Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23
SCIENTISTS SKATER
DR., COOKS CLAIM TO Discovery

traveller, DR.. Cook, who reached the North
Pole April 81 1898. DR.. Cook arrived a,
Upernavik Che northernmost Danish get.
Element in Greenland on an island off
the west COAST in May of 1903 from cene
York lin tho northwest part Of Green
land on Baffin bayJ The Eskimos Of
Cape York confirm Or. Cooks story Of his
journey"
Tho estonishnent over tho news of the
great achievement was followed by un-
stinted praise that was fairly worldwide.
With few exceptions tho press accepted
Cooks claims at their face value What
doubt was expressed was chiefly In the
British press, n portion of which whe
not questioning the explorers vsracitv.
expressed doubt Of whether he had
actually accomplished what he believe
he had done
MADE A HERO AT ONCE.
Or. Cook returning to civilization made
a trurnphal entry into the harbor on
Copenhagen on september 4. No hero re-
turning from conquest ever received a
more nattering reception.
Crown Prince Christian OF Denmark.
Maurice r. ECan, the United States min
lister. the Danish minister Of commerce
]
public bodies boarded the Hans Egede
and welcomed Cook in tho name OF tho
nation ard the city. He was escorted
! ashore by Prince Christian and followed
by an immense thronz that cheered itself
hoarse, made his way to the meteorologi-
cal Institute where he made q brief
speech saying that he mad left at the
North Pole an American flag and box
con, aiming documents Including brief
account OF his trip and certain observa-
tons and data to bear out his claim.
In O formal interview. he said:
! II have been to the North Pole and I
have brought back the most exact Oh.
servations absolutely proving my state
,nent. have kept a diary throughout
my entire expedition In which recorded
tho most minute details.
TT was not my intention at the
start to proceed 70 the Pole. I was
merely on an Arctic excursion, But
as ! found conditions favorable I con-
tinued on to tho Pole"
Cook was lionlzed by all Denmark
from peasant to king.
WORD COMES FROM PEARY.
on September the explorer was
presented with gold medal by the
crown prince. That day a sensation
was caused by a message from this
Arctic. This read:
Indian Harhor. via Cape Ray, n. F.,
September 6 to the Associated Press.
New York:
"'Stnrs and Stripes nailed to North
Pole.
(Signed) "PEARY"
Peary was informed Of Cooks claim
y
into partisan fury by this message OF
claim and allegation:
Indian Harbor. Labrador, tvia wire
less. via Cape Ray. N. F.,) September
ITO Melville r. stone
The Associated Press. New York.
IT have nailed the stars and stripes
to the North Pole. This 10 authorita-
tive and correct Cook story should
not be taken too seriously. The two
Eskimos who accompanied him say
he went no distance north and not
out Of eight OF land. Other membera
Of the tribe corrohorate their story.
tSigned) "PEARY,"
STARTS PARTISANSHIP STORM.
This was followed by another nessag
. from Peary saying:
. Cook has sold the public gold brick.
From the moment these messages werI
published 4 storm OF partisan discussiol
arose. Though Peary unden.ahly hat
, shaken popular confidence In Cook he a
- the same time made friends for his rva
~ what was looked upon by some as ;
display Of paue. Since then tho battl'
n between the Cook party and the friend
~ Poary wased necessarily.
( on September 2 Cook arrived at Nov
e York and Peary at Sydney, Nova Scotia
|, Cook was acclaimed by his followers ant
d wined and dned as hero. Peary lie
rnsned quietly at his home near Portland
f Ne. Soon afterward Cook delivered
j series OF lectures and finally on Decembe
: 4 last submitted the records Of his exped!
ton to the University Of Copenhagen.