The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-09-17
The ONLY ONE. SAYS PEARY.
Declares He Can Refute Cook S
Claims Himself Sole Dis
coverer

II am the only white man who has
ever reached the North Pole, and l
am prepared to prove it.. This state
me-t was made to the representative
OF me Associated Press by Command
er Robert E. Peary in reply to ques-
tio.: on the Peary-Cook controversy.
The Associated Press tug Douglas
Thcmas, after stormy passage up
the west coast Of Newfoundland and
through the strait Of Belle Isle from
Sydney. arrived at this lonely coallng
settlement at noon yesterday A squall
Of rain was sweeping over the harbor
as he Thomas steamed in, but with
glasses it was possible to make out the
mas and hull Of the Arctic steamer
Roosevelt moored in the inner bay.
The Thomas broke out the "North
Pole" flag, the same emblem that was
flying from the mizzenmast Of the
Roosevelt, and signaled, "The Asso-
cia:ad Press congratulates YOU" The
Roosevelt then signaled the thanks Of
Commander Peary for this message,
whereupon the Thomas gave three
loud blasts on her whistle. In re-
sponse there came from the Roosevelt
a chorus of barking and yelping from
the Eskimo dogs on board that echoed
back from the surrounding hills.
The Roosevelt looked little the
worse for her second trip to the pola-:
regions. The redoubtable Capt. Rob-
ert Bartlett invited the Thomas to lay
alongside and the correspondent to
core on board without delay.
AS to Cooks Claim.
The correspondent was taken at
once to Commander Peary's cabin ard
began questioning the explorer re-
garling the merits Of DR.. Frederick
4. Cooks claim to reach the poe.
The commander declared positively
tha! he would not further discuss this
subject until the main point: whether
DR.. Cook had actually reached he
North Pole or not, had been decided
bv others. He then dictated the fol-
lowing statement to the Associated
Press for publication.
Il an the only white man who has
ever reached the North Pole, and |
am prepared to prove 1t at the prop
er time. have ALREADY stated publicly
tha. Cook has not been 10 the pole.
THIS I reaffirm and | will stand by it,,
but ! decline to discuss the details
Of The matter. This will come out
lace.. i have said that Dr.. Cook $
sta: amenc that he had reached the
pole should not be taken seriously.
and that L have him nailed by con-
CREE proofs to support my statement.
VIII Say Mere Later.
In six months You probably will
get he whole story. It would not be
policy FOR. me to enter upon full de-
bate with the subject as 1t now
sTa,sis. To do so l would be giving
ou. much information Of which other
uses could be made. | intend to walt
until Dr.. Cook has issued his full ALL
thorized statements. Up 10 the pres
emf time there have been only nwspa-
per accounts of DR.. Cook IS alleged po-
lar Trip, and these may or may not be
accurate. When DR.. Cook has time
TO issue a complete authorized YER
sion of his journey will be the proper
opportunity for me to make pubic
the Information which | have After
tha: the jury-in other words the peo-
pie and the scientific bodies of the
world-will pass judgment on the
matter and there viii then be nothing
lef: of Dr.. Cooks case but his own
assertions that he has reached the
North Pole. In the meanwhile it IS
nv determination not to deal with
debates fer the reasons already
<tated.';
Merely Shrugs Shoulders.
Commander Peary was then asekd
if new land could have been dlscov-
cred in latitude 81 longitude st. In
reply he shrugged his shoulders and
SAID it was qui:e possible that an un-
known continent existed further west.
He referred to the land discovered by
himself Oh previous trips that had not
yec been explored.
Asked what would be the interna-
tional effect Of planting the Stars and
Stripes at the North Pole, Command
er Peary said he had notified the
secretary of state that he had ta-
ken possession Of the pole IN the
name of the United States and that