Evening star., 1909-09-13
PEARY TO HOLD FIRE
Bridgman Urges Explorer to
Defer Cook Refutation.
CONFERENCE IS ADVISED
Said Rival Got Data of Peary's Trip
From Eskimos.
WORKED OVER FOR OWN STORY
Polar Commission to Judge Contro-
versy-Miss Peary's Birthday.
Telegram From Father.

the Roosevelt for Sydney.
Mrs Peary yesterday received a wireless
message from her husband. saying he
would keep her posted, and from this
brief word II is assumed that Commander
Peary has not definitely fixed the time of
his sailing from Battle Harbor. Further
information from Battle Harbor is looked
for today, but the Roosevelt is not ex-
pected here before the latter part of this
week.
Plans are being made to have Herbert
L. Brldgman. secretary of the Peary
Arctic Club, and the correspondents meet
the Roosevelt in the vicinity of ST. Pauls
Island and take him aboard the steamer
Tyrian, which the government has turned
over to the newspaper men. The Tyrian
is much faster ship than the Roosevelt.
and this would expedite Commander
Peary's arrival here and at the same time
give the correspondents an opportunity to
question the arctic explorer about his dash
to the pole. and the Cook controversy.
Peary Advised to Hold Fire.
Pending the arrival of Commander
Peary the questions that have arisen are
earnestly discussed among the members
of the Peary welcoming party. which is
made up of arctic explorers, scientists and
correspondents
1t is known here that Mr.. Bridgman has
suggested to Commander Peary. through
wireless kilograms. that because q the
temper of the controversy Ii might be
we'll to defer any long statement in the
matter until he has reached here.
From Ashland. Ore. there came over
the wires this message. addressed to Mr..
Bridgman:
"Anent Peary's clean-cut, unfrilled mar
rative. and his account of mailing flag to
pole. please publish whether nails were
cut or wire"
To this Mr. Bridgman replied:
Neither. Nails were of wrought iron
driven through and clinched on other
side"
Mrs. Peary received several kilograms
yesterday, among them two from her
husband. One was of a purely personal
nature, relating to family matters only;
the other conveyed word that the Roose-
welt was still at Battle Harbor and that
Peary directly before sailing for Sydney.
Miss Peary's Birthday.
Miss Peary, the explorers daughter,
also received message from her father.
conveying birthday greetings. She was
sixteen years old yesterday, and received
many birthday gifts. With her mother,
she attended several informal receptions
during the day.
Capt Durand of the French cruiser Isly.
now in port, gave reception on board
to the newspaper correspondents IN the
among the visitors to the cruiser, and was
made much of by the officers.
The contingent that has come here to
meet the returning explorers was IN
creased by Saturday nights late train
Among the newcomers was Col. H. s.
Borup who is here to meet his son,
George Borup, one of the scientists OF the
Peary party.
One of the first documents that will be
handed to Commander Peary by his wife
will be his commission as member OF
the International polar commission. This
commission was signed by the Secretary
of State several months ago, and so far
as Mrs. Pea.y knows her husband has
not yet been informed OF the honor Ihat
has been bestowed upon him.
There Is another important paper con-
nected with the Roosevelt. This Is her
clearance which was taken out on her
departure from this port July 16, 1NS.
north pole and is the only clearance to
that point ever issued. Peter Campbell
of the Sydney custom house, who drew
up the papers, asked Capt. Bartlett to
preserve the document and to bring IL
back with him The intention Is to have
il framed and hung up in the custom
house.
Mr. Bridgman has received private in
formation from Peary that Cook learned
of Peary's successful dash to the pole
while he Cook was still Sotourning
among the Eskimos Cook learned enough
from the Eskimos. it will be alleged. to
form the basis of his picturesque account
of his polar dash. Immediately he got the
Information, runs the Peary version, he
hurried southwark from his arctic re-
treat
This. Mr.. Bridgman thinks, explains
fully the vagueness of Cooks descrip-
ton of the north pole and also explains
how Cook was able to give an account
of polar dash that slightly resembled
the Peary narrative.
Polar Court of Last Resort.
Both Peary and Bridgman believe that
the international polar commission will
drive DR.. Cook out of the field as claim
ant to the discovery of the north pole.
Although this commission last met in
1895 at Brussels, its work has been con-
tinued, and in scientific circles 1t prac-
ucally stands in the position of court
Of last resort in polar controversies. Its
very purpose was to prevent expeditions
crossing each other trails and thereby
obviate just such a dispute as has arisen
in the Peary-Cook rivalry of claims
Peary to Plan Campaign.
Commander Peary, in all PROBABILITY,
his family to his home In Eagle Island
In Casco bay, Me-, where he will rest for
a day or two, proceeding thence to Wash
ington to make his official report to the
government.
While here he will confer with Herbert
l.. Bridgnan, secretary of the Peary Arc
tic Club, and will acquaint himself with
the latest details of the Peary-Cook con-
troversy.
That Commander Peary is prepared in
every way TO, substantiate by convincing
evidence his statement that Dr. Frederick
Cook did not reach the pole is stated by
nearly every one of the large colony Of
arctic explorers. scientists and others
who have gathered here to greet the ex-
plorer from the north.
1t was also learned here tonight that
Peary will seek also to expose a certain
coterie in the Arctic Club which has
been circulating stories rejecting upon
Peary's character. In his counter at
tack upon these men Peary is expected
to charge that this clique is dominated
by Cook.
Expects Peary to Prove Charges.
Commander Peary will have with
him incontestable proof to support
every statement he has made in con-
nection with DR.. Cooks trip in the
arctic" said Mr.. Bridgman last night
Every one who knows Peary realizes
that he never makes statements unless
he can prove them absolutely. When
the proper time arrives, and that will
be when DR.. Cook has made his state
ment over his own signature, the proof
will be forthcoming.
Il quite agree with President Hub
bard Of the Peary Arctic Cluh that Dr