The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-11
Cook Got There First.

We have no doubt Dut WnaL LIZ.
Cook was the first man that ever
reached the North Pole, as he claims
to have sdone. It is to be regret
ted that any controversy should
spring up between Cook and Peary
about the matter, but it must be
borne in mind that DR.. Cook is not
at all responsible for it. He has
conducted himself in modest, be-
coming mmanner since he returned
to civilization and startled the world
by the announcement that he had
finally reavhed the North Pole. On
the other hand, Peary signalled his
return to civilization with the an
nourcement that he was the first to
reach the Pole and that Cook had
not been near it. Pearys Whole
demeanor indicates a disappoint-
ment, but his attempt to discrelit
Cook will fail.
Among the members of the Amer
lean Geographical Society in New
York it is believed that the excit-
ing news of the last ten days from
Cook and Peary has been the culmi-
nation of record-breaking race be-
tween the two explorers from the
"top of the world" to the first tele-
graph wires which might bring them
fame and fortune. They think that
Cook found the North Pole on April
21, 1908, and after journey Of
terrible hardships he made his Win
ter quarters just about a year ago
near Etah. Northwest Greenland,
from which place he had started for
the Pole. In other words, they give
Cook credit for all he claims.
From preliminary reports it is
believed that Peary reached Etah
last fall and after remaining in the
winter quarters which he had es-
tablished on the northern shore Of
Grant Land, he, started on his dash
for the Pole last February, Accord
ing to one of his messages Peary
located the North Pole on April 6
last, almost year after DR.. Cook
surveyed it. His retreat from the
Pole apparently was not hampered
by the difficulties which Dr. Cook
met because it is believed that when
he reached Etah during the present
summer he was informed that DR..
Cook had already discovered the
North Pole that he had been in win
ter quarters near there and that
he had started for civilization with
his great news.
By that time the Peary ship
Jeanie had already reached Etah and
Commander Peary, on board the
Roosevelt, which had wintered at
Etah, started south as fast as he
could go in the hope Of submitting
his claim to the world before Cook
This is indicated by the fact that he
and his party put in at Indian Har-
Dor, Labrador, whele they were not
expected. There is no cable or tel
egraph line from there, but his
were sent from there by
wireless to New Foundland. Cook
beat Peary only about five days,
which be could have doubled, no
doubt, had he known that Peary
was racing to get the public ear
ahead Of him.
In the light Of the above facts,
the concensus Of opinion seems to
be that both men reached the North
Pole and that Cook was there almost
a year before Peary, and that the
latter, because of his superior equip
ment, was able to get out of the
frozen country in years less time
than it required Cook. The above
explains why Peary tried to dis
credit Cook as soon as ne reached
a place where he could get a mes
sage to the United States. He
knew that he had been beaten by
Cook in the race for the North Pole
and he hated his successful rival.
But it will do Peary more harm
than Cook, as the world has ac-
cepted the latter's story as true un-
til he verifies it with scientific data,
which we are sure he can do.