The Washington times., 1909-09-02
pISCOVERY OF NORTH POLE
By DR.. FREDERICK A. COOK.

p LIN. FNEJEENAOh n. OOOhs
After more than three centuries of
eroic effort, it has remained for an
merican, DR.. Frederick A. Cook, to
scover the No tn Pole
In that t.ree centuries some of the
reatest arr st fearless explorers of
ne civiliz-3 lid have devoted their
*hergies and Sheir lives to the attempt
reach that Arctic goal 1t Is a record
<splete with stories of marvellous dar-
Is and great self-sacrifice in the in
srest OF scientific and explorative
achievement. Il is cause for every
american to congratulate himself that
be honor IF at last finding the pole
%as fallen to citizen of the United
tates, and that the American flag
hould be the first banner to be
Ianted at either OF the Poles of the
$arth.
Until more complete data is at hand
nd DR.. Cook has told the world his
wn story IL detail of the discovery
+ the North Pole, it will be impossible
b reckon the. value of the exploit from
scientific standpoint. There is no
easonable room for doubt, however,
hat the discovery will be of much
zalue to science. 1t will be of much
&alue to seieIlce if for no other reason
b that it will set at rest the long
Uncertainty as to the character of the
8arth's surface and climate at the Pole.
Whether there is land there or an open
olar sea has been a point Of disputa-
ion for centuries. From the meager
q accounts thus far received it appears
p. Cook found there no signs of earth.
q nd nothing but a bare and Iimitless
<eld of ice and snow.
& The discovery of the North Pole i'm
presses 5zdpe t5ith the fact that there
re now left but few spots on the sur
xace Of the earth that can be character
ked as unknown or unexplored. The
Touth Pole is one of the spots yet
#eiled in the obscurity of the unknown.
but Judging by the great exploits of
lieutenant Shackelton, it viii not be
ong until it, too. has been reached.
At first blush it might seem that the
act the Pole has at last been reached
$yill serve to put an end to polar
oyages and expeditions Of discovery.
may be doubted, however, whether
his is true. 1t is certain that the
discovery Of the North Pole will
eighten the activity OF explorers now
0 accomplish the finding Of the South
POLE. Il may be expected too, that
'ther polar explorers viii be anxious to
gonfrm the discoveries of DR.. Cook.
It is unfortunate that DR.. Cook was
+ he only white man Of the expedition TO
each the North Pole. Inevitably his
tatements will be subjected 20 the
criticism of sceptics who will say that
hey have the word of but single
yhite man to confirm the truth of what
4 le says. But II is TO be noted that
scientists say it would he impossible
Il or DIR. Cook to deceive the worth
s ven if he wanted 10, for the reason
hat the toughest OF calculations and
observations based on the position OF
4 he sun and other scientific facts will
confirm his own observations if they
ire correct. This is of the utmost i'm.
SDortance, and will enable DR.. Cook to
GRITTY the correctness of what hc
bays in a way indisputable 10 un.
believers.
Last week it was an American who
|,arried off the honors in the world OF
Walton. This week it is an Ameri
an who takes his place at the head OF
he worlds polar explorers. This record
bould satisfy the people Of any ma.
ion. It is sign that the old Anglo
|Saxon thirst for new achievements is
no way quenched.
II is to be remembered that anotbe,
/ great American explorer Robert T.
[Peary. is now on his way in the drec
ION Of the North Pole, and it will b,
10 surprise if. in view Of what he ha,
accomplished in the past, he return,
with the record Of having duplicated
|Dr. Cooks great feat Of discovery.