Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-09-11

| gree.
When shown the dispatch which said
that Commander Peary claimed to be
the first man to reach the North Pole,
DR.. Cook said: Commander Peary, OF
course, a say whatever he wishes ]
am not accustomed to indulge in con
| troversies. All I have to say about
| Commander Peary Is that II he says he
reached the North Pole / believe he
reached the North Pole"
New York, Sept. 9.-The lie was
hurled concerning the discovery Of the
North Pole and the foundation laid for
a controversy unparalleled in history.
Commander Robert e. Peary is making
uncertain progress southwark off the
coast of Labrador in his ship, the
Roosevelt, but there came from him a
message as direct as his homeward
journey has been slow. 1t challenges
the veracity of DR.. Frederick A. Cook,
Of Brooklyn, and further complexities a
situation which the whole world Is dis
cussing.
In effect Peary discredits Cooks
claims with the intimation that he
CPeary) and he alone planted the
American flag at the North Pole on
April 8, 1909, and that DR.. Cook. who
asserts that he unfurled the flag at
the pole on April Fl, 1908, must sub.
stantiate his claim.
Cook Says Records Win Sustain Him.
At Copenhagen, Cook, shown his
rivals statement, stood by his guns,
declined to enter into a debate and
calmly asserted that his records would
sustain him. To prove his right of dis
covery before the entire world, beyond
q shadow OF doubt, he announced that
he will dispatch a ship to Greenland
and bring to America his Eskimo com
panions. Then, with their testimony
and his data, he declares that he will
stand ready to face all detractors.
In the meantime Peary continues his
homeward journey on the ~ice-scarred
Roosevelt and is a. Battle Harbor,
Labrador, still more than 400 miles
from North Sydney, Cape Breton, the
objective point Of the homeward cruise
through the Strait of Belle Isle.
Mrs. Cook is in New York and Mrs.
Peary has left her home in Maine on
her way to join her husband at North
Sydney. Though pressed for a state
ment. Mrs. Cook declined absolutely TO
saw anything concerning her husband.
By those who received word of DIR.
Cooks discovery with skepticism.
Commander Peary's challenge was re-
ceived with qualification; by those who
had been neutral 1t came as another
surprise in a series Of remarkable hap
penings. while to DR.. Cooks support
ers it was a signal for war, Cook, II
his plans do not miscarry. will sail for
the United States on Sunday next and
will arrive here by Sept. 81. BY that
time Commander Peary will have
reached home, but no one has as yet
suggested the possibility of a dramatic
meeting of the two face to face.
Peary's Challenge to Cook.
Peary's statement rejecting on Or.
Cooks achievement came first to the
Associated Press. dated Indian Har-
Dor. Labrador, the point through which
he first reported his success by wire
less. II had probably been delayed in
transmission and read as follows:
81 have nailed the Stars and Stripes
to the North Pole. This is authori-
tative and correct.
Cooks story should not be taken
too seriously. The two Eskimos who
accompanied him say he went no dis
lance north and not out of sight Of
land. Other members Of the tribe cor
roborate their story"
About the same time Mrs, Peary re-
ceived the following message undo;
the same date, both having been sent
via Cape Ray. N. F.:
Good morning. Delayed by gale.
Don't let Cook story worry you. Have
him nailed"
While Peary's assertion is Of a M
ture that makes DR.. Cooks position
one OF defense. the Brooklyn explorer
yet has supporters, both at home and
| abroad. Many of the continental scien-
lists are marking time pending devel
opments. while those who have formed
no decided opinions In this country
have assumed a similar stand.