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It's the evening of July 11, 1891 in Melville Bay off the coast of Greenland.

26-year-old surgeon Frederick Cook leans over the side of a steamship,

marvels at its steel hull cutting through a layer of ice on the seawater.

Aside from the native tribes who live in the sparsely populated Arctic,

few people have ever been this far north, but Frederick has a taste for adventure.

One month ago he left his New York medical practice to join an expedition to the Arctic,

led by explorer Robert Perry. Now Frederick is helping map the wilderness of Greenland

to discover how far north the vast island reaches.

But the journey is treacherous. Frederick hears a shout and looks around to see a sailor

pointing to a large chunk of ice in the water. Frederick grips the rail tight

as the ship collides with the ice block.

Ship's wheel spins wildly and the two sailors holding it are thrown to the deck.

A bar snaps off the tiller hitting expedition leader Robert Perry across the legs.

He collapses screaming and pain. Frederick runs to the interd explorer.

With a single glance he can tell that both of Robert's lower leg bones are broken.

He calls for help to carry Robert below deck because he knows he must quickly set Robert's legs

to prevent infection. If he doesn't, the expedition may have failed even before they set foot on land.

Frederick Cook successfully treats Robert Perry's broken bones and the expedition leader credits

the surgeon for saving the mission. Six months later when Robert is fully recovered,

...