The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-14
POLE HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY
Peary Resented Entertainments of
Other Explorers, Says Or. Stickney

Peary Resented Entertainments of
Other Explorers, Says Or. Stickney
Rutland, Sept Al believe both
Peary and Doctor Cook have reached
the North pole" This was the state
ment made by DR.. William Stickney,
of this city, to a representative of the
Rutland Herald when asked as, to his
views on the present North Pole con-
troversy. Doctor Stickney is familiar
with Arctic expeditions and particular
ly with Pearys various trips to the
far North, as he accompanied him, in
the capacity of surgeon on his exped-
ition in 1897. This expedition jour
neyed as far north as 'Greeley's old
camp but no attempt at exploration
was made. The feature of the trip
was the discovery Of go ton meteor
in that vicinity.
Regarding the present claims of dis
covery as made by Doctor Cook, and
latterly by Robert e Peary, who den
les the truth of Cooks discovery, Doc
tor Stickney speaks in no uncertain
terms. when Doctor Cook gave the
news of his discovery to the world,
believed him, knowing that a man of
DOCNOl NObh reputation anu
ty would never foolishly make any
such statement, If he had not the sci
entific proofs to back up his claim.
Then the fact that he has been ac-
cepted by the scientists and explorers
of Denmark and lionized by them, is
sufficient assurance to me that his
discovery is genuine said the doctor
when the news came that Robert
e. Peary had discovered the Pole,
believed it and still believe it. Peary
has been after the Pole for nearly 20
years and probably no man living to-
day is more familiar vita the Arctic
country That he and Doctor Cook,
working independently and by differ
ent routes have both discovered the
Pole. is to me quite possible and pro
bable. It was only natural that Peary
should eventually make the discovery
The fact that Doctor Cook made the
discovery first is due to his familiarity
with the methods of such explorers as
Abruzzi hansen and even Peary aim
self He stayed behind and prohted
by their mistakes, and so got there
first"
Doctor Stickney was surprised that
Peary should call Doctor Cooks state
ments untrue. In his experience with
Peary, he found him to be a man of
great force very pleasant to meet, in
clined TO be quick tempered, but above
all absolutely bent on discovering he
North Pole first. He had been In the
North so long that he seemed to re-
gard it as mis- personal property and
resented the encroachments of fell
low explorers. He even epjoined his
guests to publish nothing about what
they saw on his trips. Peary, in
Peary's eyes, was the only name that
should figure in these descriptions and
accounts. This tendency of Peary to
seek notoriety is well known, and he
likes to play to the galleries.
His statement, giving tne lie to
Doctor Cook. If Peary ever actually
made it, which Doctor Stickney doubts
must have been made in a moment of
anger when Peary learned for the
first time, just when he was return
ing as the real explorer as he suppos-
ed, that his long sought for prize had
been snatched from his grasp a year
previous by an almost unknown ex-
plorer.
Doctor Stickney disagrees with the
remark OF a New York explorer that
Peary is a colossal fakir. "Peary Is
a real explorer, and the fact that Doc
tor Cook reached the Pole first is no
reflection on the valor, fortitude and
scientific knowledge of Peary. In
fact much Of the credit of Cooks dis
covery might be placed at the feet of
Peary, whose example and methods
Cook followed closely"
Regarding Peary's statement that
Doctor Cooks Eskimos had told him
no discovery was ever made and that
they were never out of sight of land,
Doctor Stickney says that no depend
ence can be put on the word of Eski-
mos. They all know Peary and are
on his side at all times, due to the
gifts of guns, utensils, etc. he has
made them to secure their aid. An
Eskimo will tell anyone exactly the
kind of story he wants, providing the
right kind of payment is made.
Doctor Stickney believes both ex-
plorers can substantiate their claims
by scientific proof when the proper
time comes