NORTH POLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9586, 4 September 1909, Page 5

NORTH POLE.

VIEWS OF ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS.

LAND PROBABLY VOLCANIC.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received September 3, 10.15 a.m. SYDNEY, September 2.

Professor David, who accompanied Lieutenant Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, considers it very probable that Dr Cook has discovered land in the extreme north. All the soundings taken by Nansen and other explorers indicated the presence of very deep ocean at the pole. The existence of isolated land of a volcanic nature is possible, but a lar«e stretch of land is unlikely. Mr Douglas Ma won, who was also a member of the Shackleton exploring party, considers that the report that Dr Cook has discovered the North Pole might well be believed. He thinks it probable that the explorer journeyed north the year before, wintered in a hut built v of moving ice, relying on walrus food, and made a dash for the pole afterwards. That explains his absence for two years. It seemed to Mr Mawson quite feasible to reach the pole so early in the season.

EARLY STAGES t OF THE TRIP,

Received September 3, 11.10 a.m. LONDON, September 2.

The Paris edition of the New York "Herald" has commenced publishing details of the early stages of Dr Couks' journey.

The party left Annatok on 19th February, with eleven men, 103 dogs, and eleven sledges, and started to cross the Polar Sea on 18th March from Heiberg Island, at which stage somt of the Esquimo. with a number of dogs and supplies of food, returned.

FURTHER DETAILS

THE NORTH POLE REACHED.

THE FLAG RAISED

"NO LIFE—NO LAND "

"NO SPOT TO RELIEVE MONOTONY."

Received September 3, 10 30 p.m. LONDON. September 3. Dr. Cook, according to the New York "Herald," felt the bite of the cold, especially on the heights bordering Ellesmere Sound. The temperature was 83 degrees below zero, centigrade. Several dogs were frozen and the men suffered cruelly. Along the game tracks from Nansen Sound to Lands End the party killed 101 musk oxen, seven bears and 325 hares. Crossing the circumpolar. the pack commenced on March 2Ut, 1908, two Eskimos, and 26 dogs accompanying, who were experienced in long marches. The first few days, owing to persistent winds, the party were cooped in snow houses, eating dry beef and tallow and drinking hot tea. Observations on March 31st were latitude 84.47, longitude 86.36. Here at last were sijjns of solid earth. "We advanc.d," says Dr. Cook, "over a monotony of moving sea of ice, neither bears, foot prints, nor seals, blow-holes being met with. The Icefields became beyond the 86 parallel more extensive. Crevasses were few and were less troublesome, and little or no crusned icu as barriers. The party were surprised to meet with an indication of land at this point. Ice extended from the 87th to 88th parallel. They were but now within 100 miles of the Pole, and the temperature was below 40 degrees. Signs of land were still seen, but were deceptive illusions, being mirages of inverted mountains, Gnod daily astronomical observations were taken. The monotonony of the scene was depressing, but on April 2lst (89 degrees 59 minutes 46 seconds) the Pole was in sight. We advanced ths 14 seconds and made supplementary observations. The flag was raised to the coveted breezes of the North Pole, the temperature being 38 degrees beluw zero, centigrade, the barometer registered 29.83, and the compass pointing to the Magnetic Pole was as useful as ever. There were endless fields f purple snows —no life—no land—no spot to relieve the monotony, and we returned homewards on the 23rd day. Long distances were at first quickly covered. We watched; daily the reduction of the food supply, and reached on May 24th the 84th parallel. Near the 97th meridian the ice was much broken. We had on sleds scarcely enough food to reach our caches at Nansen Sound. We were hardly equal to ten instead of the necessary fifteen miles per day. Our course was set for the musk ox lands, and the temperature rose to zero in a persistent mist. After a struggle of twenty days through the fog we found ourselves far down in the Crown Prince Gustav Sea. In a few days bears came along, and were life savers. . We crossed the Firth Devon into Fane's Sound, n frost early in September stopped progress. We had neither food, fuel nor ammunition. New implements were shaped, and Cape Spardo was selected as a likely place for game. A bmv and arrow yielded meat, skins and fat. An underground den was then prepared. There we remained until suf,rise, 1909. We started on February 18th for Annatok, and reached Greenland shores on April 15th. 'ihough Dr. Cook is a.person with a high some people are still sceptical in England, France and America. Lieut. Sliackletnn does not think the long time occupied by the return tells against Dr Cook's statements. The; London "Daily Mail" describes the narrative ay baltl and unconvinri"!?. NEW YORK, September 8. Rear-Admiral Melvjlie, of the United States Navy, after reading Dr. Cook's narrative, declares lhat he in convinced that the reporUo (lis cuvery is a farce.