The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-14
PEARY.s ..PROOF.v


After a considerable delay Mr.. Peary
has delivered to the world his proof
/ that DIR. Cook did not reach the North
Pole and is therefore the purveyor of
a gold brick of unusual proportions.
But this wonderful proof" as most
people have expected, does not amount
/ to very much. 1t will not strike lay
men as being at all conclusive, nor is
| there anything in it to attract the at
| tention of savants and scientists. 1t
consists merely of allegations that the
| Eskimos who travelled with DR.. Cook
told Mr.. Peary and his men that his
rival did not go anywhere near the
North Pole but just took a sort of an
| extensive pleasure trip around the
lands in the frozen north
Against this proof is the remark
able story which DR.. Cook has written
of his trip to the North Pole, as 1T has
appeared during the past ten days in
the State Journal. where it was pub
Iished exclusively in these parts
through an arrangement with the New
York Herald. No man alive could
fake such story as that. 1t is a
story that must have been lived
through to be told. And in its details
as to the conditions of the territory
around the North Pole, the tempera-
ture. the atmosphere. the condition of
the ice, different in all essentials from
those which prevail in other portions
of the Arctic regions, DR.. Cooks story
is practically the same as the one
which has been related, though more
briefly by Mr.. Peary himself, and of
whom no man has been mean enough
yet to say that he did not reach the
Pole. The sameness OF the Cook and
Peary stories of the conditions around
the North Pole is such remarkable
parallel that it has come in for wide
comment and attention from every one
who has participated in the North
Pole controversy.
Back of DR.. Cooks story is his we'll
deserved reputation for honesty. in
tegrity and probity. 1t was testified
to the other day by a voice from the
grave. as it were, when attention was
called to the estimate of DR.. Cook as
a man of sterling qualities which was
held by the late Major Pond. Every
man who has had any dealings with
Cook has the same sort of testimony
to present as to his character.
DIR. Cook greeted MI Peary's
"proof'' with smiles and well he might |
He has repeatedly said that he enjoin- |
SQ his EIShlIIlOS IlOb " SANO 49, i OSAAS
and his men any information of the |
famous dash to the pole which planted |
the stars and Stripes there whole |
year before Mr.. Peary got on the |
ground. He is satisfied that they have |
kept their promises to him and it is /
reasonable to assume that these Eski-
mos would String Peary to protect
the interests of their particular friend.
DR.. Cook is going to bring these Eski- |
mos back to civilization as soon as
possible and then the world will have
an opportunity to Judge their stories
II will be remembered also that Mr.. |
Whitney has reported that the Eski-
mos in question told him that they
were confused as to what Mr.. Peary
and his men had tried to get them to
say.
Between DIR. Cooks elaborate and
detailed story to the Pole and Mr..
Peary's proof" that he did not get
there, the average reader may we'll be
pardoned for arriving at the conclu-
sion that Mr.. Peary's effort has more |
earmarks of being manufactured than
has DR.. Cooks. If Mr.. Peary secured
he admissions he claims he did from
he Eskinos it is reasonable to assume
hat he had a large supply of gum
lrops on hand and was extremely
generous in handing them out.
/