ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 4

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

NORTH POLE OR MAGNETIC . POLE? [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Received September 2, at 10.30 p.m. London, September 2. Dr Frederick Albert Cook, the Brooklyn Arctic explorer, telegraphed to his wife from Lerwick (Shetland Islands) as i follows: "Successful and well. Ad- i. dress Copenhagen." ' There have been no tidings ot OooK i since our cablegram on £he sth October of last year (which stated that he had crossed Greenland in February and ro { was feared that he had been lost) until i the arrival of the Danish steamer Han- < seegede at Lerwick yesterday. She anchored for two hours, and proceeded ] to Copenhagen. ! Absolute secrecy is kept regarding Cook's journey, it is maintained that ' the Danish Consul himself was bound ; over to secrecy by the explorer before receiving any information; but the Inspector of Greenland was a passenger, ' and telegraphed to the Administration: "Greenland Colonies. Copenhagen: We have aboard Dr Cook, who reached the North Pole on the 21st Aprd, 190b. Coop arrived at Upernavik from Cape York -in May, 1909. The Eslamos of Cape York confirm.the truth or Cook's journey. Cook's companion was Randolph Francke, who, finding the climate too severe, returned to Newfoundland in 1908. Cook proceeded alone with two Eskimo and eight dog teams, laden with supplies. He was then 500 or 600 miles from the Pole. Reuters Brussels correspondent on Wednesday stated that M. Locouitc, Director of the Uccle Observatory, received a telegram from Cook, who announced he had reached the Pole. He discovered land in the extreme north. The Times' New York correspondent says the news has been received here with elation. So little publicity was given to Dr Cook's expedition and so much to Lieutenant Peary's attempt to reach the Pole that almost everybody was taken completely by surprise. Even the officers of the National Geographical Society at 'Washington confessed they knew little about the expedition. [Commander Peary, of the United States Navy, gained high distinction bv the large'amount of success achieved in his two attempts to reach the North Pole. On April 21, 1906, he approached to within 17-4 miles of the Pole, nearer than any previous explorer. His ship, the Roosevelt, was built by the Pearv Arctic Club iu 1904, aud was in many respects a triumph for American builders. In his 1903 trip tne Roosevelt pushed north from Etah, in Greenland, to Cape Sheridan. At that point the party set out in sledges, one main party aud five supporting parties, for Cape Hecla, and after 47 days on the ice he reached his farthest north.] There is great excitement and enthusiasm at Copenhagen, where Dr Cook is expected on Saturday. Received September 2, at 11 15 p.m. London, September 2. lieutenant Shackleton, who is in London, and King Edward, at Marieubad, are highly interested iu the Inspector s message. The news startled Loudon. The Times remarks that the evidence is vet very incomplete, but it has the appearance of being bona fide, and Dr Cook's previous- record must be taken seriously. A later message says that after the Hanseegede's departure yesterday it was stated at Berwick that Dr Cook merely reached the magnetic pole. If this is so the exploit is not remarkable, as Ross attained the magnetic polo in 1836. Lieutenant Shackleton calculates that if the Pole itself has been reached, Dr Cook covered 483 miles in 35 days. Received September 3, at 10.15 a.m. Sydney, September 3. Professor David considers that it is vcrv probable Dr Cook discovered land at the extreme North. All the soundings taken bv Nansen and other Arctic explorers indicated the presence of a verv deep ocean at the Pole. Ihe existence of isolated land of volcanicnature was possible, but a large stretch of land was unlikely. Mr Douglas Mawson considers the report that Dr Cook has discovered the Pole might well be believed. He thinks chat Cook probably journeyed- north the year before and wintered in a hut built on the moving ice, relying on walrus for food, then made a dash for the Pole afterwards with the appearance of the sun. That explains his absence of two vears, and it seemed to Mr Mawson quite feasible to reach the Pole so early in the season. - Received September 3, at 11.10 a.m. London, September 2. The Paris edition of the New York Herald has commenced the publication of the details of the early stages of Dr Cook's journey. • ~-,-, The party left Annatok on 19th February with 11 men, 103 dogs, and 11 sledges. The started to cross the Polar Sea ou the IStli March from Heiberg Island, at which stage some Esquimaux with a number of dogs and supplies of food returned.