Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-13
PEARY HAS ABSOLUTE PROOF.

Sydney ~ S.. Sept 12-All Sydney
| awaits the coming of Commander Rob-
ert e. Pcary to welcome him when he
| first returns to actual civilization at
| ter his successful search for the North
Pole
Commander Peary is coming south
ward in the same precise manner that
characterized his methodical and well
calculated dash for the pole. The
| Roosevelt is being overhauled ana
| painted at ASsiZeS Harbor, near Bat
| tie Harder, and her commander has
| ordered that every injury sustained
| in her long stay in the ice at Cape
Sheridan shall be repaired before she
sails for this port Her bunkers are
being filed, for it is calculated that ii
will take nearly five days steady
stcaming before she reaches this port.
Commander Peary will in all proba-
liIisy remain here two days and then
go with his family to his home on
Eagle Islard in Casco bay. Me, where
| ne will rest for day or two, proceed
| ing thence to Washington to make his
official report to the government. While
| here he will confer with Herbert L.
Bridgman, secretary of the Arctic Club,
and will acquaint himself with the lat-
est details of the Peary-Cook contro-
versy.
That Commander Peary is prepared
in every way to substantiate his claim.
that Frederick A. Cook did not reach
the pole is stated by nearly every one.
Of the large colony of Arctic explorers,
scientists and others who have gather.
ed to greet the explorer from the north.
commander Peary will have with
him incontestahle proof to support
every statement he has made in con-
nection with DIR. Cooks trip in the Arc
TIC" said Mr. Bridgman tonight.
Everyone who knows Peary realizes
that he never makes statements unless
he can prove them absolutely. When
the proper time arrives and that will
be when DR.. Cook has made his state
meat over his own signature, the proof
will be forthcoming.
Il quite agree with President Hub
bard of the Peary Arctic Club, that
DR.. Cook might have learned weeks
ago in Greenland of Commander
Peary's discovery and that in the i'll
tcrcm he wove the story of his disccv-
ery of the North Pole News you know
it is quite likely that DR.. Cook heard
OF what Peary had DONE"
Mr. Brdgman feels much flattercd
that Commander Peary said that he
was 1.-The only logical candidate for the
polar commission
''Ihe Belgian government in 1896"
Mr. Rridgman continued. "sent an in
| vitatiOn to the several nations to at
| tend an international polar congress,
which met and adopted a provisional
constitution for an international polar
| commission. The United States gov
| eminent designated me to act as its
representative at the congress and l
took my credentials from the various
geographical societies. Arctic and OK
plorers' clubs. Two years later def
mite call for meeting of the commits
sion was issued and the conference
was held in Brussels in May of that
year.
"The commission was designed to de-
veIop a sort of coordinate working
system of Arctic exploration. which
would prevent just the sort of contro-
versy that now has arisen. The commits
| sion also planned to define the work of
| the geographical and other scientific
| branches of such Arctic exploration in
order that the results of each eXpedi
| ton might be fully determined and la
Dor economical. Few of the reEresen-
| tatives at the meeting in Brussels were
authorized to bind their governments
to what was accomplished. 1 made my
report to the state department at Wash
ingtOn and later Commander Peary
| was designated as commissioner for
this country.
Commander Peary felt that I should
be made commissioner. but nothing fur
/ they was done in the matter Signor
| Cagni of Italy, president of the Polar
Commission, has issued a call for the
commission to meet in Italy in 1911
Commander Peary has planned to Or
ganize an expedition to search for the
South Pole, but Mr.. Bridgman said to-
night that Peary would not lead 1t and
someone else would undertake the task.
| Sydney is putting on holiday appear
ance for the coming of Peary. From flag
stats and windows United States flags
are flung and the quarters of the well
coming party is besieged by visitors in.
lquiring for the latest news of the xplor-
err. Mrs. Peary and her two children,
Marie and Robert, Jr., went for drive
this afternoon and later visited friends.
The little son of the explorer, with the
French and American consuls and a party
of correspondents. visited the French
frigate Isly on the invitation of Com
mander Durand today. Young Peary was
Continued on Page Ten.)