New-York tribune., 1909-09-07
ARCTIC CLUB WOR RIED
ONE DINNER--THyO HEROES
If There Isn't Collection of North
Poles Members Face Trouble.

Is the North Pole twins:
If 1t is not. there is likely to be trouble in this
town among the Cook and Peary adherents, It
said yesterday.
it is being amply discovered of late said mem
Der of the Arctic Club of America, from which
Commander. Peary and his wife suddenly Withdrew
a few years 70.
talked of, and whether one OF the explorers dis
covered the pole and the other the mirage was
also mentioned possibility.
1T doesn't seem probable that there is an as
semblage OF poles up there" said Roswell O. Steb-
bins, at his home at No East 4Sd street DR.
Stebbins is chairman Of the executive committee
of the Arctic club OF America. and is also chair
man OF tho Cook relief committee" under whose
auspices the schooner Jeanie fitted re-
Gently and sent north find DR.. Frederick A.
Cook
TN years gone by 1t has been race for the
pole but things different now At present # IS
race for the dinner" Dr. Stebbins continued '"The
Arctic Club Of America wants very much. you
know, To give dinner for the man who discovered
the pole. Tha; Is why the club was
formed IN the first place. but tho members of
dinner committee didn't expect the present influx
Of candidates. It's embarrassing; it's even more
than that-its critical situation.
II have Just returned from the Hotel Astor
where l talked with the proprietor about arrange
ments 10 give a dinner for Dr. Cook on September
80 thereabouts When I get back home here I
mander Peary probably will arrive in New York
before DR.. Cook. and one cannot evade the fact
that Commander PeaTy may upset lot OF plans
II pronaturely made. If he has a photograph OF
the pole with him, flying only one flag. and starts
to prove that the flag his private property,
why
Dr. Stebbins took breath. and added quietly: I'VE
don't know what 10 do about the dinner just yet
DID PEARY HEAR COOKS CLAIM?
"A point which I should like TO have specific
information" he continued, 'fs this Assuming
that Commander Peary sent the message, was 70
sent after he had heard Of Dr. Cooks claim to
discovery Of the pole, without any such knowl-
edge Whatsoever? ] hope it written by Peary
entirely free from possible bias that informa-
ton concerning Cooks feat might effect
THE two deadly enemies, OF course.
Commander Pesry probably feels more enmity than
does DR. Cook. and with certain amount OF rea-
son. PeaTy undoubtedly feels ar having the
prize snatched away-provided It is proved TO have
been-by Cook who received large part Of his
training under Peary
Cook is the only living white man who could
have gone 10 the Esquimaus and induced them TO ,
lend him the dogs that Peary was breeding for
his fna spurt Whether he did this do not know,
but those Esquimaus were tied UP with Peary
that they would not have thought of permitting
any White man except Dr. Cook to touch the dogs.
They knew Cook; he was with Peary in 1SSl-'92
and in 1904.
Undoubtedly tho same conditions reported by
Or. Cook prevailed when Commander Peary made
his final dash. The low temperature DR.. Cook tells
Of insured dead calm in the polar regions. and
this would permit the fastest kind Of travel IL
snow fell during the trip 1t would be heavily
packed, and speed would be retarded because
Of It, As in the of Dir Cook, shall regard it
convincing proof that ne has discovered the
pole If Commander Peary produces observations
taken along tho ; far north as 80 degrees
1t would be just impossible for him 10 forge
records and data IL would for Dr. Cook. There
should be skepticism because Of the fact that
the report their with such short inter
walls between. Each determined do die
ia the last expedition. and Commander Peary dc
serves as much credit for succeeding as does Or.
Cook. II often that two in widely
different parts of the country invent the same
thing. One knew nothing about the invention OF
tho other and each is deserving OF the same
praise OF course Dr. Cook probably arrived at the
pole first, and that honor he denied him.
Both are good true Americans, however, and every
one should rejoice At the feats they have per-
formed.
II shall eagerly await Commander Peary's re-
turn. az we'll as Dr- Cooks. Both men Will have
valuable contributions TO make TO science. Com
Inauder Peary's has also settled beyond
question the ownership of the North Pole. What
ever may have been found there. % is United
States possession. and, TO my mind, the Monroe
Doctrine will easily apply. We the pole and
all the surrounding territory down far as the |
highest point touched by any foreign explorer
IAN hail TO the gallant commander. Again, I
say rejoice his success and that il is to the
credit of this nation that two Of our intrepid ex- |
porers have been the only ones to reach the long
sought for goal