THROUGH THE FIRST ANTARCTIC NIGHT 1898–1899

A NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE OF THE “BELGICA” AMONG NEWLY DISCOVERED LANDS AND OVER AN UNKNOWN SEA ABOUT THE SOUTH POLE

BY

FREDERICK A. COOK, M.D.

SURGEON AND ANTHROPOLOGIST OF THE BELGIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION WITH AN APPENDIX CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESULTS

Illustrated

WILLIAM HEINEMANN LONDON 1900

Copyright, 1900, by Frederick A. Cook.

Portions of this narrative have appeared in the Century, Scribner’s and McClure’s. Though this material has been much changed and rewritten, my acknowledgments are due to these magazines.

Press of J. J. Little & Co. Astor Place, New York

TO THE LITTLE FAMILY, THE OFFICERS, THE SCIENTIFIC STAFF, AND THE CREW OF THE “BELGICA,” WHOSE FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES MADE THIS STORY OF THE FIRST HUMAN EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT A SOUTH POLAR YEAR; TO THESE MEN, WHOSE CLOSE COMPANIONSHIP AND STURDY GOOD-FELLOWSHIP MADE LIFE ENDURABLE DURING THE STORMS, THE DARKNESS, AND THE MONOTONY OF THE ANTARCTIC, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED.