The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

cry ol the NOrtn POle and the foun-
dation laid for a controversy un-
paralleled in history.
Commander Robert E. Peary is
making uncertain progress southward
off the coast of Labrador in his ship.
the Roosevelt, but there came from
him today a message as direct as his
homeward journey has been slow. 1t
challenges the veracity Of DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, and fur
ther compllcates a situation which
the whole world is discussing
In effect Peary decries Cooks
claim with the intimation that he
(Peary) and he alone planted the
American flag at the North Pole on
April 6, 1909, and that DR.. Cook, who
| asserts that he unfurled the flag at
stantiate his claim.
At Copenhagen, Cook, shown his
rivals statement, tonight stood by his
guns, declined to enter into a debate
| and calmly asserted that his records
would sustain him. To prove his right
! OF discovery before the entire worJds
beyond shadow OF doubt, he an
| nouncod that he will dispatch q ship
| to Greenland and bring to Ameri "a
his Eskimo companions. Then, with
their testimony and his data, he de-
| clares that he will land ready TO
face all detractors
| In the meantime Peary continues
| his homeward journey on the ice
| scared Roosevelt and is tonight at
| Battle HarboI, Labrador, more than
400 miles from North Sydney, Cape
| Ereton the objective point of the
homeward cruise, through the strait
of Belle Isle.
Mrs. Cook is in New York. tonight
and Mrs. Peary has left her home in
Maine on her way to join her hus-
band at North sydney Though press
ed for statement, Mrs. Cook de-
clined absolutely tonight to say any
thing concerning her husband.
BY those who received word of Dr.
Cooks discovery with skepticism
Commander Peary's challenge TO-DAY
was received with qualification; BY
those who had been neutral it came
as another surprise in series of re-
markable happenings. while to DR.
COOKS supporters it was a signal fol
war. DR.. Cook, if his plan does not
miscarry, will sail for the United
States on Sunday, next. and will ar
rive here by September 21. BY that
time Commander Peary will have
reached home, but no one has as vet
suggested the possibility Of a dram
attic meeting of the two face to face.
Peary's statement rejecting on DR.
! Cooks achievement came first to the
Associated Press early this morning
da' Indian Harbor, Labrador, the
point through which he first reported
his success by wireless. 1t has been
delayed in transmission. 1t is as fol-
| lows:
II have nailed the Stars and Stripes
| to the North Pole. This is authori-
tative and correct. Cooks story
Should not be taken too seriously.
The two Eskimos who accompanied
him say he went no distance north
and not out of sight of land. Other
members of the tribe corroborate
their story"
About the same time Mrs. Peary
received the following message under
| the same date, both having been sent
| via Cape Ray n. F.:
Good morning. Delayed by gale
Don't let Cook story worry you.
Have him nailed
To the Associated Press the COM
mander had sent the dispatch, reply
Ing 10 an urgent request for an au-
thoritative statement and some COM
ment concerning DR.. Cook.
While Commander Peary's asser-
ton Of today is of nature that
makes DR.. Cooks position one Of de-
Tense, the Brooklyn explorer yet has
supporters both at home and abroad.
Many of the continental scientists are
marking time pending developments.
while those who have formed no de-
cided opinion in this country have as
sumed similar stand.
Prof. William II. Brewer OF Yale
honorary president for life of the
Arctic Club of America. Of which
both Peary and Cook are members,
telegraphed to New York today as
follows:
Il believe that both Cook and
"eary have reached the pole"
DR.. Thomas $. Dedrick of Wash