Finding the North Pole has Dr. Cook's own story of his discovery, April 21, 1908 and the story of Commander Peary's discovery, April 6, 1909, together with the marvelous record of former arctic expeditions. Not only the people of the United States of America, but the whole civilized world were electrified by the announcement on September 1, 1909, through the public press that dispatches had been received from Dr. Frederick A. Cook, claiming that he had the great honor, on April 21, 1908, of reaching the long-sought-for goal, the physical North Pole of the earth. Nor had the resulting excitement subsided before Commander Robert E. Peary, U.S.N. cabled to the Associated Press on September 5, 1909, that he had planted the Stars and Stripes upon the North Pole on April 6, 1909. The sensation was without parallel in the history of polar discovery. Where men had for centuries striven in vain it suddenly was told to the world that two Americans had independently achieved the supreme goal of their ambitions. Nothing can be more interesting or inspiring than the story of the men who have braved the hardship and perils of the Arctic regions, and apart form Dr. Cook's report of his expedition, this book contains interesting accounts of Peary's and other important polar discoveries and experiences. The Introduction was written by George W. Melville, Rear Admiral U.S. Navy (Retired), the survivor of three arctic expeditions who was given a gold medal by Congress for his distinguished services. He was a member of the DeLong Expedition, and when the "Jeannette" was crushed in the ice, marched with part of the crew to the coast of Siberia at the mouth of the Lena River. He led an expedition to search for DeLong and found the relics of the ill-fated leader. Admiral Melville is one of the most experienced Arctic explorers and is an authority of the first rank on the subject of Arctic travels.