The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-11
GOING WAS GOOD AROUND
THE POLE AS COOK SAID
Principal Difference in Two
Stories Concerns Tempera-
ture, Cooks Figures Being
So Degrees Below Peary's.

discredited by the installment of Com
mander Robert e. Peary's account as
published here today in the Times.
A striking similarity in the descrip-
ton of the Arctic ice fields beyond
the S7th parallel of latitude and with
in the very shadow of the pole in the
narratives OF the two explorers-a WV
idly similar description of the smooth.
CLASSY surface and the rapid time these
conditions enabled both men to make.
went far to shatter the skepticism con.
corning Cooks exploit and yet In the
matter OF temperatures the figures are
different, Peary giving the tempera-
ture at 30 degrees below Zero while
DR.. Cook placed it at 50 degrees be-
low. vast discrepancy. Beyond the
S9th parallel, the temperature rose Is
degrees, according to Peary.
Bears Out Or. Cook.
Cook made no mention of warmer
weather. So identicaIly do certain
other details bear out the statements
of DIR. Cook that today scientists and
geographers who had held aloof from
the controversy, declared their faith
in the physician-explorer's story, while
of course, crediting Commander
Peary's story and using it as a basis
of comparison.
In the matter of temperature the big
gest discrepancy exists. Peary speaks
Of the temperature ranging from 33 do
grees to IL on April Z, the day he left
the pole. DIR. Cooks figures ranged
80 degrees lower.
After leaving the Ssth parallel,
Peary set out alone in his dog sledge,
leaving the other members of the par
ty to break camp and follow him.
Among the party was one keen young
Eskimo, who had been promised a ri
file with ammunition and boat if he
would complete the journey to the
northern goal with Peary. So eager
was this young chap for the daring
dash that it led to q question of his
enthusiasm until 1t was found that he
was in love with an Eskimo girl but
was too poor to marry her until he
became an Eskimo plutocrat, which
merely consists in owning a gun and a
beat.
Description Of Ice Fields.
Peary's description of the ice
fields beyond the sSth parallel bears
out Cooks description. The surface,
says the Times account, was smooth
and as level as glacial fringe, brok-
en- only occasionally with ridges and
with very little open water.
ha oh 70 ~
gallop and in one run of four hours
Immediately after passing the ssth
parallel Peary made 20 miles. At the
89th parallel the temperature was 40
degrees below zero. Passing the S9th
Peary made Is miles in a single day
in a bitter wind so cold that the flesh
cracked. and even the Eskimos CON-
planned.
Beyond the seth the sky was SOM
bre, the horizon smoky and gray, the
desolation undesirable. Not living
thing in sight and the solitude broken
only by the groaning of the greenish
ice floe over which the sledge sped.
Cook had called it a desolate spot
the solitude unbroken and the silence
and loneliness oppressive. AS Peary
proceeded the going grew better and
faster time was made, another feature
completely indicating DR.. Cook and
bearing out, apparently his narrative
completely.
In twelve hours the Peary party was
able to make 40 miles. There was not
a single stretch of open water to hind
er the march. The goal was almost
in sight.
Detour About the Pole.
Commander Peary took observa-
tons at frequent intervals, until he
had established his feat. The COM
mander had realized the ambition Of
his life; he was at the north pole A
detour of some Is miles was made
about the pole. observations being TAX
en- almost continuously to establish
not only proof of the discovery. but
for scientific values subsequently.
On the afternoon of April Z, the day
after the pole had been discovered. a
the north pole. The plummet dropped
5000 feet in the sea and still did not
touch bottom. Then started the race
home
A gale sprang up with biting winds
and binding snow. Luck favored
Peary just as good fortune had favor
ed Cook, the year before. When Peary
arrived at the Roosevelt, filled with
joy at the great feat he had just con-
sumated. his rejoicing was turned to
sorrow by learning of the death of
Prot Ross G. Marvin
The Daily Chronicle is sending .
correspondent to New York to watch
range