Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-09-09
TO NEWSPAPER MEN HE RE
VEALS PARTICULARS OF
HIS DISCOVERY.
READY TO SUBMIT OBSERVA-
TIoNs TO ANY BODY IN
THE WORLD.
DOESN'T CARE TO TRY AGAIN,
EITHER FOR NORTH OR
SOUTH POLE.

Copenhagen, Sept. 6.-The most de
tailed account yet given by DR.. Cook
was related to a large body OF news
naner correspondents whom he met
At the hotel last evening. DR.. Cook
consented to answer all questions.
Asked whether the first account OF
his discovery was entirely his own
york he replied in the Affirmative
axcant for obvious errors in transmits
sion Explaining the doubt about the
10000 square miles discovered he
said he meant that they were able TO
see Is miles each side during the
Journey and that, therefore, 10000
square miles were discovered.
DR. Cook said that on previous eX-
oeditions he did very little obserVa-
tion work. this time" he continued
we had started to reach the pole and
everything else was of secondary con-
sheraton. 1t was not possible to car
~ certain apparatus and Impossible 10
take soundings. We carried all ths
necessary sample instruments Ior
astronomical observations and were
mclzv to obtain observations virtually
everv day. The positions noted must
have been nearly correct. We hau
three thermometers, one watch com
passes and pedOmeters. All careIully
controlled by each other. The Wa'en'
however, got out of order.
I'VE had all modern Instruments
which other explorers have, including
thermometers, barometers and sex
tants. It is possible that our obserVa-
tions were better than those of carrier
DAYS. but | don't assert that | am per-
fectlv familiar with making astronom-
ical observations, especially in polar
regions. l think all explorers Will be
satisfied with my data.
"Why Should I sit down and invent
observations? he exclaimed. i did
not do this thing for anything but
sport and because I was interested IN
the problem. 1t would not do me any
good to invent these things. The only
witnesses | had were two esklmOs,
certainly, but in all polar expeditions
observations are made by one man.
| regard the eskimo much more intel
Iigent in finding positions than white
men in the arctic. These people know
the earth is round. They have a
name for the pole which they call the
big nail -
Il think Rasmussen obtained some
information regarding my expeditions
from the Eskimos, who learned 1t
from the two with me. Rasmussen
was there much later. His informal
ton will be published, possibly today.
THE ice around the pole was slight
w more active than further south. 1t
drifted south and east. We stayed
around the pole two days, making OBJ
servations. | don't claim to have put
NV finger or foot on the exact spot,
but l think we have been at the spot.
When our observations are figured
again, possibly there may be found
slight errors. but I am certain that a
gunshot fired from where We were
would have passed over the pole.
I'VE planted the stars and stripes at
what We believed to be the spot, but
did not leave the flag with the staff.
Instead, I placed a small silk flag in
a cylinder with my card and the re-
cord of the journey with the date.
Drift ice may carry the flag away
| should have been glad to have found
land there.
u am mona rcd "a rnlacn INV nhserna