New-York tribune., 1909-09-04
BELIEF IN THE FEAT
COMMENT FROM ABROAD.
Scientists Generally Disposed to
4ccept Discovery.

London. Sept 3-Dr. Cooks story of his dis
covery of the North Pole continues TO be the
chief topic of discussion in London to-day. The
press the public. scientists and publicsts still
inclined to believe the authenticity Of the
doctors narrative, but prefer to suspend final
judgment until the scientific details Of the jour
ney are available. 1t is pointed out that no
scientist or Arctic expert has found anything
impossible in the claims made by DR.. Cook up
to the present time. and the explorers high
reputation a scientist and traveller leads the
majority TO believe that he is not in the least
likely to attempt to mislead the world. The
Pail Mall Gazette" referring to the tendency in
some quarters to take dubious view of the
achievement account of the popular char
acter of DR.. Cooks story, says:
Readers Of DR.. Cooks book about his ascent OF
sre o @ w reoosnze tRs IN eVf
made use OF glorified commoa'aees about his feel
he does now with the purple SHOWS" of the pole
AROUND him him h when he INDUCES in IN purple rG nee t
points of the compass at the pole. The fact that
gives no reason to suppose that he did not reach
the highest latitude on earth. 1t merely remains
for him to prove IL.
Paris. Sept. 3.-Henri Rochefort. writing in
La Patrie.' expresses his wonder over DR..
Cooks easy victory where many others have
failed He points out that even if the perform
his conquest doubted. There is no group more
jealous than the savans" NJ Rochefort writes.
The world should. he says. await further infor
nation before passing judgment
NJ. de Ia Grange, dean of the section of geog-
raphy and navigation of the Academy of Sci
ences, said to-day that the extreme low temper
ature encountered and the rapidItv OF DR.. Cooks
march would tend to discredit the narrative in
the minds of scientists, who must await further
information. But science already has read the
lesson of the North Pole" NJ. de la Grange
said. "and it is not likely that DIR. Cook if he
has succeeded. will be able to announce any
thing extraordinary His feat is a good sport
ing performance"
Berlin. Sept. 3--Dr. Seglin. professor of geog-
raphy Of the University of Berlin. said to-day
that the character of DIR. Cook and his career
led him to believe the American had reached
the pole if he made the assertion. DR.. Sieglin
knew DIR. Cook energetic, cool and daring
explorer who had overcome every difficulty. He
added:
= One must accept in principle the statement that
DR.. Cook has reached the pole. but there certainly
published details OF his experiences. So expe-
e m as months t OF aS and A
for his dash. The geographical world Is in an at
cries, and we must await the arrival of Dr. Cook
with his proofs Or. Cook seems TO have been act
for scientific knowledge
The Berlin Geographical Society has sent Drs
Cook telegram of congratulation and invita-
tion for him to 10 Berlin and deliver ad-
dress his discovery.
Rome, Sept. 3-The question whether DIR.
Frederick A. Cook. the American explorer did
or did not reach the North Pole brought out
statements to-day from italian scientists and
Arctic explorers, including the Piedmontese
VIII Tlk Of tha
Abruzzi his polar expedition of 1900. They
generally agree that DR. Cook could not possibly
have been misled into believing he had reached
the pole had he not actually done So He must
have carried Instruments II is argued and made
observations which will demonstrate the cor
rectness of his assertion.
Captain Umberto Cagni, president of the In
ternational Polar Commission and an explorer
of note. said at Gaeta to-day that Dr. Cooks
enterprise worthy OF his daring He be
lieved DR., Cook would be capable OF scientif-
cally proving up to certain point that he had
reached the pole, and that who has the
courage 10 face the polar dangers could not be a
man Of bad faith. THE Arctic explorer" said
Captain Cagni, either must be a genuine scien-
fist or a swindler. DR.. Cook is not a swindler.
His undertaking is astounding"
Captain Cagni thought that the statement
that the explorer had made the distance TO the
t
allel was based on a wrong report. He was
anxious to hear the details Of the trip and espe-
cially those concerning the provisions he took
along which must have weighed about five tons.
Captain Cagni ended the interview by saying
the news thus far received from DR.. Cook was so
vague that judgment would be premature
Professor Emanueli the astronomer, points
out that DR.. Cook must have witnessed the total
eclipse Of the sun, which visible only from
the pole just at the time he Is supposed to have
reached it. This, the astronomer said, would
give the American an opportunity scientifically
to prove that he had reached the pole
! Vienna, Sept. 3-Scientic circles in Austria re
! ceived the of DR.. Cooks discovery with much
reserve. Professor Oberhummer, president OF the
Imperial Geographical Society, thinks the links in
! the chain OF his story thus far received are in
complete The question where Cook passed the
winter of 19Os-'09 according to Professor Ober-
! hummer, especially requires precise explana ton.
Other scientists in interviews express skepticism
! over that portion Of the story which tells OF dis
/ tricts so near the pole being rich in wild animals
REBUKE FOR CHICAGO sKEPTICs.