Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-07
81 Desire No Controversy;
Peary Is My Friend"
COMMENTS ON EXPLOIT
Has No Doubt of Truth of State
ment of Explorer.
COMING TO NEW YORK AT ONCE
Will Reach Here September 90 or
21 on Board the Steamer
Oscar II.

COPENHAGEN, September by GO
Ing much farther to the east than I did
Commander Peary has cut out Of the
unknown an enormous space which, of
course, will be vastly useful and scientifi-
cally interesting
These were the words of Dr. Frederick
A. Cook when he was told today of the
receipt of dispatches confirming the pre-
vious reports of Commander Pearys sue
cess in reaching the north pole.
II am the first to shout hurrah for
Peary.'" the doctor continued. IF he
has telegraphed an announcement that he
has reached the pole. then 1t is true. and
i congratulate him."
Cook Wants No Controversy.
Asked whether Commander Peary was
likely to have found traces of his prog
ress over the polar seas. DR.. Cook re-
piled: mo. he scarcely would have come
across my tracks"
DR.. Cook then said:
Il understand that rumor is current
about my having taken some of Peary's
provisions at Etah. This is founded on
Eskimo gossip and misunderstanding.
Il desire no controversy. 1 simply say
in reply to any such assertion. no. Com
mander Peary is friend of mine."
Dr. Cook said also that according to his
present plans he would reach New York
September 20 or q on board the Scandi-
navianlAmerican line steamer Oscar II.
The name of Peary Is heard more fre-
quently In Copenhagen today than that
of Cook. Experts, the general public and
the newspapers accept Commander
Peary's triumph as an unquestioned fact.
While loyal to their belief in DIR. Cook.
the people await the revelations to be
made by the publication Of the details Of
his observations. The opinions of scien-
lists on DR.. Cooks achievement are OF
particular interest at the present time
Tor the reason that the University Of Co
penhagen tomorrow will make DR.. Cook
honorary professor OF science, greater
distinction than the honorary degree
upon him.
More Entertainment for Cook.
Maurice F. Egan. the American minis
ter to Denmark; Miss Egan and the Ger
snan minister. Count Henckel. had
luncheon with DR.. Cook at the Hotel
Angleterre today. This afternoon Mr..
Egsn gave a reception to the diplomatic
corps to meet DR.. Cook
A steamer with 400 English tourists on
board arrived here this morning from
England. The program was to take the
travellers on an excursion into the coun-
try, but the entire party remained In
Copenhagen for the purpose OF seeing
DR.. Cook. They filled the corridors of
the hotel. eager to catch sight Of the
famous American.
No one was more interested In Com
mander Peary's announcement than Com
modore Hovgaard, who is an authority
on arctic exploration.
II said to DR.. Cook when / heard the
news" the commodore declared, you. at
all events, were the first to reach the
pole, and there you have my opinion
briefly I think that in justice to DR..
Cook we should remember he got there
first. He selected what seems to have
been the best route
How long after DIR. Cook reached the
pole do you think Commander Pearv ar
rived there?" the commodore was asked.
Probably a year. but perhaps only six
months" he replied.
Gould Peary have learned at the pole
that Cook had been there before him?
This seems impossible. Even II Peary
was there two weeks or two days after
DIR. Cook he might not have found any
track of the first party, because of the
movement of the drift Ice. 1t Is probable
also that the moving ice took away the
metal box Cook left at the POLE"
Commodore Hovgaard thought it prob
able that the north pole was a place
which could not be permanently marked,
and in conclusion he said that 1t had been
a real race between Cook and Peary to
get to the pole first and to be the first
TO return.