Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-09-17
HAS COOK NAILED
hPEARY CLAIMS TO HAVE CON
CRETE PROOFS TO SUP.
PORT HIM.
ONLY ONE TO REACH POLE
Naval Officer Again Insists That Hon.
or of Discovery of North Pole Is
His Alone = Waits for Cooks
Story.


Story.
Battle Harbor, Lab, Sept. is (Via
Wireless Telegraphy to Cape Ray, N
Ell am the only white man who
has ever reached the north pole, and
l am prepared to prove it, This
statement was made by Commander
Robert o. Peary in reply to question
on the Peary-Cook controversy.
The Associated Press tug Douglas
Thomas, after stormy passage up
the west coast of Newfoundland and
drought the Strait of Belle Isle from
Sydney, arrived at this lonely whaling
and mission settlement. A squall of
rain was sweeping over the harbor
as the Thomas steamed in, but with
glasses it was possible to make out
the mast and hull of the arctic steam
er Roosevelt moored in the inner bay.
The Thomas broke out the north
pole" flag, the same emblem that was
flying from the mizzen-mast of the
Roosevelt, and signaled "The Associ.
ated Press congratulates you"
The Roosevelt then signaled the
thanks of Commander Peary for this
message, whereupon the Thomas
gave three loud blasts on her whistle.
In response there came from the
Roosevelt chorus of barking and
board, that echoed back from the sur.
rounding hills.
Little Worse for Trip.
The Thomas drew near to the
Roosevelt The steamer looked little
the worse for her second trip to the
polar regions.
Along the rail were gathered the
members of her famous crew, among
them the redoubtable Capt. Robert
Bartlett, who was at once recognized
Capt Bartlett invited the Thomas
to lay alongside and the correspondent
to come on board without delay
The correspondent clambered over
the weather-beaten bulwarks and pro
ceeded direct to the cabin to meet the
man who has stood upon the apex OF
the world.
The commanders greeting was cor
dial. This is new record in news
paper enterprise, lie Sdlu, anu DIP
preciate the compliment"
The correspondent at once bega1
questioning the explorer regarding the
merits of DR.. Frederick A. Cooks
claim to have reached the pole. The
commander declared positively thai
he would not further discuss this sub
ject until the main point, whether DR.
1U 10
pole or not had been decided by
others.
Claims Sole Honor.
He then dictated the following state
ment for publication:
II am the only white man who has
ever reached the north pole, and an
prepared to prove it at the proper
time. l have already stated publicly
that Cook has not been to the pole
This l reaffirm, and l will stand by it,
but / decline to discuss the details oil
the matter These will come Out
later. have said that Dr. Cooks
statement that he had reached the
pole should not be taken seriously
and that l have him nailed by con
crete proofs to support my statement
In six months you probably will gel
the whole story. 1t would not be
policy for ME to enter upon full
stands. To do so l would be giving
out much information of which Other
uses could be made. / intend to wal
until DR.. Cook has issued his full au
thorized statements. Up to the pres
ent time there have been only news
paper accounts of Dr. Cooks alleged
polar trip, and these may or may no
be accurate.
Waits for Cooks Story.
when Dr. Cook has time to issue
complete authorized version of hi
journey will be the proper opportunit
for me to make public the information
which l have. After that the jury
In other words, the people and tn
scientific bodies of the world-wil
pass judgment on the matter, an,
there will then be nothing left of Dr.
Cooks case but his own assertions
that he has reached the north pole
In the meanwhile it is my determine
ton not to deal with debates for tn
reasons already stated.
Commander Peary was then aske
If new land could have been discoy
cred in latitude 81, longitude Sc. Il
reply he shrugged his shoulders an
said it was quite possible that an un
known continent existed further west
He referred to the land discovered b.
himself on previous trips that had no
yet been explored.
Done with Exploring.
Asked what would be the interns
tional effect of planting the stars an
stripes at the north pole, Commando
Peary said that he had notified tn
secretary of state that he had take
possession of the pole in the name c
the United States, and that it +,
manned for the secretary to decid
what that meant. He said he had lei
records on the ice at the pole.
Commander Peary is done with az
tive exploring. He will continue t
take an interest in arctic and an
arctic exploration, but from his home
and he declared that he would will
draw from field work.
New York, Sept. 15.-The latest d,
velopments in the north pole contr,
Versy contain arguments in iavo.. O
both Commander Peary and DR.. Cooi
The oft-repeated charge that Pear
made use of Cooks stores is denied b
Herbert l.. Bridgman, secretary of tn