Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-04
GOLD MEDAL IS
GIVEN TO PEARY
GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY VOTES
ITS CONFIDENCE
ARCTIC EXPLORER BELIEVED BY
SCIENTISTS
Subcommittee Report Declaring
Claims Substantiated Are Accepted
and Polar Pretender Is Hon-
ored by Body
tBy Associated Press ]

WASHINGTON Nov. 3.--Command-
er Robert e. Peary was voted a gold
medal today by the National Geo
graphic society for having reached the
north pole.
The board OF managers of the So
ciety accepted unanimously the report
of its subcommittee of scientists,
(which had examined the explorers
records and proofs and found them to
be corroborative of his claim that he
had reached the pole.
The society adopted a resolution that
the question OF whether or not any
explorer reached the north pole prior
to 1909 should be referred to sub
committee of experts, with authority
to send for papers or make such jour
neys as might be necessary to inspect
original records.
This indicates that the society pur-
poses to pass as soon as possible on
the records of Dr. Frederick A. Cook.
OF far-reaching importance is the
society's action in deciding to follow
up vigorously the question of priority
in the discovery of the north pole.
The scientists will spare no expense in
order that they may be convinced on
this point. DIR. Cook will be advised
Immediately of the society's action.
AT the meeting of the board of man
ayers were fifteen men, all of whom
are prominent in the scientific world.
After the report of the subcommittee
was submitted there was a debate
lasting more than two hours, but
finally the board voted unanimously to
accept the report of the three experts
who believed without any question of
doubt that Commander Peary reached
the north pole April 6. 1909.
Medal to Bartlett
Tn oddition 20 ouyo rdinc, Comma pdar
Peary a special gold medal as a token
of the highest honor the society can
bestow on him. 1t also decided that
a medal be given to Capt. r. A. Bart
lett, who was declared by the society
to have displayed "able seamanship,
pertinacious effort and able manage
ment" during the Peary expedition.
The report of the subcommittee fol-
lows:
''The subcommittee to which was re-
ferred the task of examining the rec
ords of Commander Pcary In evidence
of his having reached the north pole
beg to report that they have complet-
ed their task.
"Commander Peary has submitted
to this subcommittee his original jour-
nal and records of observations, to-
| gether with all of his instruments and
apparatus and certain of the most i'm
portant of the scientific results of his
expedirion.
''These have been carefully exam
ined by your subcommittee. and they
are unanimously of the opinion that
Commander Peary reached the north
pole on April 6. 1909.
"They also feel warranted in stating
that the organization. planning and
management OF the expedition, its
complete success and scientific results
reflect the greatest credit upon the
ability of Commander Robert e. Peary
and render him worthy of the highest
honors that the National Geographic
society can bestow unon him. (Signed)
"GANNETT.
&C. M. CHESTER,
20. II. TTTTMANN."
Their Resolutions
Resolutions adopted by the society
. were as follows:
= "Whereas. Commander Robert e.
Peary has reached the north pole, the
goal sought for centuries;
whereas, This is the greatest geo.