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  [Illustration: Frederick A. Cook]




  _Press Edition_

  MY ATTAINMENT
  OF THE POLE


  _Being the Record of the Expedition that First Reached the Boreal
  Center, 1907-1909. With the Final Summary of the Polar Controversy_


  _By_

  DR. FREDERICK A. COOK


  THIRD PRINTING, 60TH THOUSAND


  [Illustration]


  NEW YORK AND LONDON
  MITCHELL KENNERLEY
  MCMXIII

  By Special arrangements this edition is marketed by
  The Polar Publishing Co., 601 Steinway Hall, Chicago



  COPYRIGHT 1913
  BY
  DR. FREDERICK A. COOK




_OTHER BOOKS BY DR. COOK_


  Through the First Antarctic Night
    A Narrative of the Belgian South Polar Expedition.

  To the Top of the Continent
    Exploration in Sub-Arctic Alaska--The First Ascent of Mt. McKinley

  My Attainment of the Pole
    Edition de Luxe


  Each of above series will be sent post paid for $5.00. All to one
  address for $14.00.

  Address: THE POLAR PUBLISHING CO.
  601 Steinway Hall, Chicago




_To the Pathfinders_


  To the Indian who invented pemmican and snowshoes;
  To the Eskimo who gave the art of sled traveling;
  To this twin family of wild folk who have no flag
  Goes the first credit.
  To the forgotten trail makers whose book of experience has been a
    guide;
  To the fallen victors whose bleached bones mark steps in the ascent
    of the ladder of latitudes;
  To these, the pathfinders--past, present and future--I inscribe the
    first page.
  In the ultimate success there is glory enough
  To go to the graves of the dead and to the heads of the living.




THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE POLAR CONTROVERSY


DR. COOK IS VINDICATED. HIS DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE IS ENDORSED BY
THE EXPLORERS OF ALL THE WORLD.

In placing Dr. Cook on the Chautauqua platform as a lecturer, we have
been compelled to study the statements issued for and against the rival
polar claims with special reference to the facts bearing upon the
present status of the Polar Controversy.

Though the question has been argued during four years, we find that it
is almost the unanimous opinion of arctic explorers today, that Dr. Cook
reached the North Pole on April 21, 1909.

With officer Peary's first announcement he chose to force a press
campaign to deny Dr. Cook's success and to proclaim himself as the sole
Polar Victor. Peary aimed to be retired as a Rear-Admiral on a pension
of $6,000 per year. This ambition was granted; but the American Congress
rejected his claim for priority by eliminating from the pension bill the
words "Discovery of the Pole." The European geographical societies,
forced under diplomatic pressure to honor Peary, have