newspaper was looking for an encore to that so they decided to fund this expedition even though it was staffed by officers of the u.s. navy. it became one of the first official american attempts on the north pole. we are talking about the early days way before shackleton and terry and so forth. the last expedition than ever to the sale to the north pole. i sort of underscore that. the idea was that if you bust through a little of the i see will eventually meet this we are seeing that everyone seemed to believe them. the idea that there was a warmonger based out there. but it does get to it there would be smooth sailing to the north pole. that is what this expedition was seeking to find with the open polar sea. it doesn't exist. it might exist in because of climate change but it didn't exist in 1880s. >> host: what was the fascination with the north pole then? >> guest: people were obsessed with this idea that there were certain places left, just a few places that have never been touched by man. one of the people i quote in the book talks about how a man will become obsessed with the idea that there is a room perhaps in hi