The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-12
SENSIBLE VIEW OF
THE POLAR CASE
Memphis Commercial Appeal
. ~~~~ . . = . . .

Cooks story should not be taken
too seriously The two Eskimos who
accompanied him say he went no dis
lance north and not out of sight Of
land. Other members OF the tribe
corroborate their story.
COM. ROBERT f. PEARY.
Il viii be seen from this that after
Commander Peary had announced to
the world his discovery Of the north
pole, he at once began an attack on
Dr.. Cooks claims. AS this is the be-
ginning of a controversy that prom
ises to be bitterly interesting as well
as interestingly bitter, it is in order
to state the case fully.
Dr. Cook claims TO have discovered
the pole on April n, 1909, being ac-
oompanfed by two Eskinos. He
claims TO have had proper instTu-
ments for making observations, that
he took 400 photographs, kept a diary
and planted a tube at the pole. He
says that having lived with the Es-
kimos for some time, he knew their
arguage and that the two who &C
companied him will substntdate his
account. Dr.. Cook has always hitheT-
to borne an unblemished reputation
as a man and as an explorer. He is
an expert at photography, and on the
Belgian expedition to the antarctic
regions, he was the surgeon -anthTO-
pOlOgist and official photographer,
and his handsome volume on Through
the First Antarctic Night" is one of
the most interesting books of polar
exploration yet published.
Dr. Cook comes back to civiliZa-
tion and lands in Denmark. Here he
satisfied everybody with whom he
~, at 1a iTAio nj
OF the highest hOnOTs. He announced
his claims and declared his readiness
to prove them.
On the theory that Cook did not
discover the pole it is necessary to
assume that his observations were
incorrect, or that he is insane, or
that he Is the monumental charlatan
of the centuries.
He is prepared to submit his as
Economical calculations, his diary and
his Photographs in support Of his
claims. If he has made any fragrant
errors, they can doubtless be detect
ed by geOgraphers. Certainly this is
a point upon which opinion should be
There is nothing TO show that his
mind has become unbalanced by his
s0journ in the arctic SHOWS. He has
told his story well He has been put
rigid cross examination and
has never been disturbed OF confused.
He has accepted without embarrass-
ment on the one hand or eftrontery
on the other the honOTs heaped upon
him.
Admiral Melville has come out with
the charge that Cook is hunbug and
has never been to the north pole at
all. The whole thing is a fake, ne
says. But as the aduaiyal is suPeran-
nuated and had nothing TO sustain
his charges with, he may be dis
missed as one having nothing TO do
with the case
Commander Peary, however. comes
out unequivOcaIly with the declaration
that Cooks story should not be taken |
too seriously. He also claims that
the two EskimOs says he went no
distance north and not out OF sight OF
land and that other members Of the /
tribe coTroborate their story. This IS !
a plain indictment of Cooks varacity /
and honor. Thus right at the !
threshold of the controversy, II IS /
necessary. for Peary to prove that his |
rival IS a fraud.
IF Cook is a fakir, he ought to be |
exposed as a matter of course; but |
Peary ought to have the most incOn- |