Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09
whether they were actually at the north

whether they were actually at the north
pole or not.
IF from their description of what they
saw they could not back up DR.. Cook $
from those made by Commander Peary
at the pole, then q question might arise
as to whether or not DR.. Cook really did
get to the pole. The question OF discov-
cry Of land at the pole would enter into
this.
II do not care to go more deeply Into
this discussion before I have heard more
from Commander Peary as to wha- the
two Eskimos have actually told. How
Peary came to find them and get their
story Is something that will be of interest
to every one who wants this question
cleared up.
at have insisted that have had the
utmost confidence in DR.. Cook. II he has
been mistaken about having discovered
the pole, then I will think that it was
merely an error of calculation on his
part.
II cannot believe that he would de-
liberately come back from the frozen re-
gion and announce so placidly that. he
had discovered the pole unless he had
every reason for believing so himself
His proofs. presuning that he has them.
as he has said, will determine the facts"
Fiala was booked to sail for Europe
yesterday on the Cunard liner Lusitania.
He had been commissioned by New
York newspaper to interview DR.. COOK
At the last moment the booking was
Cancelled.
Disapproves DR.. Cooks Methods.
Dr. Roswell o. Stebbins. chairman OF
the executive committee of the Arctic
Club of America, which raised the fund
for the relief expedition sent after DR..
Frederick A. Cook last July. said yester-
day that although DR.. Cook Is q member
Of his club, he does not approve of the
methods pursued by the Brooklyn ex-
piorer in his trip to discover the north
pole. He declared that 1t looked as
though DR.. Cook had appropriated the
outfit at Etah which Peary left in 1904.
This, he insisted. savored OF a violation
Of ethics.
IT would like to have 1t made plain"
said DR.. Stebbins, that there is no breach
between the members of the Arctic Club
OF America and the Peary Arctic Club.
We think the world OF Herbert Bridgman.
the Peary Clubs secretary, and all OF us
feel that he Is sincere in expressing the
belief that DR.. Cook did not reach the
pole, while Peary did. AS for myself. l
that Peary discovered the pole, want
proofs before / will believe that DR.. Cook
succeeded. / think that Is the way the
public feels about 1t.
my ground for this view Is that DR..
Cook disappeared and went on his trip
north without giving any notice of his
intention to try for the pole, and that
from all accounts he helped himself to
the dogs, Eskimos and supplies left by
Peary at Etah. and then pushed north
ward while he knew that Peary was get
ting ready to make a trip.
Il do not say that Cook reached the
pole or that he did not. I am waiting
for proofs. that's all. The Arctic Club
is not q Cook club or q Peary club. but
one that is In sympathy with any sort of
exploration enterprise. have been quot
ed as saying that Peary took the blue fox
skins left at Etah by Cook, and that he
sent them to President Roosevelt and Mrs.
Peary. I have said no such thing. Mr..
Bridgman has informed me that Peary
sent word to him that the skins were
never touched by Peary. and that I be.
Heve"