New-York tribune., 1909-09-13

Briagman from man who signed himself 'E.
T. Staples. at Ashland, Ore II said:
~Anent Peary's clear cut. unfrilled narrative
sbout mailing the flag 20 the pole, please pub
lish whether the nails were cut or wire" Mr.
Bridgman sent the following answer: Neither.
They were OF wrought iron driven through ana
clinched on the other side"
Commander Peary has moved southwark in
the same precise manner which characterized his
methodical. we'll calculated dash for the pole
The Roosevelt is being overhauled and painted az
-Asszes Harbor, near Battle Harbor, and her
commander has ordered that every injury sus-
tained in her long stay in the Zee cradle Of Cape
Sheridan shall be removed before she sails Tor
this port. The bunkers Of the Roosevelt are
being filed as il is calculated that It will take
nearly hve days steady steaming before she
reaches this port. It required nearly seven days
for the Roosevelt 10 run from Battle Harbor 20
Sydney on the return from the previous Arctic
trip. though at that time the ship had the use OF
only one boiler.
A ROUGH TRIP PREDICTED
The Roosevelt probably viii encounter heavy
seas in the Gulf of St Lawrence. as incoming
shippers report stout northwest winds They
say also that icehergs have been seen in the
Straits Of Belle Isle. indicating that the vessel
will be delayed on her run OF $50 miles 60 this
city.
That Commander Peary is prepared in every
way TO substantiate by convincing evidence his
statement that Or Frederick Cook did not reach
the pole is stated by nearly every one Of the
large colony Of Arctic explorers scientists and
others who have gathered here TO greet the ex-
plorer from the North.
Commander Peary win have with him incon-
testible proof to support every statement he has
Arctic" said Mr.. Bridgman tonight. Every
one who knows Peary realizes that he never
rnskes statements unless he can prove them alb
solutely. When the proper time arrives and
that will be when DR.. Cook has made his state
nnent over his own signature. the proof will be
forthcoming. I quite agree with President Huh
bard OF the Peary Arctic Club that DIR. Cook
might have learned weeks ago in Greenland OF
Commander Peary's discovery. and that in the
interim he wove the story Of his discovery Of
the North Pole. News You know. travels fast
among the Esouimaus, and 81 is quite likely that
DR.. Cook heard of what Peary had done"
Mr. Bridgman said he felt much fattered that
Commander Peary had stated that he was 'the
only logical candidate for the polar commits
sion"
''The Belgium government in 1896" Mr. Bridg-
man continued. 'sent an invitation 10 the sew
eral nations 20 attend an international polar
congress which met and adopted a provisional
constitution for international polar COM
mission. The United States government des-
ignatea me TO act as its representative at the
congress and I took my credentials from the
various geographical societies. Arctic and eK-
plorers' clubs. Two years later a definite call
for meeting Of the commission was issued. and
the conference was held in Brussels in May Of
that year
''The commission was designed 10 develop a
sort Of coordinate, working system Of Arctic ex-
ploration which would have prevented just the
sort Of controversy that now has arisen. The
commission also planned 20 define the work Of
the geographical and other scientific branches
OF such Arctic exploration in order that the re-
suits Of each expedition might be fully deter
mined and labor econornized. Few of the rep
resentatives at the meeting in Brussels were
authorized 20 bind their governments to what
was accomplished. I made my report 20 the
state Department at Washington. and later
Commander PeRry was designated as commits
sioner for this country.
Commander Peary felt that I should be made
commissioner. but nothing further was done in
the matter. signor Cagni. OF Italy president Of
the International Polar Commission. has issued
a call for a meeting in Italy In 1911"
EXPEDITION TO SOUTH POLE.
Commander Peary has planned 10 organize
an tApEallion 10 SedrCn IOT the SD0tn BOle, but
Mr. Bridgman said tonight that Peary would
not lead II. and that some one else would have
70 undertake the task
AS 70 the future Of the Peary Arctic Club,
now that the pole has been found, Mr. Bridg-
man said its charter permitted # TO engage in
exploration or discovery of any kind, and he be-
Meved il would be made permanent the dis
coverer being elected president at the next
meeting
Commander Peary in all probability will re-
main here two days and then go with his fam
tly 20 his home at Eagle Island in Casco Bay
Maine. where he will rest for a day or two. go
ing thence 20 Washington TO make his official
report 20 the government
George Borup of New Haven father OF
George Borup, the botanist on the Peary expe-
dition, reached here to-day