Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20
COOK BITTERLY
CONDEMNS ACT
OF His ENEMY
"PEARY SHOWS BAD SIDE OF
HIS CHARACTER"
POLE FINDER IMPLIES RIVAL is
SHATTERED IDOL
Surgeon Believes There ls Honor
Enough for TWo-Men In
Etah Deny Doctor Told
of Success
tBy Associated Press.


ON BOARD OSCAR II, OF Nan
tucket, Sept. 10, $3.50 p. m.' By
" United wireless and Marconi
Wireless Telegraph.-Dr. Frederick A.
Cook today made the following state
ment to the Associated Press:
my desire to get on American soil
increases with every mile left behind
by the Oscar II. The vessel is doing
her best record, though delayed occa-
sionally, making 400 miles in the last
twentyfour hours.
Commander Pearys unfortunate
accusations have disclosed another
side of his character. The specific
records of my journey are accessible
to every one who reads and all can
decide for themselves when Peary
publishes a similar report.
FREDERICK A. COOK"
According to the captains observa-
tions at midday, the Oscar II will ar
rive at Sandy Hook early Tuesday
morning unless something unforeseen
arises.
DR.. Cook appears to exercise great
self-restraint, but can hardly repress
a natural annoyance at impeachment
of his veracity without proofs.
DR.. Cooks Statement
He requested the Associated Press
to make public the following:
Commander Peary has as yet given
to the world no proofs of his own case
Ny claim has been fully recognized
by Denmark and by the king of Swe-
den; the president of the United States
has wired me his confidence; my claim
has been accepted by the International
Bureau for Polar Research at Brus-
sells; most of the geographical societies
Of Europe have sent me congratula-
tionS which mean. faith and acceptance
for the present, and almost every eX-
plorer of note has come forward with
warm and friendly approval.
"A specific record of my journey is
accessible to all, and every one who
can read can decide for himself. When
Peary publishes a similar report, then
our cases are parallel. why should
Peary be allowed to make himself a
self-appointed dictator of my affairs?"
Must Prove Claims
I'm Justice to himself, in justice to
the world and to guard the honor of
national prestige he should be COM
PEELED to prove his own case; he should
publish at once preliminary narra-
tive to be compared with mine, and
let fair-minded people ponder over the
matter while the final records, by
which my case may be eventually
proved, are being prepared.
Il know Peary, the explorer. AS
such he is a hero in arctic annals and
deserves the credit of long and hard
earned glory. To Peary, the explorer.
am ready to tip my hat, but Peary's
accusations have disclosed another
side to his character which never will
be forgotten.
when Peary wired he had nailed
the Stars and Stripes to the pole 1 i'm
mediately sent congratulations. 1 then
believed, as I do now, that his work
over new route far east of my line
of travel was new conquest of great
Importance, and of course that his OBJ E.
servations at the pole would supple
ment my work with valuable detail.
There is room enough and honor
enough for two American flags at the
pole"
Due Tuesday Morning
The Oscar II will not arrive at New
York until Tuesday morning.
> This is at the urgent request of the
reception committee, which Is to meet
DR.. Cook.
The steamer could have reached
Sandy Hook Monday afternoon, but
message from the reception committee
to- the fact that 1t was impossible to
change the arrangements, was received
this evening by wireless and the cap
tain consented to comply with the
request.
The Oscar II is therefore under de-
creased speed.