Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-17

New York. Sept. 16.-When Her. bert l.. Bridgman, secretary ana treasurer of the Peary Arctic club returned to his home in Brooklyn latt tonight from Sydney, N. S.. he found unopened on his desk a number ol scablegrams of congratulation to Com. 'nander Peary, among which was tho following, dated Ucele, Belgium. Sep. temIber 8. and addressed to him 1T MT. Bridgman's care:
 "Peary-Internationa uolar com mission addresses sincerest congrat- ulations to their member
 (Signed)
 ."cAGNI,
 "NORDENSKJOLD < "LE COINTE." z: Uccle is a suburb of Brussels and is the seat of the Royal Belgian ob- Eservatory, of which Nj, Le Cointe is the director
 Capt. Umberto Cagni, who was the Italian leader of the Duke of the Abruzzis polar expedition, is president of the International Polar commis sion; Dr. Nordenskjold is it's vice president, and has led a Swedish ex- petition into the Antarctic; while M Le Cointe is it's secretary.
 sridgn1an Considers Peary's Claims 70. K,d."
 With the weight of these names be- hind 1t, the cablegram assumes sci entifc importance. Mir. Bridgman pointed out, of the first magnitude. It is the 70. K.'' he said, to the Peary claims of the highest qualified body of international experts in the world.
 The international polar commission was appointed May 2p, 1908. by the delegates of 12 nations who met in Brussels to constitute the interna- tional polar congress. It has no gov ernment authority. but its members are geographers and scientists of the first rank, and Dr. Bridgman, as a staunch supporter of the integrity of Peary's claim, was very happy to have the stamp of it's approval on the com manders work.
 pr. Cook, while at Copenhagen, re- ceived telegrams of nongratulaiton from Brussels and invita- tions to lec- ture there, but MT. Bridgman was insistent tonight that none of them came officially from the International Polar commission and that the mes sage dated September and made pub lie today was the first scientific rec yet accorded to either claimant by a world wide body of recognized author ities on the subject. gtz Additional Messages.
 The following additional messages from geographical societies of import ance were also given out by Mir. Bridg- man tonight:
 Edinburgh Sept. g, 1909. "Hridsman-Secretary Peary Arctic
 Club. Brooklyn, N. Y.
 Warmest congratulations on Pe@ry's safe return.
 Scottish Geographical Society"
 "Royau. France. Sept. 8, 1909. -Bridgman -, Peary Arctic Club,
 Brooklyn. P M
 -Applaudissons magnlhque success 1secretaire General societe Geogra-
 Rome, Sept. 8, 1909. -gecretary Peary Arctic Club, Brook Please convey Pearv our warmest congratulations, We hope he will ac cept our invitation to lecture in Rome when visiting Europe
 President Societa Geografca Italia
 na."
 New York, Sept. 10.
 'Peary Arctic Club: The members "Peary Arctic Club: The members rejoice with you and send hearty con- gratuiations upon your superb achieve ment.
 Archer Huntington, President American Geographical So-
 ciety."
 Despatch from Peary to 5ridgman. The following message from Peary to Mir. Bridgman was received today: Battle Harbor. Sept. Is.
 "Bridgman. Brooklyn.
 Surgeon of Grenfell hospital here asks can he buy for hospital some of expedition supplies left over. Shall sell or present to him? "PEARY." Permission had been telegraphed Peary, MT. Bridgman said, to make a present of those left over supplies to the hospital.
 It was learned tonight that a meet ing of the Peary Arctic club will be held early next week to decide wheth- CT the club will launch formal cam paign in behalf of Peary's claims as sole discoverer of the pole. The plan which the club will be asked to pass upon embraces a publicity campaign including the use of advertising space in newspapers. and searching inves- tigation of Cooks exploit in climbing Mount Mckinley. Money may also be appropriated for the purpose of snd- ing an expedition to Etah to take the testimony of Eskimo witnesses.
 MT. Bridgmap declined tonight to discuss this plan toyhavef the Peary club take up the cudgels against Dr. Cook. There is nothing to be given out on that subject" he said, until the scheme has been passed up- on by the club
 Dinner of Welcome to pr. Cook. The committee of the Arctic club of America, which has been arranging for e dinner of welcome to Dr. Cook on Sept. 2s announced tonight that the occasion should not be regarded as a partisan affair" Supporters of both Cook and Peary, 1t was said, will be present Among those who have been invited to attend are Admiral Dewey, Walter Wellman. Sneaker Joseph G. Cannon. John Hays Hammond, Cover nor Charles E. Hughes. Whitelaw Reid. President Hadley of Yale and Presi- dent Lowell of Harvard.
 FURTHER TALK BY PEARY