Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-09-15
ASSOCIATED PRESS MAN
INTERVIEWS PEARY
Cordially Greeted in the Cabin of the
Roosevelt.

Battle Harbor. Labrador. Sept. IA
(via wireless to Cape Ray, n. XII
am the only white man who has ever
reached the North pole. and / am pre-,
pared. to prove it." This statement
was made to-day to the representative
Of the Associated Press by Comman-
der Robert f. Peary. in reply to a
question about the controversy with
Dr. Cook.
The tug Douglas Thomas. after
stormy passags arrived at this lonely
whaling and 4lission settlement at
noon yesterday. A squall of rain was
blowing over the harbor as the
Thomas steamed in. but 1t was possi-
BILE to see. the Arctic steamship
Roosevelt moored h the inner bay.
The Thomas signalled congratulations,
and the Roosevelt signalled back the
thanks Of Commander Peary for the
message.
When the Thomas drew near the
Roosevelt, il was observed that the
latter looked little the worse for her
second trip to the polar regions.
Along the rail we're gathered the MEM
bers of her crew, among them Capt.
Robert Bartlett. who invited the
Thomas to come alongside. and the
correspondent to come on board.
The correspondent went directly to
the cabin to see Commander Peary.
His greeting was cordial
This is new record in news
paper enterprise" he said. "and ! ap-
preciate the compliment"
Only White Man to Have Reached
Pole.
The correspondent at once began
Questioning the successful explorer re-
garding the merits of DIR. Frederick
A IL -. g. IL. f..a.
pole The commander declared posi-
lively that he would not further dis
cuss this subject until the main point
whether DR.. Cook had actually reach
ed the North pole or not. had been
decided by others He then dictated
the following statement for publica-
tion:
Il am the only white man who has
ever reached the North pole, and ] am
prepared to prove II at the proper
time. | have already stated publicly
that Cook has not been to the pole.
This I reaffirm. and ! will stand by
it but I decline to discuss the details
of the matter. These will come out
later I have said that DIR. Cooks
statement tfst he had reached the
pole should not be taken seriously. and
that / have him nailed by concrete
proofs toisupport my statement In
whole story.
Will Await Cooks Full Authorized
Statements.
1T would not be policy for me
to enter upon a full dehate with the
subject as II now stands. To do so
! would be giving out much informa-
tion of which other uses could be
made. I intend to wait until DR.. Cook
has issued his full Authorized state
ments. Up to the present time there
have been only newspaper accounts OF
DR.. Cooks alleged polar trip. and these
may or NAV not be accurate. When
DR.. Cook has time to issue a COM
plete authorized version of his jour-
ney win be the proper opportunity
for me to make public the informa-
tlon which | have. After that the
jury-in other words. the people and
the scientific bodies of the world
will pass Judgment on the matter. and
there will then be nothing left Of DIR.
Cooks case but his own assertions
that he has reached the North pole.
In the meanwhile. II is my deternina-
tion not to deal With debates. for the
reasons already stated"
Possibility Of Land Discoveries.
Commaners Peary was then asked
II new land could have been discov-
ever in latitude 81. longitude sc. In
reply he shrugged his shoulders. and
said II was quite possible tlat an un-
known continent existed further west.
He referred to the land discovered
by himself ON previous trips that had
not vet been explored
Asked what wOuld be the interna-
tional effect of planting the Stars
and Stripes at the North pole Com
mander Peary said that he had notf-
fed the secretary of state that he had
taken possession of the pole in the
name of the United States and that
il remained for the secretary to de-
eide what that meant. He said he had
left records on the ice at the pole.