THE NORTH POLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7914, 30 September 1909, Page 2

THE NORTH POLE.

Per Press, Association.—Copyright, PERTH, September 29. Dr Cook, m describing his return journey, says: " Some violent gales were experienced, but with starvation as the only alternative, we could not •wait for better weather. Our desperate efforts pressed life to the verge of extinction. On May 24 I got observations, showing that we had reached the 84th parallel near the 97th meridian. Scarcely enough food remained to reach the caches at Nanseri Island unless we made 15 miles daily, and with our reduced strength we were hardly equal to ten. Food for man and dog was reduced to three-quarter rations. We struck open water at Crown Prince Gustave Sea and obtained a supply of •bear meat. From there we sought to follow the ice movement south to Lancaster Sound.

Early m July our southward progress was blocked and then, crossing the Firth of Devon and using a boat and sledge we attempted to reach Baffin Bay, with but an occasional bird to eat, and met with a long line of misfortunes. We pushed eastward until the frost m early September stopped progress. Without food, fuel or ammunition we were forced to wrestle for winter supplies m what seemed a lifeless desert.

Pressed with hunger, new implements were shaped and at Cape Sparto game was located. Using our bows and arrows and a lance line a supply of meat and skins was obtained from musk-ox, bear and wolf. An underground den was prepared, where we remained till the sun rose again m 1909. On February 18th we started for 'Annovotook with a newly prepared equipment and reached the shores of Greenland on April 15th, where we were met by a group of anxious friends."