Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-01
TWO MORE. SOLAR PLEXUS
Blows FOR DR.. F. A. COOK.
Russell Porter, Photographer With Cook,
Saws Pictures Were Taken 20 Miles from
Mt. McKinley's Summit===Pr0f. NCMil=
Ian Says Peary Is Absolutely Sure
OF His Statements About North Pole.
PEARY SURE OF GROUND.

Boston. oct. 31-''When Commander
Peary sent that telegram t'cfuting
Cooks claim) he was Just as sure of
his ground as a man could be, When he
said that it was a physical impossible
itv for him (CooE) to nave done what
he says he did. Peary was sure he was
right in making that statement.
Let the public not think Peary sell
fish. He was telling the pcople-Warn-
irg them IF what they ought to know.
He did what every man would have
done, knowing what he knew. He
should be given the honor of the great
discovery"
In the above ringing statement, Pro
fcssor Donald Mcmillan of Worcester
guest Of the Massachusetts Schoolmas-
ters Club. which held its annual gath
crirg at the Brunswick hotel Saturday
afternoon. sounded his defenc" of the
explorer whom Prof. Mcmillan accom-
panied on his dash into the North
Professor Mcmillan, introduced as a
friend of Charles Eranard of Somer
Vill'. one at the masters, was the
speaker of principal interest to the 40
teachers gathered from all parts Of
business meeting of the association.
Previous to the young explorers IL
lustrated discussion of his adventure:
with Peary occurred the election of Of
ficers of the club for tho ensuing year,
chosen as follows:
President. Homer p. Lewis. super
ntcndcnt Of schools in Worcester; vice
pres dents, Henry Whittimore of
birmingham, Albert p. Walker Of
Newton. Harlan p. Amen of Exeter;
secretary and treasurer, Herbert l..
Morse of Boston.
Prof. Mcmillan was introduced to
speak upon the subject with PCary
In the Arctic"
Professor Mcmillan is about 81 years
old and was sent with the Roosevelt
to take soundings and observations up
on the northern tides. While he did not
accompany peary on his last lap to the
pole he was one of the leading mem
bcrs "f TIL" expedition and was with
his commander when the two EsQui-
mauX boys brought the first news t.
Pcary Of Cooks claim.
The Speaker told of Pearv'S trips dur
ing the past % years as succession .,
failures. from which the commander
had reduced the science of exploration
in the north down to an exact science
Mat" Henson. the negro who reached
the pole With Peary. the speaker as
serted. proved of greater assistance tc
the dscovcrcr than any other man on
the expedition on account Of Henson
perfect knowledge OF Arctic conditions
including the building of sledgrs and
the construction Of houses.
Professor Mcmillan. who collected
hundreds Of valuable specimens OF rare
birds. plants and animals While Will
The expedition. detailed both by wore
and stereobticon views the astonishing
number of these plant and animal va,
rites that exist where the tfcrmomctel
usually stands at about 40 degrees be
low zero.
He told many humorous anecdotes re-
lating To the EsquimauN men and wo
men who were Peary's aids on the trip
asserting that these people are lnfalibl,
truthful. honest and good natured,
while | was staying at Mt. Morris
Jessup." he said. Il received the not
from Peary stating that he had reached
the pole.
immediately I returned to the ship
where | later met Peary. Shortly afte
that we searched Esquimau land
where the two boys came with the re
port that Cook had reached the pole
1.-The question has been asked why
Peary needed over 20 sledges when he hat
f(>ontinuaI on Pa0a Ton