Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-10
Friends of Explorers
Make Bitter Attacks

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Friends of Explorers
Make Bitter Attacks
NEW YORK, Sept. 9.-The battle for
north pole honors is now on, and a his
tory making controversy is now expected
by both sides.
claim that he discovered the north pole
on April g. 1909, is not doubted by any
authority, is feeling his way down the
Labrador coast in the Arctic exploring
vessel Roosevelt, stopping only long
enough to take on coal and send dis
patches, which more than intimates his
belief that DIR. Frederick A Cook die
not discover the pole on April 81, 1903.
Peary and his party are expected to land
at Sydney, Nova Scotia, and come from
there by rail to New York. BY that time,
1t is expected that he will have revealed
not only the full details of his successful
quest for the earth's northern axis, but
that he will add sensational statements
to his already sensational charges against
DR.. Cook.
ARCTIC CLUB DIVIDED.
And with the arrival of Commander
Peary in New York, DIR. Cooks friends
prepare to defend him vigorously. The
members of the Arctic club are divided in
their support, and it is no friendly divi-
cion President Osbon declares that when
Peary lands he will submit three affida-
Wits in which Peary is accused of taking
Cook supplies, with forcing open Cooks
trunk and inspecting his private rotes
and memoranda and with opening and
reading a personal letter from DR.. Cook
to his wife.
Mr. Osbon says that he has a further
affidavit that Commander Peary address
ed a letter to Mrs. Cook, charging her
husband with being a 'fakir."
From Copenhagen DIR. Cook sends word
that following the charges made by Peary
he has already arranged to send a ship
to Greenland. under the command of Cap
tain SVerdrup, the famous Arctic eXplor-
ell, to bring to New York the two Esqui-
maux who accompanied him north year
and a half ago. DR.. Cook declares that
he will personally have these Esquimaux
face Commander Peary in the effort to
disprove the latter's charge that Cook
was never out of sight of land.
RUSH OF PUBLISHERS.
There is a mad rush among publishers
from all over the world to obtain the
rights to the books which the rival ex-
plorers, will. or have prepared. The
offers already. received by DR.. Cook are
81 bewildering that today d Paris news
paper publishes an advertisement calling
for bids frcm publishers for DR.. Cooks
book The advertisement states that al
ready 100000 words have been written, and
that there are ample photographs to il
lustrate it. The race to first reach the
public with the full details of the polar
journeys is adding further bitterness to
the contest.
Dr. Cook has curtailed his program
abroad so as to hurry to America and
defend his claims. He is due to arrive
in this city on September q. His sup
porters in the various geographical and
exploration societies, with his friends are
arranging a notable reception for him.
Borough President Coler OF Brooklyn,
has appointed a committee or so prom
inGnt citizens to arrange the details One
member of this committee, VINO is not
expected to take an active part, is Her
bert L. Bridgman, secretary of the
Peary Arctic club, and the first man to
denounce Cook and his claims. Peary's
supporters are arranging just as notable
q welcome for him. = 1t Is now hoped
to have his ship, the Roosevelt, take
prominent place in the great Hudson
Fulton naval parade.
DISPUTE IS AGGRAVATED.
The dispute has become so aggravated
and promises to create such widespread
dissensions that several prominent mem
bers of the American Geographical So
and Cook submit their individual proofs,
including all observations and otner data.
over to the United States coast and geod-
etc survey, which body they declare to
be the best qualified in the world to make
a fair decision as to the merits of the
polar controversy.
1t now develops that Commander Peary
suspected DIR. Cook a year and a half
ago In May, 1908, before he sailed from
New York. for the north pole, Mr.. Peary
left a sealed letter in this city which
was to be opened on his return should
he find the north pole. After quoting
a number of newspaper articles relative
to the departure of Dr. Cook for the
north pole, Commander Peary concluded
In order that there may he no misun-
derstanding as to my position in the mat
ter / wish to say that l regard DR..
Cooks action in going north sub rosa
(while ostensibly engaged in efforts to
promote Antarctic work. for the admitted
purpose of forestalling me, as one. of
which no man possessing a sense of hon
or would be guilty"
Among the friends of Commander
Peary a movement has been started to
urge his promotion to the rank of rear
admiral in the navy. Commander Peary
is not an officer of the line but a civil
engineer attached to the navy. There
is no vacancy in the list of rear admi-
rails, and as the commander would have
to pass through the rank of captain be-
fore he could be made an admiral, it is
possible that congress will see fit to
create an additional admiral and con-
fer the rank and title upon Commander
Peary.