Aboard 

 the schooner were half a dozen Newfoundlanders who were thoroughly 

 familiar with the coast of Labrador and who were to act as guides.^ 



The fishing party ran into treacherous weather and heavy ice packs as it 

 proceeded along the Labrador coast. Then the gasoline engines got out of 

 order and the vessel was involved in difficulties. The ship was at length 

 headed for Cape York harbor, but owing to the heavy ice it was unable to 

 land there and a landing was made in North Star Bay. There some days 

 were spent in hunting and fishing. 



While the time was being spent in this way, Dr. Cook became fired with the 

 ambition to reach the pole. He spoke to Mr. Bradley about it, and the latter 

 declared that if any such trip was to be made, he would not join it. 



Dr. Cook was insistent. He wanted the entire party to go with him on the 

 expedition. As Mr. Bradley would not be one of the party, Dr. Cook or- 

 ganized a force of Eskimos, and, with Rudolph Francke, made preparations 

 for the expedition. Mr. Bradley left in August, 1907, on his fishing schooner, 



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