The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-02
NOT MUCH CHANCE
FOR FAKE, Is BELIEF

statements.
'Dr. Cook probably was well supplied
with navigating and astronomical in
Ftruments that will bear testimony to
his statements" said DR.. o. II. Tit
mann, chief of the Coast and Geodetic
Survey. and if these were properly
used the observations made would
demonstrate that no has reached the
Pole"
A similar view is held by Frank Wal
ley Perkins, assistant superintendent of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey. IL
would be practically impossible. eX-
planned Mr. Perkins, for any one to
mlslead the public on the matter, even
should any such desire exist The
toughest calculations, based on the po-
slnon OF the sun each day, which is
Well known to science, would be sufh-
Gent 10 snow the daily course followed
Dy Ut Cook. This and other scientific
facts would be compared with the Cook
obSegVauonS and calculations and their
correctness Immediately established
The Cook expedition started out so
quietly, said Mr.. Perkins. that we
dc not know much about its equipment
or the instruments carried. It is prob
aple1 however, that he determined his
latitude as he progressed with a small
sextant or q very small pocket transit
Startling News"
1T IS wonderful and startling piece
OF news. DR.. Cooks expedition was a
quietly planned one. and the announce
ment Of his discovery comes as a gen
eraI surprise. We should all rejoice,
Tor it's an American who has performed
the feat"
o. p. Austin, secretary Of tine National
Geographic Society, and also chief OF
the Bureau of Statistics, Department
of Commerce and Labor. thus expressed
his views regarding the North Pole dis
covery.
II seems that DR.. Cook is rather an
exploring dark horse" The ewes Of
the scientific world were conferred upon
Lieutenant Peary, who even now is
pressing onward TO the already discov-
cred goal. DR.. Cooks expedition lacked
any great preparations, nor did he
start of amid the godspeeds OF well
tFylSheTs. Il was understood originally
that he was mainly 10 be engaged in an
Antarctic expedition. That he had re-
solved not to return to civilization until
he had found the Pole was know dye
nc did not impart to the world gencr-
Practically nothing IS known at the
National Geographic Society home
about Dr.. Cooks effort. nos among
scientists IN the Government employ
follow such matters. The Geographic
Society looked upon Peary as the log
zeal man who would discover the Pole.
ard IL had every confidence in his pres
ent efforts IN that direction.
Guest in Washington.
Upon several occasions DR.. Cook has
been the guest Of the society and has
lectured before il upon subjects con-
nected with mis- former explorations Of
Antarctic regions.
How about Peary now?' a member
OF the society was asked today.
II presume he will keep hunting
Anf-r
Pole has been found" was the laughing
reply.
There is a possibility that on account
OF the different routes Peary may event
ually reach the Pole before becoming
awa-e that somebody has already been
there and beaten him 70 one Of the most
Important discoveries Of centuries.
Although friendly. there has always
been known 10 exist intense jealousy
between DR.. Cook and Lieutenant Peary.
Each fears the other as an explorer, and
this was one of the incentives that
caused both TO make such desperate
dashcs northward. II is remember
that much diSsensiOu was caused among
Arctic explorers at the time Of Dr.
Cook last trip. Lieutenant Peary $
friends declaring that Cook intended fol-
lowing Pea~y's route. and had thus
stolen a march on the latter. At that
time Cook was in the land Of everiast-
ing ice. and the charges could have 40
Influence on him. His friends believed
that he would succeed iu his attempt
aud they cared not how it was done.
J1r. Cook himself told his wife that Hn
would locate the Pole or die in the at
tempt
Followed Planned Route.
According 20 the comparatively mea-
Ecr advices received. dee followed I'm the
main his originally planned route His
expedition crossed from Greenland
through tile troubled waters Of Smith
sound, across Ellsmerc Land and north
ward through hansen strait 10 Land S
End. This latter point was passed by
Sverdrup. tho Norwegian explorer iu
1912 From this point Dr. cook was jus,
$50 miles distant from the coveted goal
which was reached only Hy mon0ton-
Gus passage over moving sea OF ice
Peary's route. on his expedition witt
the Roosevelt. 1905 and 1906. was direct,
north through the waters OF smith
sound through Kennedy channel and
along the extreme northwestern coast of
Greenland, now known ass Pearv Land
thence I'm the same direction. across tn,
snow AMI See 20 the latitude OF ~ de-
groes Z minutes.
About 300 miles. therefore, sepaIat.
tine hansen strait and the Kennedy
Cook and Fearv 800 their expeditions of
1891 and lgEi-
Az expressed bv M. Austin. the great
est cause OF rejoicing among the Wash.
sngtOn scientific world. and among thi
public generally. b. over the TACT thai
The discovery was made by an Amer
lean and that the centuries Of eXplora.
lions by daring Ilen Of many nation,
have resulted in the planting OF o.,
stars and stripes at the tOpmOst poiu
on earth
First information.
Although many Of the members OF tH,
National Geographic Society are on
Of the city for the summer. there wal
quite a hubbub over tho telephone wire
AS soon as the news Of the discover,
VAS received. The societN was appeale,
10 by scientists, newspaper men am
others for possible further details of tIu
wonderful discovery. Society members
however rejoicing IN the tidings, la,
II depend upon the first brief cables
for their information. because Or. Cool
q