The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-07
PUBLIC TURNS TO PEARY.
His Name Heard More Often Than
Cooks in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen, Sept: by going
much farther to the east than l did,
Commander Peary has cut out of the
unknown an enormous space, which
of course, will be vastly useful and
scientifically interesting"
These were the words of DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook when he was told today
of the receipt of dispatches confirm
der Peary's success in reaching the
North pole.
81 am the first to shout 'Hurrah for
Peary'," the doctor continued. IF
he has telegraphed an announcement
that he has reached the pole then it is
true and 1 congratulate him.
Asked whether Commander Peary
was likely to have found traces of his
progress over the Polar seas, DIR. Cook
replied:
mo, he scarcely would have come
across my tracks,
DR.. Cook then said:
II understand that a rumor is cur
rent about my having taken some of
Peary'S provisions at Etah. This is
founded on Eskimo gossip and misun-
Outstanding. I desire no controversy.
simply say in reply to any such as
sertion no. Commander Peary is a
friend of mine"
DR.. Cook said also that according to
his present plans he would reach New
York, September 20, or 21, on board
the northumberland steamer
Oscar II.
Talks Shifts to Peary.
The name of Peary is heard more
frequently in Copenhagen today than
that of Cook. Experts, the general
public and the newspapers accent
Commander Peary's triumph as an
unquestioned fact. While loyal to
their belief in DR.. Cook the people
await the revelations to be made by
the publication Of the details of his
observations. The University of Co
penhagen tomorrow will make Dr.
Cook honorary professor of science, a
greater distinction than the honorary
degree which it was first proposed to
confer upon him.
Maurice F. Egan, the American
minister to Denmark Miss Egan and
the German minister, Count HenkeI
had luncheon with DR. Cook TODAY
Th1s afternoon Mr.. Egan gave a re-
ceptlon to the diplomatic corps to
Four hundred English tourists ar
rived here today for an excursion into
the country, but the entire party re-
manned in Copenhagen for the pur-
pose of seeing DIR. Cook
No one was more interested in
Commander Peary's announcement
than Commodore Hovgaard, who is an
authority on Arctic exploration.
Says Cook Was First.
81 said to DR.. Cook when 1 heard
the news the commodore declared.
You at all events were the first to
reach the pole and and there you
have my opinion briefly
II think that in Justice to DR.. Cook
we should remember he got there
first. He selected what seems to have
been the best route -
How long after Dr. Cook reached
the pole do you think Commander
Peary arrived there?" the commodore
was asked.
Probably year, but perhaps only
six months" he replied.
Gould Peary have learned at the
pole that Peary had been there before
him p
-tThis seems impossible Even if
Peary was there two weeks or two
days after DR.. Cook he might not
have found any track of the first
party because of the movement of the
drift ice. 1t is probable also that the
moving ice took away the metal box
Cook left at the POLE
Commodore Hovgaard thought it
probable that the North Pole was a
place which could not be permanently
marked, and in conclusion he said
that it had been a real race between
Cook and Peary to get to the pole
first and be the first to return