Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-09-09
ALL WASHINGTON
PRAISES PEARY
His Achievement Gratifying to
His Associates.

Washington, Sept. 7.-"Should an
American first of all place the Stars
and stripes at that coveted spot, there
o. not an American citizen at home or
abroad, and there are millions Of us,
but what would feel a little better and
little prouder Of being an American
and just that added Increment Of pride
and patriotism to millions would OF
itself alone be worth ten times the
cost Of attaining the pole"
Commander Robert f. Peary almost
three years ago, thus prophetically
outlined his view of the value and in.
terest attached to the achievement he
has just announced in dispatches. The
penetration of the frozen heart OF the
Arctic circle, the news Of Pearys feat
following close upon the heels of DR..
Cooks planting Of the American flag
at the same spot, has evoked enthusi.
astic plaudits In Washington. Every
where, among army and navy officers
and scientists and official Washington
generally, only words of praise are
spoken for Commander Peary.
Such wonderful achievements as
this make epochs in the history of the
world" declared Captain Veeder, in
servatory, "and | have no doubt that
this discovery will add UNNECESSARILY
to the sum Of human knowledge" Cap
tain VeedeT greeted the announcement
of Peary's attainment of the pole with
a hearty, Good" and added that ne
was immensely pleased to know that
the American navy was at least sec
ond in the race.
"Peary adds still another name to
the long list of American heroes"
said Professor Asaph Hall of the OBJ
servatory. II did not know him per.
sonally, but I had come to have the
greatest admiration for him. The
energy he has displayed, his per-
sistence and the intelligence he has
brought to bear on this great problem
which has at last been crowned with
success, are worthy of all commenda-
ton"
Those persons who had associated
with Peary here speak OF him as d
man Of wonderful capacity for doing
things, and they instantly accepted the
statement that he had discovered the
pole. They expected him TO eventual
ly win in his struggle, and so it was
no surprise to them when word came
that he had succeeded
The cours6s taken BY Commander
Pesfy and by DR.. Cook did not differ
very materially, according to Profess
sor Henry Gannett, the geographer.
"It seemed TO me that Peary was
being delayed when he left here
year or so ago" said Professor Can
nett, who is an old friend OF the
Pearys. "Peary's plan was to get up
TO the northeastern cape OF Grant
Land, where he made his former head
quarters, before the Ice closed in. He
had been previously TO the vicinity of
Lady Franklin bay and then northwest
along the coast for quite a distance
before proceeding away from land and
striking out for the pole. I should
say he took about the same course
this time"
Peary's attainment Of the pole
crowns the work Of expeditions that
he has led for a number of years. His
last expedition was in 1906, when by
means of the little Arctic steamer
Roosevelt, and by journeying on
sledges, he succeeded in reaching 81
degrees 6 seconds north latitude. This
was accomplished in April Fl, 1906.
after a zig gag journey in the Arctic
ocean, exactly two years to a day be
fore DR.. Cook is said to have reached
the pole. He regarded that expedition
as simplifying the attainment of the
pole by so per cent, and his failure
to reach the pole then was attributed
by him TO the fact that the winter was
not a normal one, being particularly
open winter throughout the northern