Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-22

the great achievement was folioWe'
Inv nraisc that was fairly Worldwide
With few exceptions the press accept
cd Cooks claims at their face value
What doubt was expressed was chle1i!
| in the British press, a portion OF WHICH
while not questioning the explorer
veracity, expressed Il doubt OF whethel
he had actually accomplished what III
believed he had done.
DR.. Cook, returning to civilization
made a triumphal entry into the mar
Dor of Copenhagen Sept. a. Standins
on the bridge of the Hans ESede, IRON
the mizzenmast of which few the fiat
of the United States, DR.. Cook smiling
| ly, modestly and with dignity, accept
cd the tributes shouted from tie ilocf
of little vessels which gathered apou
the steamer and escorted her to the
pier
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark
maurice F. Egan, the United STATES
minister, the Danish minister of COM
mcrce and committees representing va
rious public bodies boarded the Hati'
.gede and welcomed Cook in the name
of the nation and the city. He was es.
corted ashore by Prince Christian anC
followed by an immense thronS tha'
cheered itself hoarse. made his way &c
the Meteorological Institute, Where lie
made brief speech, saying that he llao
left at the North pole an American nag
and a box containing documents IN
GLIDING a brief account of his trip ana
certain observations and data TO bear
out his claim.
In an interview he said:
II have been to the North pole and
I have brought back the most exact
observations, absolutely proving my
statement. 1 have kept diary
throughout my entire expedition. IN
which is recorded the most minute
details.
1T was not my intention at the start
to proceed to the pole. l was merely
on an Arctic excursion. But as l
found conditions favorable continued
on my way to the pole"
Cook was lionized by all the people
of Denmark.
On tine day following his arrival at
Cock was the guest al
dinner of King Frederick at the sum
mer palace. The King had invited
Cook after his government had made
a cursory investigation Of his story
and accepted it as true. On Sept.
the explorer delivered lecture befor'
a distinguished audience including the
King and Queen, Prince and Princes
George of Greece and many of tho
members Of the royal family. At tho
conclusion of his remarks he was pres
ented with a gold medal by the crown
prince.
On the day Of his decoration a sen
sation was caused by message from
he Arctic. This read:
Indian Harbor, via Cape Ray, N. T..
Sept 6, to the Associated Press, New
York;
STARS and Stripes nailed to North
Pole.
(Signed) ''Peary."
Pcary was informed of Cooks claim
and on the same day, Sept. 7. threw
he world into partisan fury by this
message of claim and allegation:
Indian Harbor. Labrador, (via
Wireless, via. Cape Ray, n. F.,) Sept
70 Melville T.. Stone, The Associated
Press, New York"
Il have nailed the Stars and Stripes
o the North pole. This is authorize.
i've ana correct. Cook story SHOULD
lot be taken too seriously. The two
Isquilnaux who accompanied him sa!
,c Went no distance north and not
tut OF sight of land. Other members
~ tI,o tr;bo cnrroborofo tho ct0rU
(SisncO "Peary'
This was followed by another mes
age from Peary, saying:
Cook has sold the public gold
PRICK
From the moment these messages
we're published, a storm of partisan
discussion arose. If Commander Pear!
lad undeniably shaken popular con-
idence in Cook. he at the same time
made friends for his rival by wha'
s looked upon by some as g display
f piGue. Since then the battle between
he Cook party and the friends O.
pcary has waged necessarily. o.
Sept. 2l Cook arrived at New Yorl
and Peary at Sydney. n. s. Cool
was acclaimed by his follewrs am
WlHeu anu Olneu DIS nero. rear
remained quietly at his home nea'
Me. Soon afterwards Coo
delivered a series Of lectures and final
ly on Dec. 8 last submitted the record
of his expedition to the University O.
which has now declared
that these records do not prove thai
the alleged discoverer ever reached the
North pole.
New York, Dec. 21.--Thus ends one
of the most fascinating chapters in al
the romance Of exploration. Honoref
by the King of Denmark, heralded b
4 n IHniIrnro;k,r &c