Evening star., 1909-09-12
WELCOME POLE MEN
New York Partisans Preparing
Big Receptions.
COOK PLANS Definite
His Adherents Gaining in Enthusi.
asm With Time.
ANALYSIS OF PEARY REPORT
Fiala Declares Latter Has Con-
firmed Cooks Claims to Discov-
cry in Every Particular.
ANALYSIS OF PEARY REPORT
Special Dispatch to The Star.

cry In Every particular.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. September 1.-The
Arctic Club Of America announced to-
day that 1t will send a steamboat which
will carry 1000 passengers down the
bay to meet DR.. Cook when he gets In
on the Oscar II Of the Scandinavian
American line. Oficers OF the borough
of Brooklyn and representatives OF
scientific and geographical organiza-
tions will be invited to greet the doctor
on the clubs boat. Mrs. Cook also
will go down the bay as the guest OF
the club. A flotilla OF yachts. tugs and
other steam craft will accompany the
clubs boat The present plan Is to
bring DR.. Cook up on the steamboat
from quarantine. then across Manhat-
tan in a procession to Brooklyn with q
floral arch.
Elaborate plans also are in the max
ing to Welcome Peary when he arrives,
but no announcement will be made In
regard to them until Peary's friends
lecarn definitely when he Will reach
New York.
Anthony Fiala, the arctic explorer.
said today that Commander Pearys
own story vindicates DR.. Cooks claim
that he was the first man to reeach the
top of the world.
Reports Are Identical.
"Peary says that he found nothing
but a fiat waste of ice at the pole and
thereby" said Mr.. Fiala, substantiated
DR.. Cooks claim to having reached the
coveted goal. for DR.. Cook also found
ports of both men are identical and as
Cook returned first it is unreasonable
to doubt longer that he visited the pole.
'sDay by day Peary's story has gone
steadily ahead confirming COOKS state
ments First it was doubted that COOK
That was regarded as the principal evil
dence against his story. But then came
Peary with an even more incredible rec
ord of swift travel. Now we have Peary
description of the pole tallying precisely
with that of Cook. What better testl-
monial could Cook have?
"While Peary has declared that he VIII
discredit Cooks story. there has been
nothing in any Of his reports OF his voy-
age to fulfill his promise. His actual ex-
periences merely corroborate COOK s.
There can be no doubt about 1t: Peary
achievement was wonderful. But what OF
Cooks? Peary was equipped and facilf-
tated with great resources at every turn.
Cook was forced to rely upon MS own
nerve and inferior facilities. l am in
clined to believe, under the circumstances,
that Cooks achievement was fully as
marvellous as that of Peary.
Both Sole White Men.
Cook was stamped as possible pre-
varicator because there was no white
man with him on his tourney-because he
had the courage and hardihood to make
his dash alone. It was argued that he
could not have made his observations
alone. that there was no reason to sup
pose he reached the pole merely because
he said he did. Peary's own story shows
that he sent his last white man back when
he was within 40 miles OF the pole. and
that he continued on alone except for his
Eskimos and Mat Hanson. his negro serv-
ant. While Hanson's bravery and faith
fulness cannot be doubted. his knowledge
as a scientist amounts 20 little. So If
Cooks solitary adventures are not to be
accepted at their face value, what are we
to say of Peary's story of what he found.
]. D. Higgins who was member of
two of the Peary expeditions and who
built the bridge for the great meteorite
that the explorer brought from Green
land several years ago, expressed the
opinion today that Peary ''Will cruelty
Cook when he returns to this city.
"One year ago. said Mr.. Higgins.
"Peary knew enough about Cooks opera
tions in the arctic to discredit him. The
first suspicion of the commander that
there was something funny about Cooks
methods came when the letter written to
F'rancke was dated from the north of
Cape Hubbard. When Peary made in
quiries from the Eskimos he learned that
Cook had not yet reached the point from
which the letter was dated
Knew of Cooks Movements.
You can depend upon it. Peary knows
every move that Cook made in the arctic.
and he is not the kind of a man to make
accusations unless he is absolutely sure
that he can prove them"
The following dispatch was received to-
day by the Peary Arctic Club In Brook
lyn:
September Q, 1909.
ITO H. L. Bridgman. Brooklyn:
Roosevelt will remain here three or
four days coaling. Expect to reach sgd
ney about the Is. Have 100 walrus skins
on board for the club. Your letters per
whaler and the Jeanie received. You are
the logical candidate for the polar COM
mission. FEAhf.
Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard. president Of
the club while firmly convinced of the
good faith of Peary, is not inclined 10
Cooks claim as a categorical declaration.
based upon indisputable PROOF that Dr.
Cook did not reach the pole.
He said:
Il am not prepared to say that DR..
Cook did not reach the pole. l do not
know whether he did or did not
But l understand Commander Peary's
attitude respecting his rivals claim. Fear
full no doubt that institutions like the
University of Copenhagen and the Dan
ish Geographical Society should take DR..
Cooks statements for. granted and accord
him formal recognition, which later they
could not well withdraw, he took 1t upon
himself to sound warning.
Il do not take 1T that Commander
Peary positively knows that DR.. Cook
did not reach the pole. But he has heard
that he did not. And for this reason he
urges the public not to take the Cook
story too seriously
Attitude of Waiting.
my attitude in the matter is one of
waiting. 1t will be time enough to ar
rive at a conclusion when the proofs of
both claimants are laid before board of
competent judges.
The Arctic Club of America has planned
a banquet, to be presided over by Rear
Admiral Schley. TO which both Cook and
Peary will be invited. The banquet will
be held in the grand ballroom OF the
Waldorf Astoria, where the guests at the
table will number upward of LOCO people.
The club has sent the same congratu-
Ia atoms to both Cook and Peary. Its
officers disclaim being for or against
49,. .1tho,gb tho membership con-