Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-09-11

IA "a - M&MW8E& VA AA1
ascally at the Dams mo-
800 the excitement which fol-
aftests to the high pitch of In
sarEt aroused over this climax OF
mans perseverance.
Like DIR. Cooks first message.
Peary's was tantalizing in its brief
ness. and the waiting public. stimu-
lated by Cooks success. was left un-
satiated. For. as did DIR. Cook. Peary
resumed his homeward voyage imme-
diately after filing the curt new OF
discovery.
"PoIe ACKNOWLEDGMENT Safe"
A few words were added to this
meager information when there RAJ
made public this additional informa-
ton sent to Herbert l. Bridgman, of
Brooklyn, secretary Of the Peary
Arctic club:
pole reached, Roosevelt safe.
(Signedl "PEARY."
This gave assurance that the vessel
in which Peary departed had passed
through the ice ~unscathed, but details
OF his home coming and the date Of
the discovery were still lacking. 1t
was not until the New York Times had
received a dispatch later that these
vital points were cleared up. The mes
sage said:
81 have the pole April 6. Expect ar
rive Chateau bay Sept. q"
with this information at hand 1t was
a comparatively simple matter to as
certain that the April 6 referred To
was April 6 of the present year, as
his expedition did not start from New
York until July Z. 1908.
April 6, 1909-the date that Peary
planted the flag at the pole-and
April 81, 1908. the day that DR.. Cook
| unfurled the Stars and Stripes a year
before. consequently become the car
dinal dates upon which exploration OF
the far north will rest hereafter.
Though separated by nearly a year,
the same feat was accomplished by
two Americans, neither of whom was
aware of the movements Of the other.
Cook says that he found no traces of
Peary in the moving ice, and accord
ing to word which was received here
through Captain Robert Bartlett, Of
| Peary's ship. the Roosevelt, Peary like
wise found no signs of his reputed
predecessor. However. this phase of
Peary's experiences will not be thor
! oughly cleared up until a statement Is
obtained from bis lips.
Strange Condolences.
Just as DR.. Cook notified his wife,
so Commander Peary took advantage
of the brief stop at Indian Harbor to
assure Mrs. Peary OF his safety. This
message, almost overlooked during a
day of excitement over his achieve
! ment, reached New York from South
Harpswell, Ne, where Mrs. Peary has
been spending the ummer 1t con-
tanned both a touch of pathos and a
quaint reference to his success. Have
made good at last" says the explorer
to his wife. "I have the old pole. Am
well; love. VIII wire again from Cha
teau." The message is signed simply
Bert" an abbreviation of Robert,
Commander Peary's first lame.
Mrs. Peary sent a wife's character
istic reply, with love and a blessing
and a request for him to hurry
home"
BY another strange coincidence In
this chapter Of condolences. Mrs.
Cook, too, was in South Harpswall.
Me-, when she received the first news
of her husbands success. Both she
and Mrs. Peary had gone for months
without word of their husbands, but
had hoped and prayed, first for their
safe return. and secondly, it may be
guessed, for the planting of the flag
at the pole.
Cooks achievement has been ques-
toned and he has been charged by
staunch supporters of Commander
Peary with conduct u~nethical for what
they termed his following in secrecy a
route which Peary had in view. Each
faction now, however, has It's laurels.
and with animosity buried the world
at large will profit therefrom.