Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-15

Commander Peary. and is thoroughly IA
mlllar with the explorers methods and
terms.
On reading Commander Peary's accu-
sation that DR.. Cook had never reached
the pole, Capt Houghton could not re-
press his Indignation.
Calls Peary Charge "Outraeeous"
IL is an outrageous charge" said he
When seen at the Hotel Belleclafr. for
any man to make against a scientist and
gentleman.
Il don't know DR.. Cook personally. hut
do know what his reputation is in the
arctic. and i believe that he could not
De capable OF such actions as Commander
feary states. AS L have said / also
know Commander Peary quite well.
His latest manifesto, to the effect that
Dr. COOK, whom he has denounced a an
lmpostor and liar. shall now produce
ms proofs that he has been to the pole
pe1ore his accuser will produce his to
the contrary, is really refreshing When
one Undertakes the role of a prosecutor
the burden of proof rests upon him.
Commander Peary should be COM
pelled to make good these charges which
ne mas so freely made against Dr. Cook
and DR.. Cook would be entirely justified
IN lnstituting proceedings against Com
mander Peary, SO that his accuser would
be compelled to produce his proofs
DR.. Cook Straightforward.
Commander Peary now insists that he
can wait for months before he will sub
NIT the reasons for believing that DR..
Cook has given the world a false account
The attitude Of DR.. Cook is straightfor-
ward and manly throughout, and he has
proven his character by the way in which
he has borne himself under trying cir
cumstances.
1T seems entirely improbable that DR..
Cook is In any way deviating from the
truth. l do not believe for a moment that
he could go to Denmark, where polar ex-
p,oration has been carried on for CEN
turtles, and tell any story which would de-
ceive Danish scientists. who are familiar
with the exact conditions.
THE Danes own Greenland, and they
are familiar with all conditions in the
arctic. If any man can fool them he is
certainly a genius. and they have ac-
cepted the account of DR.. Cook as the
truth
What sheer nonsense it is to say
that DR.. Cook could fake observations?
His journal when submitted to critical
examination ought in itself to practi-
cally bear out his story. There are so
many things by which his story can
be checked. such as the bearing Of heav-
emily bodies. the variation of the COM
pass and the readings Of the barom-
eter.
Thinks Cook Could Not Fake.
I'm the hands of experts who would
have access to his original journal or
field book he could be tripped up at
every turn. Does anybody believe that
a man of his experience does not know
that? He would not do so absurd a
thing as to come back to the scientific
world with a story which could be rid
died at every turn if it were false
1T is a deplorable affair. How much
better 1t would have been for Com
mander Peary to have said that he was
not aware that DR.. Cook had reached
the pole or that he might have made a
mistake in his observations and offered
to submit the question?
Now that Commander Peary has seen
fit to spoil the whole thing by throw
ing mud over the wires, the average
man will have about the same interest
class prizefight. 1t would seem that
the public would now demand that both
men prove their claims, as there is no
logical reason why one should be be-
lteved and the other dfscredited.
"One thing is. certain, that now one
must stand and the other fall, and the
one who falls will fall hard If Com
mander Peary does not substantiate his
charges against DR.. Cook he will be in
bad position. If Dr. Cook is what
hardly be able to live in this country.
No Reason to Discredit Either.
II cannot see,' continued the captain,
why the story of either man that he had
been to the pole should be discredited.
The conditions seem to have been such
that II was possible to reach the pole.
The account of DIR. Cook was at first
criticised because his journey at the aver
age rate Of fifteen miles a day by sledge
over ice was considered excessive
Commander Peary says that he went
| at a rate nearly twice as fast. There are
| no substantial variations in the news
paper accounts which the two explorers
have telegraphed to this country.
Il see the suggestion made by Gen.
Thomas ". Hubbard. president of the
| Peary Arctic Club that DR.. Cook may
have heard of Commander Peary's dis
covery of the pole and have made for
civilization as fast as he could to claim
the discovery for himself. Those who are
| familiar with conditions in the arctic will
at once see the absurdity of such a
| theory.
LAS a matter of fact. the Eskimos
seemed to have spread the story of Dr..
| Cooks discovery along the Greenland
coasts. DR.. Cook intended to come ont
OF the arctic with his story and was pre-
vented from so doing by the advance of
| summer. He was in a place where he
| could not possibly have heard of the sue
cess of Commander Peary in reaching the
pole
| Commander Peary with every facility
| at his command came into communica-
| ton as soon as he could. He lost no
time. DR.. Cook could not have obtained
his story in any way He returns with