THE POLAR REGIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13996, 3 September 1909, Page 5

THE POLAR REGIONS.

TRIP TO THE ARCTIC. RFCCKSSFITL EX PLOT} ATTON. DP COOK'S RETURN. - ITiysn Am'ik i;il i<in~ ]!y Telegraph-(Vnpvriglit-deceived 10.30 p.m., Sept. 2nd. LONDON, Sept. 2.

Dr I' rederiek Albert Cook, of Brooklyn, who started in .1907, on an expedition to the Arctic, and who bad not been hrtird of since October, 1008, telegraphed yesterday to bis wil'o from Lerwick as follows:—'•Successful and well. Address Copenhagen." There have been no tidings of Dr Cook since the cablegram of sth Oetoher last, until the arrival of the Danish steamer Ilensegcde at Lerwick yesterday. The steamer anchored there for two hours and proceeded to Copenhagen. Absolute secrecy regarding Dr Cook's journey is tnaintained. . The Danish Consul was himself bound over to secrecy by the explorer bernro receiving any information.

The inspector of Greenland was a passenger by the steamer, and telegraphed to the Administration of the Greenland colonies at -Copenhagen as .follows: — ' . "Wo have.,. on board Dr Cook, who reached the North Pole on 21st April, J 90S. Dr Cook arrived at TTperaivk from Capo' York in May, 1909. ' The Eskimos at Cape. York confirm the truth of Dr Cook's ioynicy." Dr Copk'.s companion, Mr Randolf Fr.iuckc, finding: the •climate too' severe, returned'-tp Newfoundland in ISOS,. and Dr Cook proceeded ori alone with two Eskimos' and eight dog teams laden with supplies. J[e was then 50<) -or GOO miles from the Pole.

Renter's Brussels correspondent says that oh .Wednesday the director of I <?- cle Observatory; received a telegram from Dr Cook announcing that he had reached the Pole and discovered, land ill the "extreme north.

The '• 1 jnies' " New York correspondent s«vs .\hafc *tha. nows was received there- with e.lation. ' So little publicity was -giv<m to' i)r Cook's expedition and so much.to Lieutenant Peary's attempt to reach the Pole that almost evorybodv was taken completely by v surprise- ; Even the officers of the National Geographical. Society at- Washington confessed that they-knew- little ';«bfiut tbo expedition. There is great, excitement- and enthusiasm at Copenhagen.' where T>r -Cook is expend on Saturday. - - . .v.--,_ SEXSATIOX IN -LONDON*. SURMISES AXI) C.\ LC'ULATIOXR. ' ____ ' ■ ■ •:✓? Received 1.1.1;) p.m., Sept.. 2nd. LONDON*. Sept. 2. Lieutenant Shacklc.ton, the Antarctic liero,: who is in. London.: and Jviily: Edwnrd, who. is at Marienbad, were Infillv interested -in tbo inspector's messages. ■ The news startled London.

The. " Tunes " remarks that the evidence is as vet very incomplete, but lias the appearance of bona, fides, and in, the light -of Dr Cook's previous record, must lie taken seriously.

A later message that utter .-.the steamer Honsegede's: -departure yesterit was stated, at Lerwick that Or Cook had merely reached the magnetic polo. If this is so, liis, exploit is not remarkable. as Ross. attained the :mag-netic--pole in IS3O. •••"'•■Lieutenant -Shaekleton- calculated thkt if the North Pole itself , was reached, Dr Cook covered. 4S.'l miles in 35 days..