ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10243, 4 September 1909, Page 4

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

[Bt Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) CRITICS SCEPTICAL. Received September 3, at 10.30 p.m. London, September 3. Dr Cook, says the New York.Herald, felt the bite of the cold, especially on the heights bordering Ellesmere Sound, the temperature being 83 degrees below zero centrigrade. ' Several dogs were frozen, and the men suffered cruelly. Along the game tracks of Nansen Sound to Lands End the party killed 101 musk oxen, seven bears, and 325 hares. The crossing of the circumpolar pack commenced on the 21st March, 1908, two Eskimos and 26- dogs accompanying. They were able to make long marches for the first few days, but persistent winds cooped them in snow houses afterwards, eating dried beef and tallow, and drinking hot tea. The observations on 13th March showed them to be in latitude 14.47, , longitude 86.36. Here they saw the last signs of the solid earth, and advanced over a monotonous moving sea of ice, with neither bears' footprints nor seals' blowholes. COMPARATIVELY EASY., Beyond the 86th parallel the icefields became more extensive, the crevasses were few and less troublesome, and little or no crushed ice occurred to bar. the way. They were surprised to meet indications of land ice from the 87th to the 88th parallel. They were now within 100 miles of the Pole, the temperature being 4()deg. Centigrade below,zero. Signs of laud were still seen, hut these were* deceptive, as there were many illusions and mirages of inverted mountains. Good daily astronomical observations were taken. It was a depressing monotonous scene, but on the 21st April the party was in 89 degrees 59 minutes 46 seconds, and the Pole was in sight. "We advanced the 14' seconds," says Dr Cook, "and made supplementary observations." FLAG ON THE POLE. A flag was raised to the coveted breezes of the North Pole. The temperature was 38 below zero centigrade, and the barometer 29.83. The compass, pointing to the magnetic Pole, was as successful as ever. There were endless fields of purple snows, but no life, and no land, no spot to relieve the monotony. We turned homewards on the 23rd. Long distances were at first quickly covered. We watched the daily reduction of the food supply. We reached on the 24th May the S4th parallel.Near the 97th meridian the ice was much broken. We had on our sledges scarcely enough food to reach the out caches at Nansen Sound. We were hardly equal to 10 instead of the necessary 15 miles a day. A course was set for the musk ox lands. The temperature rose to zero, with persistent mist. We struggled for 20 days through the fog, and found ourselves far clown in the Crown Prince Gustav Sea.

BEARS AS LIFE-PRESERVERS. In a few days boars came along as life-savers. We crossed on the sth the Firth of Devon into Jane's Sound. The 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. The bow and arrow yielded meat, skins, and fat. An underground den was prepared, and there we remained until sunrise in 1909. We started on the ISth February for Annatok, and reached Greenland shores on the 15th April. DUBIOUS CRITICS. Though Dr Cook is a person of high reputation, some are still sceptical in England, France, and America. Lieutenant Shackleton does not think the long time occupied by the return tells against Dr Cook's statements. The Mail describes the narrative as bald and unconvincing. New York, September 3. Rear-Admiral Melville, of the United States Navy, after reading Dr Cook's narrative, declares lie is convinced the reported discovery is a farce.

Received September 4, at 8.25 a.m. ■ London, September 3. Dr Levasseur, a member of the Academy of Science, and an eminent geological authority, has expressed astonishment at some of Dr Cook's statements ; such as the enormous distance he travelled over ice and the temperature recorded —S3 degrees below zero (Centigrade). This is the lowest reading ever recorded. Members of the British Association at Winnipeg generally accept the bona fides of Dr Cook's narrative and agree that the only evidence Dr Cook can have will be astronomical notes, and with these his good faith cannot reasonably be challenged. Dr Hugh Robert Mill, director of the British Rainfall Association, commenting on Dr Cook's 83 degrees below zero (Centigrade) says this is lower by 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) than anything experienced on the earth's surface-be-fore.

AMERICA EXCITED. Received September 4, at 8.55 a.m. New York, September 3. Enthusiasm - respecting Dr Cook's achievement runs high in America. Mr Wickersham, the American At-torney-General, declares that, the Constitution will follow the flag. Copenhagen, September 3. Great preparations are being made to welcome Dr Cook at Copenhagen, including a reception by the King and banquets by the Minister of Commerce and the Town Council. The Telegraph deprecates any hasty condemnation of Dr Cook's narrative. The Jewish World states that Cook is a member of a well-known Jewish family at Frankport, and his real name is Koch. Received September 4, at 11 a.m. Sydney, September 4. Professor David accepts Dr Cook's statement of the discovery of the Pole, and says: "Apart from Dr Cook's general reputation, winch in itself should be sufficient guarantee, I should say the minute evidence of his diary should show the world the accuracy of his statement. Melbourne, September 4. The Government astronomer can see no reason to refuse to Dr Cook's exploit. "Some of his observations certainly are at. variance with those of other expeditions, but it would not be fair to refuse, to believe them, as we have believed all the rest. The most unconvincing thing is the vast amount of shooting reported. I cannot see how three men carried so much ammunition besides food. However, he had a very small store of food, and made ammunition act as their food. Received September 4, at 0.5 p.m. London, September 4. Bradley, who bore a large portion of the expense of Cook's expedition, estimates the cost at 90,000 dollars (roughly £18,000).