Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-08
PEARxs CAMP 1908 EXPEDITION

L
| Have won at last The pole is ours
| is the only message that has been re-
ceived by the society so far from Com
mander Peary 1t was dated at Indian
Harbor, via Cape Ray, Monday.
! The following reply, drawn up by the
| board of managers. and signed by Presi-
dent Willis l.. Moore and Secretary 0. P.
Austin, was telegraphed to Peary at Cha
teau bay, Labrador:
| I'm answer to your Geographic report
| to this society that you have reached
the north pole the National Geographic
Society, through the action of its board
| of managers today, extends to you Its
heartiest congratulations on your great
achievement.
Honors Withheld for Present.
| Determined not to be drawn into the
impending controversy between the two
explorers the members of the board have
given out statement in which they said:
1.-The board OF managers of the Ma
tional Geographic Society yesterday de-
cided to take no action with regard to
honors to arctic explorers until after de-
tailed observations and records are sub
mitted to and passed upon by competent
authorities.
In commenting upon the action of the
board. Prof. Willis L. Moore chief Of the
weather bureau and president OF the So
ciety, said:
1T is not an unusual proceeding on the
| part of the society. We have always held
! that proof should be declared authentic
by some recognized scientific institution.
In this way justice will be done to both
men.
'They will both, no doubt, submit their
observations and reports to proper scien-
tific authorities, which. when they have
been passed on, will establish facts that
can be accepted by everybody.
I'VE do not mean to have 1t under
stood that the society will not honor both
DR.. Cook and Commander Peary. Both
men are members OF the society. and the
society feels honored at having two such
distinguished explorers on its rolls.
II have no doubt that the society Will
present medal to both explorers. But
have been established"
Those who attended the board meeting
were President Willis L. Moore. Secre-
tary o. p. Austin. Prof. Henry Gannett,
Vice President Charles j. Bell and DR..
C. Hart Merriam.
Absolute Proof Required.
Prof. Gannett, chairman of the United
States geographic board and a close
friend of Commander Peary. said regard
ing the action of the board:
1T means just what it states. We
don't deny that either Cook or Peary dis
covered the pole. We simply say that we
both men will doubtless have with them
when they arrive.
| reasons for skepticism. Cook himself.
records. said that he had sent them to
America. Furthermore, many English
scientists do not seem to be at all salts
| fed with DR.. Cooks explanation. ,
'Of course. do not want to be quoted
as saying that DR.. Cook did not discover
the pole; that would not be fair. But
want to wait for proof before admitting
anything in the matter.
II certainly should not like to see q
controversy. and 1t should be prevented.
The matter can easily be settled in a
proper and regular way"
Survey Proud Of Representative.
Officials of the coast and geodetic sur
vey are proud of Commander Peary's
achievement in reaching the pole. as he
was under detail to the survey when the
expedition was made. The coast and
geodetic survey is especially interested
| in tidal currents of the polar regions, and
will bring them much valuable informa-
ton regarding them.
Acting Supt. Perkins said last evening
THE first service which the survey
will expect of Mr.. Peary after his ar
rival will be the preparation of a de-
tailed report Of his expedition.
1--WE are especially interested In such
| tidal observations as he was able ia
make. and these will he of great i'm
portance. both in the study of the cir
culation within the polar basin and in
the general study of the laws governing
the tidal currents Of the world"
Navy without Direct Word.
Officers of the Navy Department are
interested in Peary's forthcoming ac-
~
ment had received no direct word from
him.
Herbert L. Bridgman. secretary of the
Peary Arctic Club. has sent the depart
ment official notification Of Commander
Peary's success in dispatch to the Sec
rotary Of the Navy. in which he said
that Peary telegraphed from Indian Har-
Dor, Labrador:
North pole reached April by Peary
Arctic Club expedition under my COM
mand."
Commander Peary Is on leave of abb
sence from the Navy Department and Is
carried on the official roster as on duty
under the coast and geodetic survey max
ing tidal observations on the coast OF
Grantland and Greenland. He is not Of
| ficially required to make report to the
Navy Department, but 1t is thought that
| he will do so.
Explorer Warmbath's Comment.
J Julian s. Warmbath Of Washington
who went with the Peary expedition tt
the arctic regions in 1893. and remained
there until 1901. exploring Ellesmereland
and contiguous territory. said that from
his knowledge of conditions In the arc.
tic regions. he did not regard 1t as al
! all strange that DIR. Cooks announce.
ment of his discovery should have beer
delayed SO long.
1 There is no DOUBT he said, ..in m,
| mind that both have reached the long.
| sought-for goal in the land Of the ur
known. Both men have had considerable
| experience in arctic exploration, and Cool
| has had some in antarctic exploration
/ Both know 1t would be foolhardy e
| come back with a false report. Wher
their reports are put to the test of scien
tific examination and calculation Their,
/ is no chance to deceive.
| Cooks delay in getting his report t.
| the world, was due to the fact that, un
| like Peary, he did not have a ship a
hand to hasten his journey to civilization
| but had to wait until the open water.
i froze, allowing him to cross on the ice
| working his way southwark. as best h,
/ could.
/ Calculated to Move World.
81 have just returned from England
and can readily understand the thrill OF
excitement which swept over Europe. al
it did over this country, when word wa,
/ received frs. from DR.. Cook and ther
within a week from Peary. that they hae
at last discovered the north pole. It wal
| a wonderful achievement, and both mel
i arr. worthy of the highest honors.
1.-The reason why DIR. Cook did not fine
/ any traces of the Peary expedition on hi.
return from the pole was that he tool
lyn hn a