THE NORTH POLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9585, 3 September 1909, Page 5

THE NORTH POLE.

ON APRIL TWENTY-FIRST LAST,

A LITTLE-KNOWN EXPEDITION,

SECRECY REGARDING THE JOURNEY,

Received September 2, 10 30 p.m. LONDON, September 2. There id great excitement here owing to receipt of the news that the North Pole has been discovered by Dr. Frederick Albert Cook, a wall-known Arctic explorer. So little was known about Dr. Cook's expedition that his success can hardly yet be realised, and it came as a 1 tremendous surprise. The first intimation received was the information that Dr. Cook had telegraphed from Lerwick (the county town of Shetland) to his wife as follows: "Successful and well. Address, Copenhagen." There have been no tidings of Dr. Cook since October sth last, until the arrival of the Danish steamer Hensegede at Lerwick yesterday. She anchored for two hours, and then proceeded to Copenhagen. Absolute secrecy regarding Dr. Cook's journey is being maintained. The Danish Consul himse.ll was bound over to secrecy by the explorer before receiving any information, but an inspector from Greenland, who was a passenger in the same steamer as Dr. Cook, has telegraphed to the administration of the Green-, land Colonies at Copenhagen:—

"We have on board Dr. Cook, who reached the North Pole on April 21st, 1908. Dr. Cook arrived at Upernivik (in Greenland) from Cape York in May, 1909. Eskimo at Cape York confirm the truth of Dr. Cook's journey. Dr. Cook's companion, Randolph Francke, finding the climate too severe returned foundland in 1908. Dr. Cook proceeded alone with' Eskimos and eight dog teams laden with supplies He was then 500 or 600 miles from the Pole." Reuter's correspondent at Brussels telegraphed as ( follows on Wednesday:— "Professor Locointe, Director of the Uccle Observa-

REPORTED DISCOVERY BY DR. F. A. COOK,

Unittd Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph Copyright:

LONDON STARTLED.

, tory,has received a telegram from Dr. Cook announcing that he had reached the Pole and discovered land in the extreme north." The New York correspondent of the .London "Times" cables as follows: — "The news of the discovery of the Pole has been received here with elation. So little publicity was given to Dr. Cook's expedition and so much to Lieut. Peary's attempt to reach the Pole, that almost everybody was taken completely by surprise. Even the officers of the National Geographic Society at Washington confessed that they knew little about the expedition." There is great excitement and enthnsiasm at Copenhagen, where Dr. Cook is expected on Saturday next.

EVIDENCE YET INCOMPLETE. NORTH POLE OR MAGNETIC POLE?

Received September 2. 11.15 p.m. LONDON, September 2. Hia Majesty King Edward, who is at Marienbad, and Lieut. Shackleton, the well-known explorer, who is at present in London, are highly interested in the inspector's message. The news has startled London.

"The Times" remarks that the evidence is yet very incomplete, but it has the appearance of being bona fide. Dr. Cook's previous record must be taken seriously.

A later message says that after the Hansegede's yesterday it was stated at Lerwick that Dr. Cook had merely reached the Magnetic /Pole. If this is so the exploit is not remarkable, as Ross reached the Magnetic Pole in 1836.

Lieut. Shackleton calculates that if the Pole itself is reached Dr. Cook must have covered 483 miles in 35 days.