Tanana leader., 1909-09-16

The North Pole has been reached.
Following the report sent abroad Sep
TENDER T that DR.. Frederick A. Cook
had planted the American flag at the
long-sought point comes an announce
ment on September 7 bearing the un-
mistakable marks of truth that Com
mander Robert E. Peary had reached
the goal. 1t is a matter of congratula-
tory pride that both explorers are
Americans. Taking up one thread of
the story at time, first attention will
be given to
The Achievements of Or. Cook
DR.. Cook, at the head of the BRAD
ley Polar Expedition, sailed from Hal
flax on May 16, 1907. He established
his base of supplies at Etah, on the
west coast of Greenland. August IS,
1907, he wrote from Annoatok, Green
land, 20 miles above Etah. The last
word received from him was dated
March II, 1908, 40 miles above Cape
Thomas Hubbard, Jr., the highest
point of land on the north polar sea.
DR.. Cook is A years old. He was a
practieing physician in Brooklyn until
he began his explorations, in 1891,
when he went north as member OF
the Peary Arctic expedition. In 1897
50 he went to the other extreme as a
member of the Belgian Antarctic ex-
pedition. His scaling of Mount McKin-
ley in 1906 was an incident of his work
OF exploring and charting all the sur
rounding country, among the toughest
in North America, and therefore unex-
plored.
Since March II, 1908, the message of
the first of the month announcing the
discovery of the pole was the first news
of him. The message was sent to Co.
penhagen from Disco Bay, North
Greenland.
The pole was located on April q.
1908. Since that time DR.. Cook has
been struggling to get back to civiliza-
ton.
In many parts of the world the news
OF the discovery was received with
skepticism. From the first it was
credited in Denmark. Italians and
Englishmen were noncommittal, and in
America many reputable scientists
were frankly unconvinced.
DR.. Cook arrived in Copenhagen Sen
TENDER 3. When pressed for data re-
garding his discovery he refused to
give it, declaring that he had contracts
Tor the sale of his story and would not
talk any further. The local papers Bit
terly criticized him for placing com.
mercial value above scientific. How
ever, the next day the criticism turned
TO praise, and at a banquet given in
Ar. Cooks honor the king decorated
him with gold medal.
September 9, after Peary had gotten
In touch with the world, DR.. Cook as.
sumed an attitude of disdaiu toward
MIN. One fact he mentioned, which
ne says he would not have disclosed
mad Peary acted the gentleman, and
that is that Peary deliberately stole
provisions from DR.. Cooks outfit.
Further than this DR.. Cook said that
facts and figures, which he will place
before the scientists, will effectuaily
dispel all doubts.
Commander Peary's Story
Word. was received in New York
September 7 that Commander Robert
r. Peary, who sailed from that city in
July, 1908, had discovered the North
Pole on April 6 of this year. He
placed the Stars and Stripes in a metal
case and planted the case in the ice at
the pole. 1t will be remembered that
IN his previous attempt, his sixth voy-
age to the Arctic, he made record of
the "Farthest North" and was only
prevented from attaining the pole by
an open channel or "lead," in the ice,
which he could not cross without
fatal delay.
The present expedition returned via.