Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-10
h. |. BRIDGMAN,
PEARYS BACKER
ATTACKS DIR. COOK
DECLARES BROOKLYN MAN Fr1TFn
OUT SHIP BY STEALTH AND DIS.
REGARDED FAIRNESS.
PROFITED BY LIEUTENANT,
Writer in Magazine Article Asserts
That Navy Mans Work Should Have
Been Left for Him to Do.
VIOLATED ALL ETIQUETTE RULES

NEW YORK, Sept. 7.-Herbert L.
Bridgman, secretary of the Peary Are
tic club and a recognized authority on
Arctic exploration, contributes to the
Independent. which will appear tomor-
row, an article on The Dash tc the
Pole" The article was written before
Commander Pearys announcement had
been made, and deals chiefly with DR.,
Frederick A. Cooks claim to having
reached the pole on April p, 1908
The article says in part: The an
nouncement that the North pole, that
lure of the century, has actually been
reached, comes so suddenly and from a
quarter so unexpected that intelligent
Judgment on the fact is difficult. Natur-
ally writing for the public and forward
ing his account by cable only the per
sonal and popular phases would be pre-
scented, and any statement of scientific
results or data would be deferred But
DIR. Cook would probably not demand
that scientific rank and weight should be
given to his expedition. 1t was simply
a duel with nature; man, stripped for
the fight, encountered only with the bar
est necessities, determined to make
life and death struggle for one thing
only, the goal. But the world will ask
that science, though not directly inter
ested and served, shall verify the claim
and shall attest the result.
Will Offer All Data.
And, therefore, DR.. Cook will doubt
less be only too willing to offer the data
upon which the confirmation of his mar
rative will rest. Records, diaries, note
books, locations, courses and all indicia
SO well known to explorers will be pro-
duced and placed with the archives, Ell
ther in original or in duplicate, of the
of +bn.
world
Had he by any possibility opened any
of Peary's cairns at Cape Thomas Hub
bard or Cape Columbia, or any of Sver-
drups in his farthest land and archipea
go, the evidence would be conclusive and
all the doubts forever slenced.
Reading between the lines and dis
missing at once for what they may be
worth all the views. opinions and COM
ments with which the papers are just
now so heavily burdened, the tale stands
or falls by itself and without witness or
testimony"
After discussing past polar research
and the outlook for further exploration,
the article continues:
May be this is not the time or place
to intrude ethics or etiquette. Yet those
who have followed Arctic matters do not
forget that Peary made all this possible,
and they reserve until the facts are
known. their judgment. Eskimo had
been trained by him, land explored, and
seas charted, and only an unlucky delay
of contractors. for which he was in nc
way responsible. kept him home in the
summer of 1907.
Fitted Ship by Stealth.
Everybody knew the facts, that HE
work was unfinished. postponed, and the
fitting out of the Bradley by stealth (the
Bradley was DIR. Cooks ship, equipped
for field work and stores and supplies
for inland and sea ice marches, while, of
course. within the prescriptive rights
of her owner. invited remark among men
who respect honor and observe fair play.
"Peary's plans were all as open as the
day and oil of his countrymen knew that
fifteen years of dauntless and undaunted
work in which he had accomplished
many times more than all who had pre-
ceded him. were to be crowned by one
final attempt to reach the coveted goal
of centuries. That his men, methods,
and reasonings should all be appropriate
ed and the long struggle finished before
he had his fair and final opportunity is
a transaction upon which the American
people will render just judgment when
they know all the facts. And in the
meantime the past is already secure. Ia
tience and more light"