As I stood there on the top of the world and I thought of the hundreds of men who had lost their lives in the effort to reach it [North Pole], I felt profoundly grateful that I had the honor of representing my race. |
From the time we knew we were at the Pole, Commander Peary scarcely spoke to me... It nearly broke my heart... that he would rise in the morning and slip away on the homeward trail without rapping on the ice for me, as was the established custom. |
I have reason to be grateful to Dr. Cook for favors received; I lived with his folks while I was suffering with my eyes, due to snow blindness, but I feel that all of the debts of gratitude have been liquidated by my silence in this controversy, and I will have nothing more to say in regard to him or to his claims. |
I think I'm the first man to sit on top of the world. |
It'll work, if God, wind, leads, ice, snow, and all the hells of this damned frozen land are willing. |
We had no faith in (Cook) whatever. He was not even good for a day's work, and the idea of his making such an astounding claim as having reached the Pole was so ludicrous that, after our laugh, we dropped the matter altogether. |