Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-09-10
COOKS DISCOVERIES
HE TELLS ;HOW HE REACHED
The NORTH POLE.
Was Congratulated on ALI Sides and
Everywhere Commended for Modesty
and Sincerity-Gives Much Credit to
Eskimos Who Were With Him on His
Perilous Voyage.

Copenhagen.-In an interview grant
ed to number of correspondents rep
!, Tesenting the foremost news agencies
and newspapers of Europe and America
DR. Frederick A. Cook, pinned down by
the mercless, searching questions of
William T. Stead, the veteran British
Journalist and dean and spokesman of
the correspondents corps, admitted
that unless his astrOlogic observations
and the corroborative evidence of his
two Eskimo companions are accepted as
such he has no positive proof of his
right to the title of discoverer of the
north pole.
So frank, straightforward and con-
vincing were the answers of the daunt-
less scientist that at the end of an
hour s cruel grilling he had satisfied
the belief of virtually every man
present at the interview of the truth
of his assertions that he planted the
stars and stripes on the long coveted
northern goal ON April 81, 1908.
Clears Away All Doubt.
After a day strenuous enough to
tire a Roosevelt and distressing enough
to wear the patience of Job, DR.. Cook
in the face of the discouraging skepti
cisms which would have snatched away
his laurels almost before they were
bestowed, was called upon to clear
away an international incredulity
which seemingly barred his entrance to
the hall of fame.
He succeeded in the effort. Calm and
imperturbable, though wincing under
the cruelty of thrusts which even the
tactfulness of Stead could not miti-
gate, DR.. Cook modestly and with de-
lightful unassumption met every in
quiry with a directness and frankness
that quickly won his hearers.
At the conclusion of the interview he
was congratulated on all sides and
everywhere were heard favorable com
ments on his modesty and sincerity,
and the belief was expressed that the
scientific worlds verdict would be
that he won the prize sought for CEN
turies.
Can Furnish Proof.
ST realize, gentlemen" said DR..
Cook in addressing the newspaper men,
E'that despite the fact that I have
nothing to gain from misrepresenta-
ton of actual facts, and on the other
hand have everything to lose, that the
nature of my accomplishment of
April 81, 1908, when I planted the
American flag at a spot at latitude
90 degrees north, calls for proof to
the scientific world. / understand that
an case of this sort my reputation
and my past count for nought, but
believe that in carefully prepared
diary which 1 kept and in the pains
taking accurate astronomic observa-
tions which I made will be found the
proof demanded by the world. Cor
roborating this will be the evidence
of two brave and accomplishing COM
panions of my trip, the Eskimos
Etukishuk and Ahwelah, whose names
were previously misspelled.
81 am told that my trip to the pole
has been branded as an unscientifc
and unprecedented, unsportsmanlike
event. While I plead guilty to a GER
tain amount of the spirit of the sports
man, am not willing to admit that
my expedition was unscientifc.
cit is true that I did not have the
elaborate paraphernalia or all of the
instruments that I would have desired
had it been possible for me to carry
more luggage. I was, however
equipped with an up to date and com
plete set of navigation and astronomiC
instruments. I had three chronometers
pedometer and a watch, and used
each of the instruments to check the
records of the others. AS result, it is
my opinion that there were few really
serious errors and my calculations an6
observations were for all practical pur
poses correct. My work in making OBJ
servations of this nature was, of course
not confined to this particular trip
as I had had plenty of experience il
this line on my previous northern ex
petitions. My watch was the only one
instrument to get out of order.
Esldmos Entitled to Credence.
s'But in addition to the proof fur
nished by my notes and observation
figures, I think that when the fina
time comes more credence will b.
given to the statements of my Eskimo
UhAp&hiOAS ehdh IuH puOhC nUW oOoul
to give. The artless honesty Of thes,
sturdy men, savages though they are
is well nigh proverbial.
Took 400 photographs.
f'During my trip took 400 photo
graphs. When the time comes 1 will
appear before any geographical so
ciety of the world and in the light O.
developments it is probable I win frs
appear before the international pola
exploration bureau, at Brussels, ant
present these photographs along will
other proofs, I have not the slightes
doubt of my ability to convince an,
competent and unbiased scientist.
"You ask me how am sure wa
on the exact spot which marked tn
presence of the pole. It is not m,
purpose TO convey the idea that
put my fingers on any exact spo
about which the earth revolves.
believe it would be impossible fo