The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-11

of the records and proofs, has deter
mined that he reached the Pole. The
charts, and maps of this country are
made by the Geological Survey, Geo
detic and Coast Survey and the Hy-
geographic office of the Navy Depart
ment. The chiefs of these several
bureaus or offices are members of the
National Geographic Society and the
recognition of Commander Parry by
this society thereby becomes in eff
feet an official recognition.
"The charts or maps are not chang
ed, or added to except as proper
proofs are presented establishing the
fact that the same is warranted by
some change or discovery. AS, for
instance, Dr. Cook has lectured over
the country, more or less, for the past
three years, and has written book
claiming to have made the ascent of
Mt Mckinley, and yet l understand
the authorities still place Mt. Nc
Kinley on the map as unexplored ter
ritory, Dr. Cook hot having yet sat
isfied the authorities that he has made
the ascent of that mountain. Com
mander Peary has now proven that
he has been to the North Pole and I'M
less DR.. Cook assumes the burden and
proves that he had been to the Pole
before Commander Peary, the name
of Peary will go down the ages in Of
fetal biographies as the discoverer OF
. the Pole.
can explorer may have one of two
objects in view, either the promotion
of science and the connection of his
name with a great discovery in the
: official records of the world, or he
may have as an object the mere max
ing of an immediate fortune.
"If the latter is the object it may
be immaterial whether he is able tc
establish his official record or not
so long as people will buy his books
or purchase tickets to his lectures. If
l on the other hand, reputation as al
explorer, and official recognition /.
his desire, It becomes necessary fol
him to prove to the satisfaction o
the eminent government scientists
that he has accomplished what h,
claims. This Commander Peary ha
done, and however people may hav,
reasoned that the burden was OIL
Commander Peary to show that Dr.
Cook had not been to the Pole, TIA
l situation is now such that Comman
3 der Peary has proven that he ha
been to the Pole and unless DR.. Cool
can affirmatively prove that he reach
u ed there first, Commander Peary will
forever be known as the discovere
of the Pole.
Both Commander Peary's and d.
Cooks expeditions were American ex
petitions and both are American citi
- zens; both returned to their nativ
= land each claiming to have reache
y the Pole. Under these circumstance
- each must prove his case at last, if a
~ all, before the scientific tribunals c
- his own country. The foremost ma
% lions like England will insist that tn
" claims of these Americans must
e settled in America, and will there
~ fore follow the decisions of the scier
~ tific bureaus of the government of tn
-" United States. DR.. Cook must there
'0 fore ultimately prove his case, If 9
10 all, before the scientific boards {
70 this country There is no back doc
u by which he can enter; there is n
- climbing up some other way; there
~ no paper key made by New York A
i dermen that throws open the gat
&c that leads to this Elysium. He mus
- finally obtain the endorsement of tn
" scientific bureaus at home or his nam
y" will be left off the map. AS the worl
u goes, Denmark's standing among tn
10 nations of the world is not sufficier
10 perforce to officially establish hi
:. claim, unless it is approved by tn
United States. But why should d
Cook be so reluctant to present hi
case before the scientific tribunals {
his own country? He complains thu
our people doubt his word and hi
motives; but it appears from the le
ters of Bernier that this was eXpecte
before he left the Arctic. Why di
he expect his claim would be doub
ed? Commander Peary did not el
pect his claim would be doubted an
it was not If DR.. Cook expected HI
claims would be doubted why did i
not Immediately present his proof
to the scientific men of his own couI
try and dispel the doubts? KNOWN
of this doubt why does he continu
to delay presenting his proofs an
give people further cause to doubt
Whether or not Cook made I'll
ascent of Mt. Mckinley I express n
opinion, but the manner Of his clai
in that respect was such as to excl
suspicion.
81 am not saying that DR., Cook d
not reach the Pole. The point l wis
to make is that his conduct and h
story are suspicious; truth and errC
ever have their followers and ID
Cooks claim Is fast drifting into
position in which it may never
cleared up. If he reached the Pc