An epoch-making phase of Antarctic research is now ushered in by the Belgian expedition in the Belgica, under the leadership of Commander Adrien de Gerlache.  Hardly anyone has had a harder fight to set his enterprise on foot than Gerlache.  He was successful, however, and on August 16, 1897, the Belgica left Antwerp.

The scientific staff had been chosen with great care, and Gerlache had been able to secure the services of exceedingly able men.  His second in command, Lieutenant G. Lecointe, a Belgian, possessed every qualification for his difficult position.  It must be remembered that the Belgica’s company was as cosmopolitan as it could be —­ Belgians, Frenchmen, Americans, Norwegians, Swedes, Rumanians, Poles, etc. —­ and it was the business of the second in command to keep all these men together and get the best possible work out of them.  And Lecointe acquitted himself admirably; amiable and firm, he secured the respect of all.

As a navigator and astronomer he was unsurpassable, and when he afterwards took over the magnetic work he rendered great services in this department also.  Lecointe will always be remembered as one of the main supports of this expedition.

Lieutenant Emile Danco, another Belgian, was the physicist of the expedition.  Unfortunately this gifted young man died at an early stage of the voyage —­ a sad loss to the expedition.  The magnetic observations were then taken over by Lecointe.

The biologist was the Rumanian, Emile Racovitza.  The immense mass of material Racovitza brought home speaks better than I can for his ability.  Besides a keen interest in his work, he possessed qualities which made him the most agreeable and interesting of companions.

Henryk Arctowski and Antoine Dobrowolski were both Poles.  Their share of the work was the sky and the sea; they carried out oceanographical and meteorological observations.

Henry Arctowski was also the geologist of the expedition —­ an all-round man.  It was a strenuous task he had, that of constantly watching wind and weather.  Conscientious as he was, he never let slip an opportunity of adding to the scientific results of the voyage.

Frederick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, was surgeon to the expedition —­ beloved and respected by all.  As a medical man, his calm and convincing presence had an excellent effect.  As things turned out, the greatest responsibility fell upon Cook, but he mastered the situation in a wonderful way.  Through his practical qualities he finally became indispensable.  It cannot be denied that the Belgian Antarctic expedition owes a great debt to Cook.

The object of the expedition was to penetrate to the South Magnetic Pole, but this had to be abandoned at an early stage for want of time.

A somewhat long stay in the interesting channels of Tierra del Fuego delayed their departure till January 13, 1898.  On that date the Belgica left Staten Island and stood to the South.