The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-08

here, but there is no cable station
 there and as Peary is anxious to
 reach a cable station so that he
 may send the story of his expedi-
 ton to America, it is probable he
 will not touch there. A score of
 watchers are crowded on the beach.
 Especial from United Press.
 New York, Sept. S.-The greatest scientific controversy of modern ages has been precipitated by the message received by the United Press today from Commander Robert Edwin Peary signature, that he is the real discov- erer of the North Pole and that Dr. Cook, the Brooklyn claimant, never went near the northern extremity of the globesee
 The skepticism and doubt of part of the scientific world, manifested ever since Dr. Cook first came forward with his claim. has today burst into an open demand that the Brooklyn physician-expIorer come forward with proof Of his claims or be branded as an impostor.
 From the camp of the Cook adhe1- erts there is coming just as insistent y prove his own assertion that his party reached the pole, and at the same time that he offer proof in support of his assertion that Dr. Cook is a fa.kir.
 The one-time controversy regarding the shape of the earth promises to dwindle into insignificance beside this latest quarrel of the scientists. As a result, the scientific value of the twin discoveries of the pole, if, indeed, both Cook and Peary reached it, appears to have been lost in the Kilkenny battle as to which explorer first planted the Stars and Stripes on the very top of the earth.
 When, on Sept. 1, the news was flashed to an unDrepared world that Dr. Frederick Albert Cook, of Brook lyn, had cabled from Lerwick, Shet- land Islands, the startling news that year previously, planted the American ensign on the North Pole, the world hailed him as the greatest explorer Of the ages. He was greeted in Copen- hagen, the first port at which he stop ped, as a conquering hero, feted by Kings and Princes, decorated by scien- tific societies and cheered as a hero by a worshipping populace.
 But within a day or two skepticism became manifest and grew in intens- ity. The scientific world was willing to accept Dr. Cooks statement, it de- clared, when he advanced some proof. His declaration that he was without white companions when he reached the pole, his apparent unpreparedness for such a Polar dash, and his failure to substantiate his claims with any evil dence, caused skepticism to grow into open and expressed doubt and scien- lists demanded proof, and wanted that proof immediately. It was not forth coming to their satisfaction.
 European and American geograph- i, fsNr, off 1,<~ Royal Danish Geographical Society, reserved judgment, which placed them in the show me- state.
 Individual scientists and explorers, however, were not so lenient with the Brooklyn explorer. One by one they of doubt. But some of the explorers received pr. Cooks story without re- serve, and then between the two fac tions there started a war of doubt.
 In Copenhagen, Dr. Cook remained mum on his data, reserving it for the book he is later to write.
 Then came the bombshel1. On Sept G. last Monday, there came from In- dian Harbor, via Cape Ray. N. F., a wireless message from Commander Robert Edwin Peary, who declared that he had found the pole on April G. 1909 a, few days less than a year after the time Cook claimed to have reached the pole.
 Few scientists doubted Pearys claim. He is an explorer of worldwide fame and his veracity has never been ques- tioned.
 In Copenhagen, Dr. Cook declared he hailed with delight the statement that Peary had reached the pole.
 'He can thereby substantiate my statements that I was the first man to get there,' said pr. Cook.
 But Peary has not substantiated Cooks story. On the other hand. he had signed the following cablegram, which he sent to the United Press:
 Cooks story should not be taken too seriously. The two Eskimos who accompanied him say he went no dis tance north and not out of sight of land Other men of the tribe corrob- crate their statement
 The battle is on.
 The Schley-Sampson controversy, in which all the dirty linen in the Amer ;can navy was washed before the eyes of the whole world, will be duplicated, and the nations will witness the spec tacle of two scientists and explorers