The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-14
Prepared to Prove 1t When the
Time Comes.
GIVES OUT STATEMENT
Dictates a Telegram for the
Associated Press.
VIII Wait Until DIR. Cook State
ment Is Made.
Explorer Given a Lesson In
Newspaper Enterprise.

Battle Harbor. Labrador, Sept. II
via Wireless Telegraph to Cape Ray n.
F.-"I am the only white man who
has ever reached the North Pole ana
am prepared to prove it." This state
1,aent was made to the representative or
the Associated Press by Commander
Robert E. Peary, in reply to ques-
tion on the Peary-Cook controversy
The Associated Press tug, Thomas
Douglas. after a stormy passage up the
west coast of Newfoundland and
through the Strait of Belle Isle from
Sidney. arrived at this lonely whaling
and mission settlement at noon yester-
day. A squall of rain was sweeping
over the harbor as the Thomas steamed
in, but with glasses it was possible TO
make out the mast and hull or the
Arctic steamer Roosevelt, moored IN
the inner bay. The Thomas broke out
the North Pole flag. the same en-
hlem that was flying from the mlzzen
mast of the Roosevelt and signaled
1.-The Associated Press congratuiates
YOU The Roosevelt then signaled the
thanks of Commander Peary for this
message, whereupon the Thomas gave
three loud blasts on her whistle IN
response there came from the RooseVet
a chorus of barking and yelpiEg from
the Eskimo dogs on board that echoed
lack from th4s surrounding hills.
The Thomas drew near to the Roose-
Welt. The steamer looked little the
worse for her second trip to the Polar
regins Along the rail were gathered
the members of her famous crew,
among them the redoubtable Captain
Robert Bartlett, who was at once rec
ognized-
Captain Bartlett invited the Thomas
to Law alongside and the correspondent
to come on board without delay. The
correspondent clambered over the
weather beaten bulwarks and proceed
ed direct to the cabin to meet the man
who has stood upon the apex of the
world.
The commanders greeting was cor
dial
'.This is a new record in newspaper
enterprise" he said. and I appreciate
the compliment.
Declines to Discuss Details.
The correspondent at once began
questioning the explorer regarding the
merits of DR.. Frederick A COOK
claim to have reached the pole. The
commander declared positively that he
would not further discuss this subject
until the main point, whether Dr.
Cook had actually reached the North
pole or not had been decided by others.
He then dictated the following tele-
gram to the Associated Press for pub
hcation:
prepared to prove it at the proper
time. I have already stated publicly
that Cook has not been to the pole.
This / reaff1rm and l will stand by it.
but I decline to discuss the details of
the matter. This will come out later.
I have said that DR.. Cooks statement
that he had reached the pole should
not be taken seriously and that I have
him nailed by concrete proof to sup
port my statement. In six months you
will probably get the whole story. 1t
would not be policy for me to
enter upon a debate of the full subject
as it now stands. To do so I would be
giving out much information of which
other uses could be made I intend
TO wait until DR.. Cook has issued his
full authorized statements.
Wait for Cooks Statement.
Up to the present time there have
Cooks alleged Polar trip and these may |
or may not be accurate. When DR..
Cook has time to issue a complete au |
thorized version of his journey will be |
public the information which I have. |
After that the jury-in other words, the |
people and the scientific bodies of the |
wCrld-will lass judgment on the mat |
ter and there will then be nothing left |
of DR.. Cooks case, but his own as |
sertions that he has reached the North |
Pole. In the meanwhile it is my de |
termination not to deal with debates, |
Commander Peary was then asked if |
new land could have been discovered in /
latitude S4 longitude S6 In reply he |
shrugged his shoulders and said it was |
quite possible that an unknown conti- |
nent existed further west. He referred |
TO the land discovered by himself on /
previous trips that had not been ex-
plored.
Asked what would be the interra-
tional effect Of planting the stars ard /
stripes at the North Pole. Commander
Peary said that he had notified the sec
retary of state that he had taken pos
session of the pole in the name of the
United States and that it remained for
the secretary to decide what that
meant. He said he left records on the
Ice at the pole.
Commander Peary is done with ac-
tive exploring. He will continue to take
an interest in Arctic and Antarctic <
ploration but from mis- home and he del
cared that he would withdraw from
field work.
THE ARCTIC CLUB.