Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-17
SAYS COOK GRABBED PRIZE
Polar Commission Congratulations
Especially Please Him.
HE CONSIDERS IT RECOGNITION
Negroes Plan Dinner to Henson.
Wife to Be First to Greet
Cook on Arrival.

bert l.. Bridgman. secretary ana treas
urer of the Peary Arctic Club, returned To
his home in Brooklyn late yesterday from
Sydney. y. s., he found unopened on his
desk a number of cablegrams of congrat-
ulation to Commander Peary, among
which was the following. dated Uccle. Bel
GUM, September s and addressed to him
in Mr. Bridgman's care:
'Peary: International Polar Commission
addresses sncerest congratulations to
their member.
"CAGNI.
'NORDENSKJIOLD.
LIE COINTE."
Uccle is suburb OF Brussels. and In
the seat Of the Royal Belgian Observa-
tory. of which NJ. lie Cointe is the di-
rector. Capt. Umberto Cagni. Italian
leader of the Due d'Abruzzi's polar expe-
dition, is president OF the international
polar commission: DR.. X. Otto c. Nor
denskjiold is its vice president, and has
led a Swedish expedition into the antarc-
tic; while NJ. lie Cointe is its secretary.
Recognition, Says Bridgman.
With the weight of these names behind
it, the cablegram assumes scientific i'm
portance, Mr.. Bridgman pointed out, OF
the first magnitude. 1t is. he said. the
20. k to the Peary claims of the high
est qualified body of international experts
in the world.
The international polar commission was
appointed May -. 1908, by the delegates
constitute the international polar con-
gress. 1t has no governmental authority.
but its members are geographers and
scientists of the first rank.
Sfo yan1, tor
the integrity of Pearys claim, was very
happy to have the stamp of it's approval
on the commanders work
DIR. Cook while at Copenhagen receiv-
Brussels and invitations to lecture there.
Mr.. Bridgman is insstent that none of
them had come officially from the inter
national polar commission, and that the
message dated September s and made
public yesterday was the first scientific
recognition of the discovery of the pole
yet accorded to either claimant by
worldwide body of recognized authori-
ties on the subject.
Other Messages Received.
The following additional messages from
geographical societies of Importance were
also given out by Mr.. Bridgman:
Edinburgh, September 0, 1900.
"Bridgman,
Secretary Peary Arctic Club, Brook
Ign. n. Y.
'.Warmest congratulations on Peary's
safe return.
SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL So
CIETY."
"Royan. France September S. 1909.
'Bridgman,
''Peary Arctic Club. Brooklyn:
'Arplaudissons masnifiaue success
Peary. HULOT, Secretaire General,
'Societe Geographique. Paris
Rome, September &. 1909.
Secretary Peary Arctic Club. Brooklyn.
gratulations We hope he will accept our
invitation to lecture in Rome when visit
ing Europe. MARQUISE COPPELLI,
President Societa Geogra flea Italiana.'
New York. September TO- 1909.
The members OF the American Geo
graphical Society rejoice with you and
send hearty congratulations upon your
superb achievement.
"ARCHER HUNTINGTON,
President American Geographical So
Getty
Peary May Give Away Stores.
The following message from Peary to
Bridgman was received yesterday:
Battle Harbor, September Is. 1909.
'Bridgman, Brooklyn:
Surgeon of Grenfell Hospital here asks
ton supplies left over Shall | sell or
present to him?
"PEARY."
Permission had been telegraphed Peary.
Mr.. Bridgman said to make present of
those leftover supplies to the hospital
1t was learned last night that a meeting
of the Peary Arctic Club will be held
early next week to decide whether the
club will launch a formal campaign in
behalf of Peary's claims as sole dis
Of bn 10 he MI t.t,i ,I,
club will be asked to pass upon embraces
a publicity campaign, including the use
of advertising space in newspapers, and a
searching investigation of Cooks exploit
in climbing Mount Mckinley.
Money may also be appropriated for
the purpose of sending an expedition to
Etah to take the testimony of Eskimo
witnesses.
Mr.. Bridgman declined to discuss this
plan to have the Peary Arctic Club take
up cudgels against DIR. Cook.
There is nothing to be given out on
that subject lie said. until the scheme
has been passed upon by the club
Dinner Not a Partisan Affair.
The committee of the Arctic Club Of
America which has been arranging for
dinner of welcome to DIR. Cook Septem-
Der 23 announces that the occasion
SHOULD not be regarded as a partisan
affair." Supporters OF both Cook and
Peary, it was said, will be present.
Among those who have been invited to
attend are Admiral Dewey, Walter Well
man. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon, John
Hays Hammond. Gov Charles r. Hughes,
Whiteaw Reid. President Hadley of Yale
and President Lowell of Harvard.
Mr.. Bridgman was greatly disappointed
over Peary's delay i'm reaching Sydney.
He said that he did not stay there longer
because nothing remained for him to do
her in he int nCfS of
Peary or the Peary Arctic Club.
His business affairs here demanded his
attention, and he also had a lecture Ell
gagement to fill which he did not feel like
canceling. Mr.. Bridgman will lecture
Tuesday night in the Metropolitan Tenn
pie. Manhattan.
Gen. Hubbard of the Peary Arctic Club.
who has been at Bar Harbor. will return
to town today. 1t is expected that no
will confer with Mr.. Bridgman and other
members of the club as to plans for the
return of Commander Peary and the care
of the explorers ship. the Roosevelt.
Mr.. Bridgman said yesterday that he
had no news concerning Peary other than
that which had already been wired down
from the north and published.
Why Bridgman fastened Back.
Il have been asked several times tn
day why l returned to my home before
1 welcomed Peary at Sydney. Business
the course 1 have several
important matters requiring immediate
attention here. and 1 could not neglect
them. 1 did not return, some have